Sheep Shearing Demonstrations

Updated for 2026

The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is pleased to have Emily Chamelin of Westminster, Maryland as our sheep shearing demonstrator. Emily is a full time machine shearer who grew up in Carroll County, Maryland. Her first introduction to sheep was through 4-H and her shearing education began right here as well, having attended the Maryland Shearing School. Emily shears several thousand sheep in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware each spring. She has shorn and competed internationally as well in Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, and France.

In the off season Emily works at her family’s local USDA butcher shop processing lamb and chicken and manages her own flock of Border Cheviot sheep utilizing regenerative practices.

There are many highly skilled and talented shearers working in the Mid- Atlantic region and all over the USA. We are always excited to spotlight some of the amazing shearers who make the journey to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, and hope to have some new faces hop up on stage to help demonstrate the skill and finesse required to shear sheep for our agricultural community.

There will be a general discussion of sheep breeds and management, wool types and value, and sheep handling. Please drop by to enjoy our show and ask questions.

Sheep Shearing Demonstration from the 2021 Virtual Festival

2026 Catalog Cover Artist Andrea Wisnewski

Find out more about our 2026 cover artist Andrea Wisnewski.

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It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Mary Streaker, one of the founders of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Mary passed away yesterday, just two months shy of her 95th birthday.Mary's influence on our Festival, the Howard County Fairgrounds, and countless individuals cannot be overstated. She was a teacher, mentor, artist, leader, volunteer, and friend whose passion for education, creativity, and community helped shape the Festival we know today.Many of us were fortunate to know Mary personally. Even in recent years, she continued to attend Festival meetings when she was able, reconnecting with the volunteers and friends who had worked alongside her for decades. Her wisdom, enthusiasm, and deep commitment to preserving and celebrating the fiber arts inspired generations of volunteers, exhibitors, artists, and fairgoers.Mary's legacy lives on through the Home Arts Department, the Fine Arts and Photo Competitions, and the many traditions she helped establish and nurture. The Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival exists today in part because of the vision, dedication, and countless hours of service that Mary and her fellow founders invested so many years ago.On behalf of the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Mary's family, friends, students, and all who were touched by her remarkable life. We are grateful for her contributions, her friendship, and the enduring example she set for all of us.Mary will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.Visitation will be held at Haight Funeral Home, Sykesville, Maryland, on June 17 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. and 6:00–8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on June 18 at 10:00 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in the Howard County Fairgrounds Dining Hall. ... See MoreSee Less
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LOST AND FOUND!2026 MD Sheep & Wool If you lost an item at the Festival please contact gro.loowdnapeehs@ofni. We do have a few items that were left behind and will work with you to determine if any of them are yours! Glasses, wallets, journal, necklace, scarf, etc., etc. We'd like to see you reunited!! ... See MoreSee Less
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🐑 All the final details are coming together and we are excited to see everyone!!! Please expect heavy traffic on Sat am, so plan ahead! SO much to see and do all weekend! Come out and support local, small, creative owned businesses and agriculture at the #mdsw sheepandwool.org ... See MoreSee Less
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