'Shear Fun' With Sheep In Mercer County This Weekend

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ — This event is “Shear Fun.” Mercer County residents are invited to Howell Living History Farm’s annual sheep shearing and sheep herding event on Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The event will also feature related arts, crafts and demonstrations.

Eugene Sheninger of Rockaway Township will provide sheep herding demonstrations at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sheninger will use veteran collies, along with younger collies in training. They will work the flock with methods that farmers have used for centuries.

Sheep-shearing demonstrations will take place at 11 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Shearers will use hand shears and children can crank a set of circa 1900 “automatic shears,” the precursor to electric shears.

Throughout the day, visitors can meet twin lambs and try their hand at spinning wool. Different wool products and natural fleeces will be on display and for sale for visitors to see how all resources are utilized on the farm. The Hunterdon County Rug Artisans Guild will provide a rug-hooking demonstration and display as well.

A children's craft program, “Corn Cob Sheep,” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $3; groups of eight or more must pre-register.

In the event of rain, all shearing and wool processing will be held inside barns and the farm's Visitor Center. Herding demonstrations will be held outside, weather permitting, with times adjusted accordingly.

Howell Farm is owned by the County of Mercer and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission. It is located on Valley Road, just off Route 29, in Hopewell Township. The GPS address is 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township, NJ 08530.

For additional information about the farm, call 609-737-3299 or visit www.mercercountyparks.org or www.howellfarm.org.

The attached image was provided: Eugene Sheninger’s collie works to flock sheep together for their annual haircut before the warm summer months.