Follow Your Dreams

Joe, my neighbor and friend, has recently been able to land a job in the sport of lacrosse, his passion.  For as long as I've known him he has been a sheet metal worker on construction sites, and a good one at that.  But his hobby has always been playing and coaching lacrosse.  With his new job at the Stringer Shack, he can now make a living doing what he enjoys.  The difference will be evident between him, a passionate connoisseur of the industry, and your average professional who is merely working a job.

For 18 years we are told to "follow our dreams".  The message actually continues for more than 18 years, but is drown out by the pressure of money.  Money, security, material possessions, however you look at it, become an exceedingly overwhelming pressure that force many people to put aside their dreams and fall into line.  Or more accurately, to compartmentalize their lives so that job = money and free time = hobby/leisure. 

My best teacher in high school always told us it did not matter what profession we pursue as long as we did it with Zest, Gusto, Animal Vigor, Intellectual Vitality, Fun and Love.  But if your heart isn't into your job, and your sole motivation is money, how can you do your job with ZG AV IV F&L?

I cannot overstate my thankfulness that I am fortunate enough to live and work my passion.  Working with sheep, shearing sheep, raising sheep, and associating with other sheep people have become more than a job or even a career path.  It's a lifestyle, a life, and one that I wouldn't trade for anything.

It breaks my heart to see people place such an importance on money that they force themselves to abandon their dreams.  I know I'll never be powerful or wealthy.  But for me, coming down the last side on the last sheep of the day or seeing newborn lambs get their first nurse is as satisfying as scoring the winning basket or crossing the finish line in a race.

Dream on!

Wearing Wool

Above pictured are my new shearing tank-tops I purchased a few months ago for the upcoming shearing season.  Anyone who knows me knows I'm not vain, especially about clothing.  But I show these shirts off for a reason.  They are 100% wool.  They're perfect for shearing, warm, dry (wick away sweat), and comfortable.  But that's only partly why I am starting to wear more wool.

I had a conversation recently about supporting the sheep industry.  Sure, I'm involved.  I'm into it every day.  But do I wear wool?  How many shepherds neither eat lamb nor wear wool?  I wouldn't go as far as saying it's hypocritical, but it certainly isn't helping their own cause.  We complain about the price of wool, or lamb, while wearing cotton and eating beef.  So I became convicted and went out and bought wool shirts.

I dream of seeing the sheep industry make a come back in the USA.  Many things I'm both aware of and unaware of would need to change.  But certainly domestic demand for wool products would be a great place to start.  So if you raise sheep and sell wool, then wear the final products.  Wool is great!

Sadie

This is my new dog, Sadie.  She's a red/white Border Collie.  Beautiful dog, and great personality.  She's 6 months old today, I've had her for almost 2 months.  Will she be a good working dog?  I doubt it.  I've only let her near sheep once, and she was afraid of them.  More interested in sniffing their droppings than even looking at them.  But that's ok, she's a good pet.  At times it'd be nice to have a good working dog, but if that's what I really wanted I would've bought one that was already trained. 

When I start shearing again in a couple months, everyone will ask, "What did you do in the off season?".  Well I didn't go anywhere exciting this year.  But I got a dog.

Kindness Following Me

I can't reiterate enough my gratitude for the overwhelming kindness I receive from my customers.  Today a longtime customer of mine, Crik Christophel (Neko Farm), presented me with a beautiful handknit hat made from wool I've shorn in the past.  It's so nice!  Soft, warm...So thoughtful of her.  She told me shearers are not a commodity, but a relationship/service.  Glad people think like that!

Earlier this week I was fed a huge brunch by the Lamphier family in Middlesex NY.  It's nice being welcomed in as part of the family, even though I only see most of my customers just once a year.  They're always feeding me, giving me a place to stay, giving me eggs (or hats!), etc.  I love my job!

Starting to get busy with spring shearing (glad it is finally spring)...Sheared a little over 2,000 so far in 2011.  I've been on the road for a month now, starting to look forward to coming home.  Although I won't really get a rest from shearing until probably the end of June.  Enjoying the nomadic lifestyle!

In other sheep news, the Ohio Dorset Sale was yesterday.  Grand Champion ram sold for $8,000.  Wow.



Thank you for your kindness everyone!

Doug Rathke

Doug's Website

9 years ago I started shearing by going to the Cornell shearing school in Ithaca New York.  I went back the following year, and these two introductory courses were the start of my shearing career.  Doug Rathke was the head instructor back then, and he still is today.  The 2011 course was held this past weekend, where I was privileged to be one of the assistant instructors.  I really enjoyed teaching, helping beginners out.  I understand their frustration because we all started there.  It was rewarding to see people succeed with a little instruction after struggling without. 

Doug is an amazing shearer, and an amazing person.  He has many shearing accolades, including being the first American to receive New Zealand's Golden Seal (the top shearing recognition), many top finishes in national competitions, and many times representing the US in world competitions.  He is a known figure in the shearing industry worldwide, but a very humble and down to earth man.  He recently set a world shearing record, shearing a marathon 27 straight hours.

I had the chance to get to know Doug better this weekend, and I'm proud that he is my teacher and shearing mentor.  I may get the chance to go shear with him in his home state of Minnesota in December.  I would love to receive advanced training under him, and am excited about our future friendship.

Hampshires

Hampshires, my least favorite breed of the 3 my family owns.  But they are beautiful.  Big, rugged black faced sheep.  Today I sheared what I consider to be the top Hampshire flock in New England, the Searles' in Rhode Island.  The best Hampshires in our flock are descendents of a ewe we bought from the Searles.  Some big sheep are just big.  But their sheep are also put together right, they produce like they should, hold their condition (unlike many big but skinny black faced sheep), and are sound and healthy flock. 

I think if the Searles competed more at the fairs they'd find that I'm right; they have the top Hampshire flock in New England.

Shear Tower 1000

Yesterday was the debut for Shear Tower 1000.  ST1000 is a light-weight steel shearing machine stand, custom designed for my new shearing machine.  Designed and built by my friend Kyle Welch, it is the most stylish and easy to use stand out there.  It's collapsable for easy set up and transportation. It's painted glossy black, has an 4-outlet box to plug into, an attachable light, and is very sturdy.  Thank you Kyle!