Sheep Shearing Day Brings Hands-On Learning to Life at Home Winds Farm 

Gill St. Bernard’s School welcomed the return of a beloved spring tradition with its Third Annual Sheep Shearing Day at Home Winds Farm on March 11, 2025.  

Students from First through Eighth Grade, along with the Upper School Animal Science class, gathered throughout the day with Farm Manager Ned Lincoln to witness this fascinating and time-honored agricultural process. New this year, parents were also invited to “return to school” and join for the first session of the day, making it a truly community-wide celebration of learning. 

In total, 30 sheep were shorn by Chris Stitzel, a fourth-generation sheep shearer based out of Lancaster, PA, who learned his trade from his father and grandfather. The largest fleece of the day came from Virgil, the farm’s largest ram, who tipped the scales at approximately 150 pounds and produces an impressive 10-pound fleece each year.  

As students observed the shearing process, they also learned about the important role sheep have played in human survival over thousands of years. Wool, meat, and milk are the three main products provided by sheep that have long sustained civilizations around the globe. 

“One key takeaway that I’d want the students to understand is where the products they take for granted come from and to understand the cultural value of animals that have kept humans alive for thousands of years," said Farm Manager Ned Lincoln.

Students also discovered how sheep’s specialized digestive systems help regulate their body temperature. As ruminants, sheep ferment plant matter in a four-compartment stomach, a process that generates internal heat. After their fleece is removed, this heat escapes from their bodies and helps to warm the surrounding barn—keeping the flock cozy even after a fresh shear. As the weather warms (it is now 70 degrees and sunny as of the writing of this article), it is even more important that the sheep are shorn, removing the equivalent of a 3” thick sweater, before spring becomes fully underway.  

Shearing is an annual event for our flock, although some breeds of sheep are shorn twice a year, depending on the type of fleece and its intended use. The color of the fleece also varies by breed; some sheep appear to have brown fleeces but are actually black sheep whose wool has been sun-bleached. Once sheared, they return to their original black coloring. Other sheep produce two-toned wool, typically black and white, which blends into a grey color when spun into yarn. Yarn spun from the Home Winds Farm flock is available for sale; contact Farm Manager Ned Lincoln for more information. It will also be coming to the Home Winds Farm Stand soon. 

The day provided a unique opportunity for students to connect with farm life, gain deeper insights into animal care, and understand the science and sustainability behind wool and textile production. Events like Sheep Shearing Day continue to bring Gill St. Bernard’s commitment to experiential learning to life—one fleece at a time.