“Look at all that wool!” exclaimed Laura Cooper, 6, as she observed David Sweeney shearing a sheep on Saturday morning at a farm in Holly Springs.

Once a year, Dirk and Judy Tysmans invite friends and neighbors to visit their farm on New Hill Road and watch their flock of eight sheep and one goat get sheared just as spring time approaches.

“We open the farm to visitors that day because it’s unique in today’s world for families to participate in this activity,” Judy said.

Despite the ominous weather, small groups of visitors came and went as Sweeney skillfully sheared the Tysmans’ flock. “He’s being kind to them, which I appreciate,” Judy said.

The wool that comes from the flock is eventually spun into thread and turned into handmade clothing like the socks Judy was wearing.

Judy, who learned how to spin thread about 13 years ago, wished to share her knowledge and started the Twisted Threads Fibers Arts Guild, which now has approximately 175 members of all ages from all over the Triangle.

Their activities range from entries in spinning at the state fair, to knitting chemo caps for cancer patients.

The Tysmans first became interested in raising sheep and goats when they were searching for a nontoxic solution to the poison ivy that had been spreading across their land. An agricultural extension agent suggested sheep, which can safely eat the poison ivy.

Sweeney, who has been shearing sheep for about 20 years, finished shearing the first sheep with ease. The sheep was given a tetanus shot and released into the pen. “I imagine she feels very different now than she did,” said Kim Garnett, a member of the Twisted Threads Guild.

“They’re sheared as soon as their wool is long enough to shear,” said Jame Amoroso, another member of the Twisted Threads Guild.

Shearing the sheep not only provides the Twisted Threads Guild with material to work with, but it is also important in keeping the sheep healthy and happy.

Surprisingly, the sheep gave little resistance to Sweeney, who would move them around as necessary. “Most of the time, I wouldn’t say 100 percent,” the sheep are fairly calm, Dirk said.

“It’s amazingly simple. It looks like the animal’s enjoying it,” said Tom Bowers, a friend of the Tysmans.

The Tysmans’ flock also grabbed the attention of Momo Tanaka, a junior and animal science major at N.C. State University, who came to experience the work involved with keeping a flock. “I didn’t grow up on a farm,” she said, “I’m trying out everything.”

Some children like Laura and her sister Anne Hope Cooper, 8, found interest in the old trade being displayed on that soggy afternoon, while others were more content to play in the mud left by the recent rain that was soon to return.

“I’m ready to go,” said Anne Hope as the rain began to fall harder.

The Tysmans, Sweeney and all the others who were helping with the shearing attempted to get the remaining flock into the barn before they got wet, but the rain came too fast.

“We got three done,” Dirk Tysmans said. “We have six animals to go but it isn’t gonna happen because they’re wet now.”

The remaining sheep and goat will just have to wait until next time.

Anyone interested in the fiber arts or the Twisted Threads Fine Arts Guild can learn more at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/twistedthreadsraleigh/.