In the heart of Morrison Hall on a Monday afternoon, Bruce Berggren-Thomas ’79, instructor for ANSC 1400 Wool: Animal Fiber Production and Processing, and a wool enthusiast, teaches students the process of washing and carding fresh wool. As they gather next to piles of raw wool, Berggren-Thomas demonstrates scooping out locks and immersing them in a washing tub of water.
Berggren-Thomas grew up on a dairy farm where he developed a profound appreciation for the intricacies of farm life and a love of animals. While the family farm included a flock of sheep, he never learned about the process of spinning or processing the wool. “My mom did all of the spinning. I just helped shear the sheep and wash and card the wool,” he said.
After receiving a degree in Animal Science from Cornell, Berggren-Thomas worked at research stations across the United States, where he gained invaluable experience in sheep breeding and husbandry. He made his way back to the Department of Animal Science, working as a teaching support specialist for the department.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Berggren-Thomas found himself drawn to his roots in wool. He taught himself how to drop spindle first and then tried out the electric spinning wheel. “The electric spinning wheel is much smaller,” he explained. “When you’re working with the bigger spinning wheel, you have to coordinate what to do with your hands and feet. You don’t have to worry about that with the electric spinning wheel.”
Even so, getting over the learning curve was difficult, Berggren-Thomas said. He advises any beginner wanting to spin to do 15 minutes a day. “This is the perfect amount of time because it won’t get you too frustrated and want to quit,” he said.
