Hopland Research and Extension Center plans first 'Barn to Yarn' event May 23

HOPLAND, Calif. – Have you ever wondered where your wool sweater came from? Or just how to keep a 160-pound sheep still enough to shear it?

Join the Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) team and friends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23, to get the answers to these and many more questions.

Expert shearer Matt Gilbert will be offering demonstrations with a few of HREC’s flock of more than 800 western whiteface sheep working as his models.

Visitors also will have the chance to see different kinds of wool from the fine, soft merino to the long, coarse Navajo-churros and to learn how they are graded.

Throughout the day Leslie Jensen, program coordinator from Elkus Ranch Environmental Education Center, will be giving a new use for Kool-Aid – using it to dye wool.

To complete the process there will be spinning demonstrations, workshops for children making simple spindles and even the chance to watch local weavers in action.

The day will provide opportunities for sheep farmers, fiber enthusiasts and families to get involved and learn more about every step of the process from sheep to sweater.

Visitors will be welcomed to the HREC new conference hall, The Rod Shippey Building, and will have chance to picnic on the grounds of the 5,300-acre center.

“We can’t wait to welcome the community to our beautiful site and to raise awareness of just one of the areas of research and education that we conduct up here. Our sheep are not only vital for the UC Cooperative Extension sheep shearing school but also for research into best management practices for rangelands and animal science,” said Hannah Bird, HREC community educator.

Admission is $5 for adults, children under 12 are welcomed for free (online registration or checks preferred).

HREC asks visitors to leave their pets at home to protect the site and the sheep resident there. Bring your own picnic and all utensils; some light food will be available from Mendocino 4-H.

Visit http://hrec.ucanr.edu/ to find out more and purchase your ticket.

Barn to Yarn will be held at the Rod Shippey Hall, 4070 University Road, Hopland.

For more information contact Hannah Bird, 707-744-1424, Extension 105, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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