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Sheep Shearing Festival at the Canada Agriculture Museum

OTTAWA, May 9, 2008
For immediate release

From May 17 to 19 the annual Sheep Shearing Festival takes place at the Canada Agriculture Museum! Highlights include shearing demonstrations, finger weaving, felt-making and dyeing, Border Collies at work, alpacas on display, a knitting fundraiser for CHEO, and much, much more.

An expert shearer will give sheep shearing demonstrations several times daily while Border Collies from the Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club will take part in sheep herding, flyball relay races and agility competitions. Visitors can try knitting for CHEO with the advice of experts from The Knitting Guild of Ottawa, and children can get creative making a fun sheep craft. Also, visitors of all ages can help Little Bo Peep find her sheep, and families can enjoy the Museum’s spacious grounds and outdoor play structure for young children.

Knitting for CHEO (ongoing)
Visitors can try knitting with the advice of experts from The Knitting Guild of Ottawa. This year, members of the The Knitting Guild of Ottawa will knit blankets that will be given to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Money donations will also be accepted. Visitors can also participate in a draw as a thank you for their support of this special activity.

Sheep Shearing Demonstrations (10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30 and 4:00)
With summer approaching, it’s now time to shear the sheep’s winter wool coats. Visitors can watch a professional sheep shearer at work as a Museum Interpreter describes the procedure.

Frisbee Demonstration (10:30, Saturday and Sunday only) weather permitting.
In an all new demonstration offered by the Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club, visitors can enjoy watching the dogs in a Frisbee competition.

Sheep Herding Demonstration with Sheepdogs (11:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00)
In this demonstration visitors will see a shepherd and his dogs working together to herd a flock of sheep.

Sheepdog Agility Demonstration (12:00)
Visitors will be enthralled by the agility of Border Collie dogs as they race through an obstacle course.

Flyball Relay Race Demonstration (1:30) weather permitting
Visitors will be captivated by a relay race and jumping demonstrations of Border Collie dogs of the Ottawa Valley Border Collie Club.

Finger Weaving (ongoing)
Visitors can see a craftsman devote his time to finger weaving, a traditional craft that allows the making of all sorts of woven items such as the famous French Canadian arrow sash!

Wool Carding (ongoing)
At this station, visitors can learn about and try with their own hands this important step in the transformation of wool.

Meet a Lamb and its Family (ongoing)
A Museum Interpreter will be on hand to talk about the life cycle of sheep and the different breeds raised at the Museum.

Felt Making and Dyeing (ongoing)
Visitors can make felt from sheep wool while discovering the history of the world’s oldest woven fabric.

Meet the Alpacas (ongoing)
Visitors can see alpacas up close and learn all about them from their owners.

"Animal or Plant?" Quiz (ongoing)
At this activity station, visitors can spin a wheel to test their knowledge about fibres from diverse sources.

Also...

  • Wool Weaving and Spinning (ongoing)
  • Colouring activity (ongoing)
  • Craft (ongoing)
  • Farm Boutique Clearance Sale ($)
  • Children’s Activity Centre located on the Exhibitions level (for children 6 years old and younger).
  • Horse Drawn Tally-Ho Wagon Rides ($), weather permitting
  • The Hot Potato Company food service will be available during Sheep Shearing.
  • Visit our new exhibition “Brewer’s Gold: The History of the Hop Industry in British Columbia” and “Tractors”, located on the second floor of the Dairy Barn.

Not to be missed...
Father's Day, June 15th
Canadian Horse Weekend, June 28 and 29
Canada Day, July 1

The Canada Agriculture Museum, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in October 2008, connects Canadians and the world to the historical and current importance in everyday life of agricultural science and technology through engaging interpretive activities and products centred on an accessible demonstration farm.

Hours

Exhibitions:
March 1 to October 31, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed November 1 to February 28.

Animal Barns:
Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed December 25. Admission is free to the Animal Barns November 1 to February 28.

Plenty of free parking.

General admission
Families (2 adults and 3 children): $13
   Additional children: $2 per child
   Additional adults: $3 per adult
Adults: $6
Children under 3: free
Children (3–14): $3
Students: $5
Seniors (60+): $5, free on Tuesdays
Members: unlimited free admission and many more benefits

 Groups of 20 or more: please call 613-991-3053 for rates

Fees subject to change without notice.

Location:
Prince of Wales Drive, south of the traffic circle, north of Baseline Road. Free parking. The Canada Agriculture Museum is located on Prince of Wales Drive on the Central Experimental Farm.

Telephone: 613 991-3044
Toll free: 866 442-4416
TTY: 613 991-9207
Fax: 613 993-7923
Reservations for guided tours & school programs: 613 991-3053

Web Sites: agriculture.technomuses.ca
                    foodforhealth.ca

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MEDIA CONTACT:

David Sutin
Manager, Communications, Marketing and Farm Operations
CANADA AGRICULTURE MUSEUM
Tel. 613 996-7812;
E-mail : dsutin@technomuses.ca

or

Lucie Robillard
Communications, Marketing and Visitor Statistic Clerk
Tel. 613 943-1164;
E-mail : lrobillard@technomuses.ca