Brian's brother, Doug, and wife Sharron will be in the Engine Room cafe with a delicious range of tasting plates and recipes featuring exotic meats. Sheep from Wales were put on Arapawa Island 200 years ago as a food source for shipwrecked sailors. The couple will be serving a shipwrecked sailors meal of Arapawa steaks with bird eggs.
At other food stalls throughout the farm, exotic meats will be cooked for visitors to taste and Tony Coleman, a butcher from Auckland, will demonstrate techniques to enhance the butchery of the exotic carcasses. Traditional recipes using the exotic meats will be available, plus meat cuts for visitors to take home and cook.
Tina Everitt from the Cock and Pullet will provide smoko for everyone and will have a full range of pickles to sell.
As well as plenty of tasty food, Dannevirke Dairy Supplies will have a display of portable milking machines for cows, goats and sheep and give sheep-milking demonstrations.
Craig Pritchard, convener of Sheep Dairy New Zealand, will be present to offer advice.
Among all the meat and fibre, there will be demonstrations of Mr Hales' successful Slippers in Schools project, which focuses on children's health by promoting the use of wool.
"This year, 140 children from four schools made themselves a pair of slippers using our exotic wools," he says.
"I hope to continue this programme again next year.
"I offer the programme free to schools, but it does cost me, so at the shearing day I am asking visitors for a small donation so the programme can continue."
Also at the event, Hawke's Bay-based company Origin Earth will have sheep-milk products to taste or buy.
"They are a company which recognises the value of products from biologically active soils," Mr Hales says.
"All milk they use can be traced to the farm, the paddock and the animals of origin. They produce fresh milk, not homogenised, pot-set yoghurt, low-fat cream cheese, and a range of cheeses.
"All Origin Earth milk products are made straight from the animal."
This year, crafters will be able to sell their creations and stalwarts of the exotic day, Bev Beddingfield and Val Summerell, will be in the corner of the woolshed with their homespun and knitted garments.
Other exhibitors include Suzy Brown (Wool Wench) who has a background in education and is strongly focused towards community and learning.
"Her spinning and weaving experiments are curiosity-driven with a strong emphasis on storytelling using colour and texture," Mr Hales says.
"She likes to mix traditional with new and combine unusual materials and techniques in her work."
Heather Newland's crafts use natural materials and incorporate traditional Maori design. "Heather will also shear and share her knowledge on the wool table."
Local artist Sheryl Hulena will exhibit a range of crafts using felted wool from exotic sheep. This year she has also fostered orphan exotic lambs and she can discuss their upbringing needs. These lambs (Coco and the boys) will be at the shearing day.
Aaron Tylee will provide a working sheepdog display on the hill behind the historic woolshed.
With the day now such a big event, the Hales family need all the help they can get, so behind the scenes Phillip Hanley, William Bly, Andrew Biggs, Sheryl Hulena, and Heather Newland have prepared the sheep for shearing.
Exotic sheep shearing day
- Sunday, September 27.
-Hales family woolshed Wimbledon.
-10am to 2pm.
-Admission free.
-Hospitality free.
Shearing programme:
10am: Pitt Island sheep.
10.30am: Arapawa Island sheep.
11am: Karakul.
11.30am: Angora goats.
Noon: Gotland pelt sheep.
1pm: Jacob sheep and Awassi sheep.
1.30pm: Dorper sheep and East Friesian sheep.
