Shearing at Timm Ranch in 2019

On Thursday I went to the Timm Ranch about 10 miles from here to buy wool for this year’s yarn production. Three Farm Club members (and a FC husband) went with me. That’s a good thing because there were two shearers this year and it took all of us to keep up.

The sheep are a ranch blend of Rambouillet, Polypay, and Targhee breeding.

They have a very soft fine wool.

Here are three of the five rams.

Closeup of one ram.

We got there before the shearers so we helped move sheep around. These are the fall lambs that will be sold so were not being shorn.

There was a group of ewes with younger lambs that needed to be brought to the shearing barn. This was the newest lamb.

The alpaca looked on but was not shorn.

The guardian dog waited to be back on the job.

There are five 8-week old Border Collie puppies.

Who can resist cuddling puppies?

Did you notice the roof in the previous photo? Probably not because why notice a roof when there is a cute puppy? This photo focuses on that beautiful roof.

Once shearing started we got to work.

Alan brought fleeces to the skirting tables as they were shorn.

Susan, Alora, Doris, and I worked at two tables to skirt. We had brought portable canopies to protect from the sun that we usually have but it was overcast. We eventually put the canopies up as it started to rain (but fortunately was never more than a sprinkle).

The fleeces were gorgeous.

They were clean and strong.

I kept samples of some of the fleeces but forgot to bring small bags or envelopes for them. The dashboard of the truck worked until I needed to drive home.

The day went quickly with two shearers so we finished by mid-afternoon. This is our Farm Club selfie.

I ended up with about 215 pounds of wool.

Baling my wool is the last thing before the shearers leave. I look forward to the yarn to be returned in a few months. See last year’s Timm Ranch yarn.