Iowa State Bank

Holly and Caleb Moser with their daughters, Jaycee and Hattie. Photo by Amanda Fritz Photography.

SHORTAGE OF SHEEP SHEARERS SURELY PROVIDES JOB SECURITY

by Bob Fitch

What’s the objective measurement of achievement for commercial sheep shearing? “We get most of the wool off and leave most of the skin on,” said Alex Moser. “Most our customers are pretty happy with our work.”

Alex and his brother, Caleb (who typically goes by his nickname Billy), have both bought into the farm of their parents, Wes and Esther Moser. The operation is located on the west edge of Lester where they have both ewes to lamb out and lambs they feed to finish. “However, Caleb and I both shear sheep as our primary occupation. That’s what pays the bills,” said Alex. A majority of their shearing is done within two hours of Lester but, about once a month, they travel to jobs in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois or Wisconsin. The brothers and Alex’s wife, Katherine, stay busy shearing about 10 months out of the year. During lambing season, they rotate who stays home and who goes out with a crew. “Normally, we shear once a year for our customers, but some do it twice. We shear ewes normally before lambing. And we do lambs a couple of months before market to help them keep cool and help with their gains. We