high desert shearing
small flock shearing
High Desert Shearing offers considerate shearing and hoof trimming for sheep, goats, alpacas, and llamas.
We work with small flocks of sheep and goats (1–100) and small herds of llamas and alpacas (1–30). We service Northern Nevada and Northeastern California including: Reno, Virginia City, Washoe Valley, Carson City, Carson Valley, Fernley, Fallon, Dayton, Yerington, Coleville, Sierra Valley, Chilcoot, Quincy, Doyle, Janesville, and Susanville.
who we are
Sarah Lillegard
Lead Shearer, Scheduler
Sarah started High Desert Shearing in 2018 after attending the UCCE Mendocino Sheep Shearing School. She brings a deep love of wool and sheep to her shearing work.
Lola Nixon
Shearer
Lola joined High Desert Shearing in 2021 as an assistant for alpacas and llamas. In 2023, she attended the Sheep Shearing and Basic Care 101 course at UC Hopland Extension Center and started working with small flocks on her own. Her experiences in customer service, small-scale farming, and (literal) cat wrangling feed into her patience and consideration as a shearer.
services & rates
Our pricing is based on small-flock shearing standard rates and reflect the time, skill, and training that go into our work. We approach each job with care and consideration from the first email to cleaning and sharpening our gear afterwards. We always take into account both the needs of the animals, as well as those of the flock owner.
$120 Base Rate
This is the base fee. Shearing and hoof trimming are added on a per head amount.
$50 Unpenned Fee
This fee is added if animals are unpenned or we need to assist with penning.
Add’l Mileage Fee
A mileage fee is added if you are outside of our shearing zone or off of our regular circuit.
Cash (preferred)
Check (established clients)
Venmo
Payment
Shearing
Ewes/Wethers: $8–$12
Rams: $16–$24
Goats: $16
Hoof Trimming
Regular Growth: $5
Overgrowth: $8
Pricing for flocks larger than 60 are quoted on an individual basis.
Sheep & Goats
We shear alpacas/llamas using a pulley restraint system and an assistant to help hold the head. We offer a maintenance cut (vs a show cut) and hoof trimming is included. We do not grind teeth or administer vaccines.
Alpacas: $40
Llamas: $50
Alpacas & Llamas
scheduling
Our 2026 season is Mar. 1–July 5 & Sept. 1–Oct. 31.
For scheduling an appointment and/or receiving an estimate, please submit the form below.
shearing day
For appointments, we text or email you a reminder a few days beforehand. If you need to change or cancel your appointment, notify us at least 48 hrs. in advance. On shearing day, we will do our best to arrive within 10 mins. of the appointment time. If we are delayed with earlier jobs, we’ll call or text an updated time. Working with animals means things can quickly go off schedule, so please leave some flexibility around your appointment.
In order for the shearing to go smoothly and calmly, these are the things you’ll need to prep:
Access to electricity (a nearby outlet or a generator)
A flat, level, hard surface to shear on (plywood, cement, etc)
Shade, particularly for May–July
For alpacas and llamas, there needs to be two sturdy ground-level supports to anchor restraints to.
Shearing Area Checklist
Sheep and goats are fasted.
Sheep and goats need to be off of food for at least 12 hours prior to shearing and not fed again until after they are shorn. They need to be off water at least 2 hours prior to shearing. Fasting is for the animal’s health and safety. No one is comfortable doing aerobics on a full stomach, including your sheep or goats.Animals are tightly penned. Alpacas and llamas are haltered.
The smaller the pen, the better and being close to the shearing area is a big bonus. Animals are smart and will find a way to unexpectedly get out once we arrive, so double check that everyone is secured before we get there. If animals are unpenned or we need to help pen them, a $50 fee will be added.Animals are dry.
If there is a chance of precipitation, keep them in a barn or fully covered/enclosed area prior to shearing. If you are unable to provide cover, please let us know in advance so we can reschedule.You(or another responsible party) are on-site.
This is a safety measure. We will not work if no one is on-site so please plan your day around the shearing appointment.Wool bags/supplies are ready.
You provide your own bags, bins, brooms or other means of moving and storing the wool.And just in case…
The shearer reserves the right to not shear an animal that is acting dangerously aggressive or is not safely penned. It is pretty rare that we can not handle a defensive ram or an ornery llama, but at the end of the day we will not compromise our safety or the safety of the animal just to “get the job done”.