Students in the Animal Science program at Sampson Community College traveled to Heelside Farms in Four Oaks this week for some real-world experience. The visit is part of the Sheep and Goat Production course.
Heelside Farms owners, Ricky and Carolyn Beasley raise their own sheep and make and sale wool garments from the sheep.
“This is just one more opportunity to get students into the field,” says Chet Bass, Applied Animal Science Technology Department Chair.“Nothing can replace hands-on training and learning in the field. Doing it firsthand.”
The major steps necessary to process wool from the sheep to the fabric are: shearing, cleaning and scouring, grading and sorting, carding, spinning, weaving, and finishing. This week, students had the opportunity to see and experience how wool is made into yarn and then into items of clothing. Heelside Farms includes a studio where they conduct regular classes on spinning wool and students were able to see many samples of wool products, some straight from the sheep and others that had been cleaned and dyed.
For more information on the Animal Science program at SCC contact Chet Bass at cbass@sampsoncc.edu
