Don't be sheepish - shearing demo can be educational

If only a tailor were on hand at Thursday's sheepshearing demonstration at the DuPage County Fair's AgVentureland exhibit, three lucky folks could be walking around today in special-edition fine wool suits.

Professional sheepshearer and fair veteran Harold Davis, from Odell, took about 12 pounds of wool off an "obese" sheep in roughly five minutes.

"Most average men's wool suits consist of about 4 pounds of wool, so this pelt here's good for about three suits," Davis said. "It's a little warm for wool suits right now, but can you imagine how many suits we could make at the fair if all the sheep were this fat?"

Davis is shearing five sheep a day during the fair, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and continuing every hour through 2:30 p.m. The fair runs through Sunday at 2015 W. Manchester Road, Wheaton.

Villa Park resident Beth Sczarnick was happy her 6-year-old daughter, Aimee, got to see where her winter sweaters came from. But she also walked away from the 10:30 a.m. shearing having learned that the lanolin in her body lotions also comes exclusively from sheep's wool.

"I never thought I'd say this about watching a sheep get a haircut," she said, "but I guess we got here right on time."

For several years, Davis has had an agreement with My Little Petting Farm, also in AgVentureland, to shear the farm's sheep. Most sheep, Davis said, grow about 8 pounds of wool a year.

"It really is a great deal because they get their sheep sheared for their petting zoo and I get to teach folks about shearing and clear up any misconceptions that (shearing) is harmful or hurts the sheep," Davis said.

Retired farmer and teacher Bob Hein of Winfield also hoped to clear up farming misconceptions from his rocking chair in the AgVentureland Ask a Farmer booth.

"I've only gotten two questions so far, one from an adult and one from a youngster, but it's early," Hein said. "As people come through here this week and walk through the barns and exhibits, I'm sure the questions will start rolling and I won't be able to keep up."

Also featured in the AgVentureland exhibit are a display of fish found in DuPage's lakes and rivers, an interactive exhibit where children can learn about pollution and how they can prevent it, and an embryology exhibit featuring hatching chicks.

"This whole area's pretty neat because it kind of wraps up the fair into a smaller, kid-friendly package," said Wheaton resident Mike Woodard. "I'm here with my boys and I've learned a few things, too."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=308606">Demolition derby Sunday at DuPage Co. Fair <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=308608">Acts competing for prizes in DuPage Co. Fair talent show <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=309001">Fair visitor's legacy: Six decades, one corn dog <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=309012">'Killdozer' is one fair demolition derby driver <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=309018">Don't be sheepish - shearing demo can be educational <span class="date">[07/24/09]</span></a></li> </ul> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=9&type=video&item=376">Food at the fair </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>