Art Form: Sheep shearing

Location(s): Davison (Genesee County)

Deborah Caryl

Deb Caryl with a lamb

Deb Caryl with 2011 Michigan Heritage Awardees Calvin Cooke and a family member of Gaylord Klancnik

Deb Caryl comes from a family of traditional champion sheep shearers and farmers and from a county with a long history of sheep breeding and shearing contests. Her father, Jerry, taught her how to shear 27 years ago when she took over his shearing business. Her son Sy has also followed in the family’s tradition and, likewise, become a champion sheep shearer. Together, mother and son raise sheep in Davison on their D & S Farms. Sheep must be sheared every year. Shearing sheep is a traditional art and skill that is honed over time. Expert shearing is done quickly, kindly and adeptly, with the shearer moving the animal in 37 different positions during the process. Deb regularly shears for owners of small flocks and is known for her shearing style that creates a single fleece with no second cuts, a style preferred by spinners. She has held many leadership roles within the sheep industry, including serving as a member of the Genesee County Agricultural Board and National Merino Board, coordinator of the Michigan Sheep Breeders Photo Contest, and coordinator of the Michigan State Fair Shearing Contest and National Sheep Shearing Contest, bringing the latter to the Genesee County Fair.

Deb believes strongly in the sharing and passing on of this tradition to others. In addition to her busy spring shearing work, she mentors and trains young people how to become shearers through her 4-H club, noting “it takes about two years to know the right moves.” Deb is known for her tireless promotion of the tradition with public audiences, and volunteering and demonstrating shearing in public school classrooms and at numerous festivals, fairs, and other events.

Read more about Deb Caryl's Michigan Heritage Award and work here.