Shearing Day in Cambridge looks to educate the masses on wool

Over 50 guests, including the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, said they had a wooly good time during the Annual Shearing Day at Chassagne Farm in Cambridge.

Chassagne Farm in Cambridge, Ont. hosted its annual Shearing Day on Saturday, giving visitors a chance to learn about wood production and the farm’s Shetland sheep.

Attendees helped corral and shear Shetland sheep before learning how to skirt a fleece.

Carole Precious, owner of Chassagne Farm, explained how wool is transformed from fleece into finished goods.

“Every year, the sheep need to be sheared because they grow several pounds of wool,” Precious said. “We grade them, and all the best fleeces tend to get scooped up quickly by people who recognize what they are. They then buy the fleeces, they wash them, cod them, spin them and make them into whatever masterpieces they can.”

The event was held in collaboration with the Campaign for Wool in Canada and the Canadian Wool Council.

Canadian Wool Council CEO Matthew Rowe said consumers are increasingly interested in understanding where the products they buy come from.

“More than ever, people want to know where their products come from,” Rowe said. “Wool is something that for 10,000 years has been keeping people warm, comfortable and creating beautiful products.”

Rowe added that the real deal couldn’t be bested.

“When you’re wearing a wool jacket or you have wool carpet… it’s coming from a place like this. It’s not from an oil well, like as it would be if you were wearing something synthetic,” he said.

Chassagne Farm said it was the first farm permitted to import Shetland sheep into Canada. The farm said its original flock of 32 sheep arrived in 1980.

More than 50 people attended Saturday’s event, including Ontario Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont.

Spurred on by her desire to learn more about where her clothing was coming from, Dumont spoke highly about her experience at Chassagne Farm.

“Just being with citizens from across Ontario, many of them came from different cities, different towns. We’re just sharing a proud moment experiencing one of our local products that is known internationally. It brings joy,” Dumont said.

Precious said the farm hopes to expand its educational programming to reach more young adults and high school students.