Photo Credit: Matt Boom Photography
(SAN RAMON, CA.) – This Saturday, Apr. 25, the San Ramon Historic Foundation will be holding its annual Sheep Shearing Day at the Forest Home Farms Historic Park.
This popular event is perfect for all ages and invites visitors to travel back in time and experience a day on the farm, while learning about the engaging process of sheep shearing.
Expert shearers will give a demonstration on how they cautiously remove the wool from the sheep while trained sheep dogs keep the flock in line. This delightful demonstration is just one of several activities that are planned for the event.
Visitors have the opportunity to explore the farm, learn how wool is cleaned and spun, take part in arts and crafts, tour the historic Glass House along with other promising activities.
Not only will attendees watch the sheep get their annual haircut, there will also be sheep dog demonstrations, tractor rides and food vendors available for purchase.
These events are an excellent way to step back into late Victorian times and enjoy the simple pleasures of life.
All proceeds from the event will directly benefit and support the San Ramon Historic Foundation’s efforts to preserve this unique piece of local history.
President of the San Ramon Historic Foundation Carol Rowley exclusively shared with OpGov.News that “the sheep have been at the farm for over 26 years according to our shepherd Patsy Galati.” Galati is known as the “sheep whisperer” on the farm and explains the exact process of the sheep shearing. To be shorn, a sheep is placed in a sitting position with their body leaning against the shearer’s legs. As Galati has previously told media outlets in the past, “this position keeps them comfortable and calm while the wool is shorn from one side to the other.”
Photo Credit: Matt Boom Photography
Border Collies have a significant role in the sheep shearing process. The sheep shearing begins with the dogs herding the sheep into a special area where they await to be shorn one at a time.
As for what happens to the fleece after it’s been shorn, Rowley admits “each sheep will be shorn, and the fleece will be sold for carding, spinning, knitting and making garments and rugs. The sheep are from many different breeds and the wool makes beautiful clothing!”
Photo Credit: San Ramon Historic Foundation Website
To spread awareness of this annual event, OpGov.News posted the SRHF Flyer on Reddit to gauge how many residents would be interested in attending or have attended in the past.
One Reddit user noted how this would be her first time going, u/G-Leenie responded in the r/sanramon post, “Oh! I've been looking for an event like this! I'm down to go!”
Another Reddit user and San Ramon resident Tiffany T. admitted how she’s been to the sheep shearing event a couple of times in the past, noting “my kids love the sheep and the ice cream, but for me the star of the day is always seeing the happiest dog on earth running his little tail off herding the sheep!”
Photo Credit: Matt Boom Photography
When asked about the expected turn out for this year, Rowley emphasizes that “every year this popular event grows with more vendors, participants and visitors.”
The event takes place on Saturday, Apr. 25 from 10AM to 2PM at the Forest Home Farms Historic Park located at 19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd.
Ticket prices are as follows:
General Admission (ages 13 and up) - $15.00
Children (ages 4-12) - $8.00
Children 3 and under - Free
The event will be held Rain or Shine and No Refunds will be given. No smoking and no dogs allowed on site.
When prompted if there was anything else she wanted to say regarding the event, Rowley encourages those to “come to the farm and enjoy a delightful day in our own community! It is well worth the visit and many families make it an annual event!”
Photo Credit: Dominique Mintz Photography
For more information regarding the Sheep Shearing Day, please visit: https://srhf.org/index.php/sheep-shearing/
Or follow them on Instagram for more updates.
If you have any comments or questions, please email me at kathleen.p@lead4earth.org or comment below.
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