Local rancher holds shearing demonstration for students

On September 22nd, Mike and Cheryl Schuldt came to Ekalaka to assist local Butch Nies in hosting a sheep shearing demonstration. Mike Schuldt has been shearing for 33 years and has traveled all over the world doing so, including trips to New Zealand and Australia.

A timed event in Fredricksburg, Texas is also on the list of places where he has shorn. At the event, he sheared a sheep of around 100 pounds in 37 seconds, two seconds slower than the winning time.

Butch and Carole Nies have ran sheep for about 65 years outside of Ekalaka. Butch originally began showing interest in shearing as a high schooler. He spent a few years tromping wool before he started shearing on his own. In time, he gathered a group of men, mostly WWII veterans, and started his own crew.

Nies and his crew sheared for around 10 years. He estimates that he has sheared close to 75,000 sheep in his lifetime. He can still be seen shearing his own sheep every spring and continues to tromp wool at the age of 81.

Schuldt sheared two weathers and Nies sheared one of his own sheep during the demonstration at Carter County Fairgrounds on September 22. Local students in grades 6-12 were able to attend.

Schuldt explained the process and technique from start to finish. Students timed him on his second sheep and clocked him at 2:01. He also explained what equipment is needed to shear and what that equipment costs. Nies stated that his hand piece he uses to shear cost $35 when it was brand new. Schuldt's cost around $750. Schuldt also explained the importance of proper shoes and attire and how they can make shearing easier on the body.

Carole Nies was also able to attend the demonstration. She showed students how to properly pick up a fleece and carry it without it getting dirty or ruined. Carole spent several years in the shearing shed alongside Butch, picking up fleece and pushing up sheep. The two of them have always made a great team.

Cheryl Schuldt demonstrated how to pick wool up without getting it dirty and showed wool samples to the students. She explained how lanolin is brought out of the wool and brought a jar for students to see. In addition, several articles of wool clothing were shown. One interesting item of note was a wool rain coat which repels water very well.

Each sixth grade student in attendance later wrote Nies a letter thanking him for hosting the demonstration. The majority of them wrote about how soft the wool was to the touch and were impressed with how fast one sheep can be shorn.

Nies was complimentary of Superintendent Stephen Ely and thanked him for allowing the students to attend the demonstration. He was also grateful for Ag teacher Mr. Seth Whitney who assisted in putting the afternoon together.