Shear skill: Sheep shearers fine tune their technique, facing a changing industry

Janelle Atyeo
Aug 3, 2018
Aug 3, 2018 Updated Oct 3, 2018

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Loren Opstedahl of Union Center, S.D., shears a lamb at an advanced shearers class in Watertown, S.D., June 29, as Alison Crane, a sheep and meat goat specialist for Kansas State University Extension, gathers the wool with a rake.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Loren Opstedahl of Union Center, S.D., shears a lamb at an advanced shearers class in Watertown, S.D., June 29.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Loren Opstedahl of Union Center, S.D., shears a lamb at an advanced shearers class in Watertown, S.D., June 29.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Professional sheep shearers gather to get instruction from Australian Mike Pora during a class in Watertown, S.D., June 29.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Janelle Atyeo

A woolly lamb comes through the gate and is plopped down on her hind quarters while the shearer gets to work with his clippers.

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Loren Opstedahl of Union Center, S.D., shears a lamb at an advanced shearers class in Watertown, S.D., June 29.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Montana State University Extension agent Mike Schuldt from Miles City, shears a sheep during a clinic.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Opstedahl wool — Loren Opstedahl shears wool from a sheep. He’s worked in the industry 30 years and has competed in shearing internationally. He also organizes a beginning shearers class for those just entering the industry.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

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Janelle is editor of the Tri-State Neighbor, covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at jatyeo@tristateneighbor.com or follow on Twitter @JLNeighbor.