Black Sheep Newsletter
  A magazine for shepherds and fiber enthusiasts

The American Sheep Industry (ASI) Offers Developing Shearer Grants

There is a large and continuing need for sheep shearers across the United States as producers continue to struggle to find people to handle their shearing needs. Seeing the need of more shearers for both large and small sheep operations, the American Sheep Industry Association’s Wool Council has developed a grant program to incentivize the development of domestic shearers.

This grant program will support developing shearers – $500 up front and $1,000 at the conclusion – as they work to increase the quality of their shearing and the amount of sheep they are able to shear each day. In doing this, they are working to build their income and longevity in the shearing industry. Additionally, as the mentor provides the developing shearer with knowledge and an avenue to shear – thereby sharing their work and income and slowing the number of operations they can shear – mentors are also supplemented with $1,500 at the conclusion of the grant.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 1, 2023.

https://www.sheepusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2023-Developing-Shearer-Mentor-Grant-Application.pdf