After finishing the year at school, the goal is for students to have such good knowledge of sheep shearing and wool handling that they satisfy the requirements that sheep producers and wool recipients have for performing jobs on Norwegian farms.
Line trip to New Zealand
At sheep shearing you will experience a very active everyday life. Did you know that a working day of sheep shearing is equivalent to running a marathon(!)
Here in Hallingdal and in the neighboring valley of Valdres we have some of the best outback pastures in the country. There are plenty of sheep grazing here, as well as many skilled sheep farmers and shearers who will act as our guides.
On the Sheep Shearing course you will learn about techniques, equipment and wool treatment. Sheep shearing is a physically demanding activity so you will also learn how to take care of your own body both physically and nutritionally.
You will also learn how to set up a sole proprietorship and simple accounting. This will enable you to start a business and be able to cut for yourself in the future.
Because as a sheep shearer you are your own boss. How many assignments you take and how far you want to travel is up to you. Because you will be sought after. If you are adventurous, you can travel abroad and shear all year round. Or you can take time off and travel the world without a shearing machine.
A weekly schedule at the school is set up so that we have core classes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Monday and Friday will be core subjects and electives. Some weeks we only have core subjects, and below you can see an overview of what these weeks may contain:
Sheep shearing is for those of you who want to learn a unique craft while having a dream year at folk high school!
Price for the school year 25/26:
Price: NOK 151,000
The loan fund provides for the school year 25/26: a loan of NOK 151,690 ,- 60 percent of this sum is a loan, 40 percent is a loan that will be converted into a scholarship when you are approved for your year at folk high school. To have a loan converted into a scholarship, you cannot have undocumented absences that exceed 10 percent.
Compared to a year of study, a year at a folk high school is cheaper. Everything is included; food, electricity, internet, rent, academic activities and travel. On some line trips you buy your own lunch.
Start: August 24
Ends: mid-May
Do you have any questions? Please contact us at
eirik.kolbjornshus@nortura.no or tel: 906 36310
Join us for great experiences as a zookeeper in Hallingdal!
Not long after school starts, we travel to the mountains to gather the sheep. The sheep will come down from the mountains, the flocks will be separated, and the animals will go home for shearing and autumn grazing.
We also start with the basic course in Sheep Shearing where you learn the technique, animal handling and wool processing.
The goal for this week is to learn the best possible shearing technique. We travel around the farms in Hallingdal and Valdres and shear sheep together with our supervisors/mentors. This makes us as well prepared as possible for our stay in New Zealand in January.
We travel to the great sheep shearing nation of New Zealand where you will get an insight into how big this wool industry and sport is. And maybe we will have time for some other activities too. In New Zealand you will experience a completely different agriculture. The country is a mecca for sheep shearers, and has some of the best athletes in the world. Here sheep shearing is a national sport, just like cross-country skiing is here in Norway.
This week, students and teachers plan together. There are opportunities to ski in Hallingdal's fine spring snow together at the Swith line, go on a road trip or learn even more about sheep shearing. These are just examples of content in a week that you yourself can influence.
If you have any questions about sheep shearing, please contact Eirik by email: eirik.kolbjornshus@nortura.no
Phone 906 36 310
More info can be found here ! Videos and news articles:)
The school contains more than just Sheep Shearing and you will also enjoy equipment for electives, group trips and other activities. Here is the equipment you will need during the year.
In a year of sheep shearing, you will experience an incredible amount and meet many different people. It is social, fun, and good exercise both physically and mentally.
We also travel to the Norwegian Sheep Shearing Championships where you can participate if you want, or just watch and learn from the best in the country.
