Aidan Copp

Got reacquainted today with an old New Zealand friend, Aidan.  We had been in touch since I left New Zealand two years ago, but then he deleted facebook so I thought I'd lost touch with him forever.  Well he's back on now.  People like Aidan inspired me when I was down under.  He's sheared 650 sheep in 1 day before.  Fastest shearer I personally know.  He's not just a good shearer, he's a top athlete.  When you're that good, you can make heaps of money...He's shearing in Australia now, 300 a day (on merinos!), which would be over $600 a day.

But I don't have that potential.  I'll never be a top shearer, and that's perfectly ok with me.  I want to be good but I don't have to be the best.  My shearing career is different than someone like Aidan's.  He can focus on shearing alone, where I have to be concerned about the business side of it, and more importantly, the service side of the shearing industry.  In New Zealand or Australia you can literally show up to work, not say a word to anyone, and make $600 in a day if you're good.  Here in the Northeast corner of the USA, you have to be personable, and good at serving people, not just good at shearing sheep.