Sheep Shearing Festival at the Canada Agriculture Museum

OTTAWA, May 11, 2007
For immediate release

From May 19 to 21 the annual Sheep Shearing Festival takes place at the Canada Agriculture Museum, Ottawa. Highlights include shearing demonstrations, wool carding, felt-making, Border Collies at work, alpacas on display and much, much more.

An expert shearer will give sheep shearing demonstrations several times daily while Border Collies from the Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club will take part in flyball relay races and agility competitions. Visitors can try knitting with the advice of experts from The Knitting Guild of Ottawa and children can get creative by making a fun “woolly” craft. Also, visitors of all ages can help Little Bo Peep find her sheep and families can enjoy the Museum’s spacious grounds and outdoor amenities.

Sheep Shearing Demonstrations (10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30 and 4:00)
With summer approaching, it’s now time to shear the sheep’s winter wool coats. Visitors can watch a professional sheep shearer at work as a Museum Interpreter describes the procedure.

Sheep Herding Demonstration with Sheepdogs (11:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00)
In this demonstration, visitors will see a shepherd and his dogs working together to herd a flock of sheep.

Sheepdog Agility Demonstration - Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club (12:00)
Visitors will be enthralled by the agility of Border Collie dogs as they race through an obstacle course.

Flyball Relay Race Demonstration (1:30)
Visitors will be captivated by relay race and jumping demonstrations of Border Collie dogs of the Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club.

Knitting (ongoing)
Visitors can try knitting with the advice of experts from "The Knitting Guild of Ottawa".

Wool Carding (ongoing)
At this station, visitors can learn about this important step in the transformation of wool and can try carding by hand.

Meet a Lamb and its Family (ongoing)
A Museum Interpreter will be on hand to talk about the life cycle of sheep and the different breeds raised at the Museum.

Felt Making and Dyeing (ongoing)
Visitors can make felt from sheep wool while discovering the history of the world’s oldest woven fabric.

Meet the Alpacas (ongoing)
Visitors can see alpacas up close and learn all about them from their owners.

“Animal or Plant?” Quiz (ongoing)
At this activity station, visitors can spin a wheel to test their knowledge about fibres from diverse sources.

Natural Dye Display (ongoing)
A small exhibit will demonstrate how wool dyeing was done long before commercial dyeing processes even existed.

Also...

• Horse Drawn Tally-Ho Rides ($). From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., weather permitting.
• Visitors can discover the exhibitions Tractors and Food for Health.
• Children’s Activity Centre located on the Exhibitions level.
• The Hot Potato Company food service on site for all three days ($)
• Craft: Using a paper hand print and cotton balls, children can create a “woolly” sheep to bring home as a souvenir.
• Colouring Activity: children can enjoy colouring and other activities on paper.
• Farm Boutique Clearance Sale