As the Chicago Police Bagpipes and Drums of the Emerald Society band emerged from a barn Sunday playing their signature instruments, they were followed by a group that helps produce their signature kilts.
One they got to a dais at the Children’s Farm at the Center in Palos Park, the bagpipers parted and the followers proceeded to get their coats removed — with shears.
One by one Paul Lally, a sheep farmer from Palos Park, led the sheep onto a stage surrounded by dozens of spectators.
He then proceeded to shear off each animal’s natural winter coat. Each shearing lasted about 15 minutes.
Band manager Thomas Cody said all of the band members’ kilts were made of natural wool like the kind being sheared Sunday.
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He said the band has been participating in the annual event for about the last 15 years. Cody said the band’s drummer, Eddie Higgins, who died two years ago, was an avid volunteer at the Center and the band still comes in honor of him.
Spectator Teresa Thompson, of Oak Forest, said Lally’s demonstration was very educational for her and her 5-year-old son.
“I’m surprised by how calm the sheep are,” she said.
In fact, the sheep may be happy to be rid of their thick coats as summer approaches.
Amy DiDominicis, program director at the Center, said the coats tend to get matted and the sheep would get very hot during the summer if the wool was not sheared.
She said the event also can be important for the spectators.
“In this fast paced world even for preschoolers to college students (it) gives them a chance to slow down and get back in touch again with nature and sunshine,” DiDominicis said.
She said most of the wool is collected to be used for craft programs at the Center, such as yarn spinning classes.
Spectator Pat Storzek of Big Rock said she is allergic to wool, but she was interested enough to bring her 3-year-old grandson to the Children’s Farm for the demonstration.
Storzek said she saw a similar display during a recent trip to Ireland, but that was done with electric clippers. On Sunday, Lally was using manual shears.
“The kids are all asking very interesting questions,” Storzek said.
They asked about the different types of wool and how much it’s worth.
Each sheep yielded between 10 to 15 pounds of wool, Lally said, but the market value of the raw material is minimal.
Wool becomes profitable only after it’s been processed by spinning it into yarn and making clothes and other items.
Children were allowed to grab handfuls of wool that Lally sheared and take the material home.
They had their choice of black wool from a Scottish blackface mountain sheep or white wool from a Hampshire sheep.
Lally said some wool is more oily than others, but generally, the black wool is used to make carpet and the white can be dyed and made into sweaters.
He spoke in a heavy Irish accent having emigrated from Ireland in 1986.
Lally grew up on a sheep farm and missed the lifestyle when he moved to America. So, he establish a small sheep farm on the corner of Southwest Highway and 131st Street in Palos Park.
DiDominicis said the next sheep shearing demonstrations at the Center are scheduled for June 2 during Farm Fest.
More information on that event, as well as available opportunities to be a volunteer tour guide at the facility, is at 708-361-3650.
Frank Vaisvilas is a freelancer for the Daily Southtown.
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