The Sheep Are Getting Skinny!

Walking my dog a few weeks ago, I saw the sign on San Ramon Valley Boulevard near Forest Home Farms, announcing Sheep Shearing Day 2012.

As if to help advertise this there are several itty bitty babies in the front pasture, frolicking and enjoying the sunny day.

I hope you can join me for all this fun! I'll be there, in the midst of it, April 21st from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. I better charge that camera of mine, there's sure to be plenty of great sheep shearer, dog herding moments.

Lady, my rowdy, crazy, squirrel chasing, cat herder border collie will not be invited, I’m sorry to say. Someone has to keep an eye on those backyard pesky rodents she loves to chase and herd from our yard.

This year, while Lady is holding the squirrel fort down, I will be enjoying a cultural experience that will take me back in time. In addition to sheep losing their fluffiness, there will be old time traditions to witness from lace making to wood carving to gardening. Then there is my very favorite event, the sheep dog demonstrations.

The border collies used in this sport are smart, and extremely trainable canines, making them ideal for working a herd of everything from sheep to goats to cattle.

Lady, not trained with sheep because they are not allowed for our neighborhood, has spent years herding the cats of our house, the humans (especially frightening on stairs) and other dogs. I’ve thought that perhaps she could take some lessons from some of these work border collies, but she has assured me she earns her kibble on squirrel patrol.

The merriment at the Farm, where I’m sure plenty of squirrels can be located, commences the second the leash is taken off one of the energetic, beautiful black and white dogs. Their mission: Round up even the most reluctant sheep and herd them into the small holding pen.

That’s when the man with the special shaver gets to work. In a lickety split moment the bewildered sheep is shaved and ready for the warm weather. I really love it how the shearer (is that his official title?) almost always gets the whole coat off in one piece.

The sheep leaves the pen with a little bit of a stunned look on his cute sheep’s face. I’m sure it must feel wonderful to be rid of that heavy winter coat. Hey, I wonder if the man with the clippers would shave a particular woolly, hairy border collie. Now that would be something to see.

See you on the Farm!

For more information, go to www.srhf.org. Tickets can be purchased for the event ahead of time starting at $5 per member and $7 for nonmembers.