May 22, 2025 2:50 a.m.

The Mike McWilliam Memorial Sheep Shearing Contest will be hosting the U.S. Sheep Shearing Championships on June 6th and 7th at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

Information from the Douglas County Farm Bureau said the event is held in conjunction with the Douglas County Lamb Show and Sale. The Umpqua Weavers and Spinners Guild will have a wool showcase displaying wool processing and products. The Douglas County Livestock Association will host their lamb barbecue on Saturday. Memorial rugs spun from the wool shorn at the event will be pre-sold at the contest. All activities are free and open to the public.

Beginner and preliminary rounds of shearing start at 11:00 a.m. Friday with the semi-finals and final events beginning at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. Several Oregon shearers have registered to participate as well as shearers from all over the US including Arkansas, Montana, Vermont, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, South Dakota, Iowa and California.

There will be competitions for beginners, intermediates, and open classes of machine shearing as well as wool handling and blade shearing. For a full schedule of events, go to: https://www.dougcofb.org/2025-us-shearing-contest.