Sheep Shearing Festival at the Canada Agriculture Museum

OTTAWA, May 12, 2006
For immediate release

It's time for the sheep to be shorn from May 20 to 22. Visitors can watch shearing demonstrations, wool spinning and weaving, felt-making, Border Collies at work, and much more such as alpacas on display. An expert shearer will give sheep shearing demonstrations several times daily. Also, children of all ages can help little Bo Peep find her sheep. Families and children of all ages can take part in fun outdoor activities.

Border Collies from the Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club will herd sheep and take part in fly ball relay races and agility competitions. Visitors can get involved in wool processing activities as spinners and weavers reveal the secrets of their craft. There will also be a selection of handmade wool products and crafts for sale.

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)
As summer approaches, 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 sheep herder 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 run 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 Spinning (ongoing)
Visitors can watch an expert spin wool with a spinning wheel.

Wool Products for Sale (ongoing)
Demonstrators of wool spinning and weaving will have articles for sale to the public.

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.

"Sheep to Shawl" Demonstration (Saturday only)
Visitors can meet the Ottawa Valley Weavers' and Spinners' Guild as they will transform wool from sheep to shawl.

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

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

Also...

• Horse Drawn Tally-Ho Rides ($). From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., weather permitting.
• Visitors can discover the exhibitions Tractors and The Farm: Plugged-In.
• Children's Activity Centre located on the Exhibitions level.
• A small exhibit will demonstrate to visitors how dyeing was done before commercial dyeing even existed by using natural products.
• The Hot Potato Company food service on site for all three days ($)
• The Australian Shop: Booth of various articles for sale related to sheep and wool (hats, boots, etc.)
• "That Plaster Place" painting craft ($)
• Craft; children can decorate a paper sheep with yarn and raw sheep wool.
• Colouring Activity; children can enjoy colouring and other activities on paper.