IRON RIVER, Wis. - A flock of Icelandic sheep got a haircut Wednesday.  In the Town of Hughes near Iron River, Wisconsin; the sheep are shorn.

This is the setting for a spring sheep shearing in northern Wisconsin.  "I like sheep; I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't like sheep," said shearer Chris Anfang of Barronett, Wisconsin.  "I just feel content, I like their personality."

Meet sheep shearer Chris Anfang of Barronett, Wisconsin.  He shears 3,500 sheep a year.  "And I estimate maybe about 100 farms," said Anfang.  Wednesday he was at Whippoorwill farm near Iron River making sure their flock of Icelandic sheep is shorn.  "He’s wonderful, we love Chris, he's been shearing our sheep since I got them," said David Grote.

Grote raises the flock of Icelandic sheep among other resident farm animals.  It’s a primitive breed known for its dual–coated fleece.  "They’ve already started to shed so they are kind of itchy and they are rubbing against the posts and the feeders and stuff like that so they are going to feel a lot of relief having this wool off of them," said Grote.

Grote has his flock of Icelandic sheep shorn twice a year, once in October and again in March, before lambing.  "I really enjoy having them on our farm and the life that they bring to the farm."

"They are behaving quite well," said Anfang.  As they watch and wait for their turn under the 13 tooth comb.  "They are very curious as to what's going on even though they've been through this before," said Grote.  "I think it's very easy to learn, I mean I sheared my first sheep when I was 13 but it takes a lifetime to master," said Anfang.

Grote will sell their fleece raw or have it processed into wool roving.  "I love it, I love sheep," said Grote.  "It’s a lifestyle choice, it's something that I’ve chosen to do, certainly you are not going to get wealthy off of it but it really is a wonderful life."

Grote is also a hand–spinner and after the fall shear he spins the wool into a traditional Icelandic lopi style yarn and sells it locally and on his website at www.davidgrote.com.