[440] April 29-30 Tennessee Sheep Shearing School at MTSU Features Rathke

Release date: April 25, 2011

News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or jweiler@mtsu.edu
Agribusiness and Agriscience/sheep shearing school contact:
Dr. Warren Gill, 615-898-2404 or wgill@mtsu.edu

April 29-30 Tennessee Sheep Shearing
School at MTSU Features Rathke

(MURFREESBORO) — The 2011 Tennessee Sheep Shearing School will be held Friday and Saturday, April 29-30, at MTSU’s Tennessee Livestock Center.
The school, which begins at 10 a.m. April 29 and 8 a.m. April 30, is sponsored by the Tennessee Sheep Producers Association, Tennessee Farmer’s Cooperative, the University of Tennessee Extension Service and MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience.
Doug Rathke of Hutchinson, Minn., a seasoned shearer, knows what it takes to learn the art of shearing and he knows what it takes to teach it on a level so it can be understood and retained. Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced shearer, there is something for everyone to learn.
Rathke has been honing his shearing skills for more than 20 years. Most of his shearing has been with farm flocks in the Midwest. He has experience in other regions of the United States and abroad.
His techniques have been shown at New York’s Cornell University, Minnesota Technical Colleges, the University of Wisconsin, Michigan State University and in Canada. He has educated more than 1,500 students from Arkansas to Montana to Connecticut.
Assisting him will be Mark Powell of the Wilson Farmer’s Co-Op, Jim Neel of the UT Extension and Dr. Warren Gill, director of the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience.
The school is for adults and young people at the senior (high school) 4-H level (the first six 4-H’ers who register will have their fee paid by the Tennessee Sheep Producers Association). The fee to participate is $75.
For more information, call 615-898-2404.

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Media welcomed.

In Brief

Veteran sheep shearer Doug Rathke of Hutchinson, Minn., will head of team of shearing experts teaching others the art at the 2011 Tennessee Sheep Shearing School Friday and Saturday, April 29-30, at MTSU’s Tennessee Livestock Center. Beginners and advanced sheep shearer will learn something. The participation fee is $75. For information, call 615-898-2404.


Founded in 1911, Middle Tennessee State University is a Tennessee Board of Regents institution located in Murfreesboro and is the state’s largest public undergraduate institution. In September 2011, MTSU will celebrate its 100th year anniversary with special events and activities throughout the year — kicked off by a Blue-Tie Centennial Gala on Friday, Sept. 9.

For MTSU news and information, go online to mtsunews.com.