Who shears in the cold?

Yes, it has been too cold to even think of shearing lately.  This is sort of my "preseason".  Any work I can get done now, before the rush of march-june, is a bonus.  People with warm enough barns who want to shed their sheep of winter coats before lambing like to get it done with now.  The cold is not the only problem; dealing with the precipitation side of weather is also.  In the spring, even when it rains, shearing is possible if the sheep have cover.  But when the snow is flurryin it can be hard just to get to the job.  So it's good I don't have too packed of a schedule.

My favorite old Scottish folk song:

"Oh it's nice to get up in the mornin when the sun begins to shine.  At three or four or five o'clock in the good ol' summertime. But when the snow is blowin and it's mirky overhead, it's nice to get up in the mornin but it's nicer to lie in bed. 
My brother Nay's a teacher and he sleeps along with me.  He gets up and lights the fire and starts his work at three.  And before he gets his trousers on his legs are nearly numb.  While I lie beneath the covers and this is what I hum;
Oh it's nice to get up in the mornin when the sun begins to shine, at three or four or five o'clock in the good ol' summertime. But when the snow is blowin and it's mirky overhead, it's nice to get up in the mornin but it's much nicer to lie in bed."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdBUjv5EgLw 

Stay warm! 

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.

Appreciative Farmers

It's nice doing a job and being appreciated for it.  Yesterday and the day before I started my 2011 shearing season shearing for the Paulsens in eastern New York.  Super nice people.  They left CT for NY 23 years ago and became sheep farmers.  They live off the land, farming (I think) a couple hundred acres.  It's farmers like this that I especially want to help with the wool pool!  If they could offset the shearing cost with income from the wool, that would be great.

If I had to rank reasons why I shear sheep, being appreciated is way above earning money.  Money is that ugly thing at the end of the day that needs to be talked about.  But if there was a way I could just leave without bringing up the money discussion, I would.  Not all farmers are appreciative, some take their shearer for granted.  That's ok I guess, but those are the jobs I don't necessarily look forward to going back to.

I often have customers tell me "You're the boss" or "You're in charge". NO. I'm the servant, laborer, the braun.  Whoever is paying the bill at the end the job is the boss.  The receiver is just a servant.  Humble servant, I hope.  I think some people, not just shearers, cop an attitude and expect to be treated like the boss.  No, I'm working for you.

Humble seravanthood means serving the appreciative and unappreciative equally, with a good attitude.  That's what I strive for and I hope I, at least to some degree, achieve.  Do the best job you can, with a good attitude, and people will be appreciative.

Encouraging Shepherds

I had lunch today with an old sheep friend, Noah.  He mentioned interest in getting back into raising sheep so of course I encouraged him that it was a good idea.  Why do I care if other people raise sheep?  The selfish answer would simply be more sheep = more shearing jobs.  But really that's not the answer.  Sheep have been my life, for as long as I can remember.  I care about people that raise sheep, and about the industry as a whole.  I think raising sheep has benefits beyond sweaters and lambchops, that the lifestyle is rewarding and humbling.  Volumes could be written on the benefits of raising sheep.  People could argue things like being tied to the earth, being closer to the Creator, etc. 

Another angle on increased sheep numbers is the benefit it has to the sheep industry as a whole.  I would say that unlike some typical supply and demand charts, more sheep would actually help others in the business.  Less competition in this case doesn't necessarily mean increased prices for existing farmers, but rather it means increased competition from foreign markets.  Bottom line; there is enough marketing potential for all the lamb and wool that could be raised in New England.  We just need to produce it.  Encourage anyone with an inclination to raise sheep, to do so.

Question for contemplation:  Are more sheep in the area better, worse, or neutral for the overall health of the sheep industry?  (Don't be influenced by my above opinion)

New Dorset Ram

Just got back from Leyden, MA, where my brother and I purchased a September Dorset ram lamb from Hoop and Becky Peterson (Southfield Corporation).  I like buying sheep from them.  This is now the fourth we've purchased in the last few years.  The Petersons are good shepherds, they're honest, they have a good eye for sheep, know their sheep well, and they're pleasant to deal with.  Their sheep are healthy, well cared for, they have great breed character, and have worked well for us.  Hopefully our new ram will be competitive in the show ring, and go on to be a good sire.

Family is gone now, back to reality.  Starting up the 2011 shearing season on Tuesday.  January and February should be slow, then things will pick up in March.  This is always an anxious, overwhelming time of year.  To think all those sheep I sheared last year have wool again, starting over from scratch.  Pray my back holds up and the roads are clear for safe travels to the jobs!

Happy New Year!

Starting off the new year well; waking up to my whole immediate family here.  The neices and nephews are adorable!  Cutest kids in the world!  Nothing I love more than family.

Okay so I'm thinking more about what this blog could be about.  I am always trying to better serve my shearing customers. So I would like for this blog to be a way to update people on where I am and a little about myself if they want to get to know me better.  Being a service that is performed once a year, I have come across people that didn't even recognize me from the year before (although I do change my appearence quite often).  So, if people want to, they can now track me & get to know me.

If I run out of things to say, I would appreciate topic suggestions!  Questions, comments, etc are welcome!

Have a great day, and a great 2011!

Aaron