Top sheep shearers from across the United States gathered at the National Western Stock Show in Denver recently to participate in the International Sheep Shearing Contest.

Twenty-four shearers competed at the professional level while seven contestants under the age of 18 participated in the junior division. Tony Troendle of Lead, S.D., and Maximiano Larralde of Galeton, Colo., took home the top shearer titles in the junior division. Winning the professional division was Jim Schaefer of Callao, Mo., with Davin Perrin of Corning, Iowa, taking the reserve champion honor.

Oster Professional Products sponsored this event as well as other shearing contests throughout the United States and Canada. The American Sheep Industry Association's (ASI) Wool Council provided additional sponsorships to the top five junior competitors and the top 16 professional contestants.

As part of ASI's continuing education program, sheep shearing task force member, Jim Bristol, was on-hand to discuss the sheep shearing programs of ASI's Wool Council. The focus lies with a certified sheep shearing program, a shearer database and shearing education. Shearers at the event were pleased with the council's effort to include them in these wool quality improvement programs.

Also recognized during the events of the weekend was Charlie Swaim from Drakesville, Iowa, for his years of dedication and service to the shearing industry.

Date: 1/24/05

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