Sheep Shearing & Hearding

Celebrate all things sheep and wool with a weekend of shear fun! Meet herdsman Jim McRae and his team of Border Collies and watch demonstrations of herding sheep in the farm fields during narrated programs at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. each day. The farm’s Southdown sheep will receive their spring “wool cuts” by Craig & Philo Marcotte at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30, 2:30, and 4:30 p.m.

Spinning, and carding demonstrations will highlight the skills needed to turn fleece into yarn. Visitors are invited to help skirt a fleece (the process of preparing the wool for washing), try their hand at carding, and make a wool butterfly. Observe how raw wool is processed, then see the wool take on structure and color through dyeing and spinning. View the creative possibilities made by weaving, felting, knitting and crocheting. 

In the Learning Kitchen from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., see a cooking demonstration for Spanakopita made with sheep milk cheese and enjoy a sample!

Pick up a Sheep & Wool Passport to follow the steps of the wool process all around the farm while collecting stamps at each station. Purchase raffle tickets to win Woolen Treasures made by Billings Staff on display in the Activity Barn.  

Sheep & Wool Week continues April 25 - 29, 10AM – 4PM at Billings Farm. View displays on how wool is processed and see the freshly shorn sheep in the pasture.