Near Studley in Sheridan County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Shearing the Sheep

Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 6, 2017

1. Shearing the Sheep Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Each spring the Pratts hired children from the area and equipped them with shepherding hooks. Their job was to drive a steady stream of sheep to the shearing shed, where hired shearers were paid five cents per sheep to hand-clip the wool. As fleeces were removed, the wool was stuffed in large burlap bags that were then hauled to the Studley depot and shipped to market.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 39° 21.322′ N, 100° 10.4′ W. Marker is near Studley, Kansas, in Sheridan County. Marker can be reached from U.S. 24 east of Road 140E, on the left when traveling east. Marker is located on the Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site grounds, overlooking the paddock on the north side of the ranch house. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14432 East US Highway 24, Hoxie KS 67740, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Fenton Pratt, Photographer (within shouting distance of this marker); Documenting the History of Sheridan County (within shouting distance

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of this marker); The Story of the Stones (within shouting distance of this marker); End of an Era (within shouting distance of this marker); After the Pratts (within shouting distance of this marker); Yorkshire Ranching on the High Plains (within shouting distance of this marker); Washhouse and Yard Fence (within shouting distance of this marker); Stained Glass Windows (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Studley.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Cottonwood Ranch State Historic Site

Also see . . . Pratt Family. The Pratts decided to seek their fortunes in sheep raising, a common agricultural endeavor in their native northern Yorkshire. Soon they found that sheep thrived on the buffalo grass of north-central Kansas. The demand for wool was strong, and they prospered by shipping bags of fleeces to the East. (Submitted on September 15, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Merino Sheep and Lambs image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Merino Sheep and Lambs

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 6, 2017

3. Shearing the Sheep Marker

(paddock in background)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 6, 2017

4. Shearing the Sheep Marker

(barn and paddock in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 2 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 15, 2020, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.