Shearing Sheep and Angora Goats the Texas Way Volume 20: Legacy of Pride

The time of the vaquero is coming to an end, and the days of the full-time sheep and goat shearers, or tasinques, are ending. Robert Aguero, a veteran of the shearing sheds and the grandson of tasinques, has written a book that captures the essence of a way of life that is rapidly disappearing from the region. The book includes stories and perspectives from personal experience and interviews with dozens of individuals intimately connected with the Central Texas wool and mohair industry. It also includes photographs that capture the dust, sweat, and noise of the atajo, the shearing pen, and the pride in accomplishment that characterizes the tasinque tradition.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 05 January 2024
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press

As the era of the vaquero draws to a close, the days of the full-time sheep and goat shearers, known as tasinques, are nearing their end. This assertion is made by author Robert Aguero, who is both the son and grandson of tasinques and holds the proud heritage of those who toiled with their hands in the dusty corrals of the Nueces River Valley and the Edwards Plateau. These hardworking individuals harvested the wool and mohair that fueled the industry known as la trasquila, which was cherished by shearers and their families.

Aguero, himself a veteran of the shearing sheds, has compiled a captivating collection of stories and perspectives through personal experiences and interviews with dozens of individuals who are deeply intertwined with the Central Texas wool and mohair industry. The book begins with a foreword by renowned historian Arnoldo De LeÓn, accompanied by a series of photographs that vividly depict the dust, sweat, and noise of the atajo, the shearing pen, as well as the sense of pride and accomplishment that defines the tasinque tradition.

Shearing Sheep and Angora Goats the Texas Way: A Legacy of Pride serves as both a documentation and a tribute to an esteemed way of life and livelihood that is gradually disappearing from the region. Through his meticulous research and heartfelt storytelling, Aguero has captured the essence of a tradition that has shaped the cultural landscape of Central Texas for generations. This book is a valuable contribution to the preservation of this rich heritage and a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the history and significance of sheep and goat herding in Texas.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781648431609