Our Story

Riversong Shearing was born out of a shared love for animals and a commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate shearing services. The story began when Luke first got into the profession while working with Jay Mariacher. Inspired by the experience, Luke and Bri decided to follow their passion for working with animals and pursue shearing together, transforming that spark into a thriving business they’re proud of today.

Now in our fourth year, Riversong Shearing operates across 12 states from February to May, and we’re excited to be expanding our team. What makes our work so special is the meaningful connections we build- not just with our clients, but with their animals too. From the stunning landscapes of Florida’s springs to the rolling hills of Wisconsin’s driftless region, every place we visit becomes a part of our story, and we feel incredibly lucky to be a part of so many others' stories.

As we continue to grow, we are deeply committed to improving each year and providing the best possible service. We truly love what we do, and we’re excited to keep expanding and connecting with new clients, while always staying focused on our core values of kindness, quality, and compassion.

A Bit About the Crew

  • Head Shearer | Co-Founder

    My love for camelids started young—at county fairs, I was always drawn to the llamas and alpacas, spending hours watching them and even volunteering to muck stalls just for the chance to be around them. One particularly memorable day, I unknowingly stood between a llama and her cria and got a face full of spit for my mistake. If that little kid knew they'd grow up to shear these animals for a living, they’d be pretty proud.

    My first hands-on shearing experience came during my senior year of high school, when I studied abroad in Ecuador. I lived at Finca Palugo, an organic farm in the Andean valley, where I helped shear an alpaca for the first time. We had dull blades and took nearly an hour per animal, but I was captivated by the process. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to work with these animals.

    A few years later, while apprenticing as a dog sled guide in Maine, I stopped by a small alpaca and Icelandic sheep farm while searching for yarn. The farmer gave me the contact information for their shearer, Jay Mariacher, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. Two years later, on a cold January night, I woke up suddenly, remembering I still had Jay’s number. The next morning, I called—and as luck would have it, he was looking for another crew member for his 2020 shearing season.

    For three months, I traveled with Jay from Georgia to Maine, learning how to shear efficiently, safely, and with respect for the animals. Watching someone with over 30 years of experience handle thousands of animals with skill and precision solidified my passion for the craft.

    After the season, I returned to Madison, WI, where my now-wife, Bri, was finishing college. Once she graduated, we worked as backpacking guides for troubled youth, but the approaching cold of a Wisconsin winter pushed us to rethink our future. We knew we wanted to work outdoors, with animals, and on our own terms.

    So, we took a leap. We invested every penny of our savings into shearing equipment, packed up, and drove to Florida with a handful of job leads. That first season, we barely made enough to cover gas and food, but we gained valuable experience and built relationships with small farms that still trust us today.

    Since then, we’ve grown our traveling shearing business, working across 12 states to provide professional, humane shearing services for sheep, alpacas, and llamas. Our focus is on animal comfort, fiber quality, and efficiency, ensuring that every animal is handled with care and every farm gets top-quality service.

  • Assistant Shearer| Admin | Co-Founder

    Originally from Jackson, Wisconsin, my passion for animals- especially alpacas- began long before I started working with them. As a child, I often celebrated my birthday at the Wisconsin Alpaca Convention.

    Although I didn’t grow up on a farm, I pursued a degree in environmental science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I focused on agricultural themes and developed a strong interest in small-scale farming. Luke and I both attended the University of Wisconsin Sheep Shearing School, where we refined our shearing skills and further cultivated our dedication to animal care. Today, we enjoy living near the Great Lakes in the heart of the Kettle Moraine, or traveling when we aren't on shearing tour.

    In my free time I love to spend time outdoors, whether it’s surfing, camping, hiking with my Chihuahua, or embarking on week-long canoe and backpacking expeditions. I also have a passion for board games and cooking, especially when it means sharing meals with friends and family.

    Now in our fifth year, Luke and I proudly run Riversong Shearing, traveling across 12 states from February to May. It is incredibly rewarding to work alongside Luke-not only as my business partner but also as newlyweds -and our beloved Chihuahua, Donnita. As we continue to grow our team, we remain committed to providing the highest standard of care for the animals and clients we serve.

  • Head Shearer | Co-Owner

    Five years ago on a snowy winter evening in Madison, Wisconsin, Christopher met Luke while jumping into the icy cold Lake Mendota. Although his first impression of Luke was a crazy and mysterious adventurer vagabond man, Luke soon grew to be one of his closest friends and mentors. 

    Fast forward to last year, Christopher dove head first -- not into a cold lake -- but into the wild world of shearing with Luke, and he hasn’t looked back since. 

    Christopher has spent the past six years working intimately with land and water stewardship. He has gone from co-running a 2-acre student educational-oriented garden at college in Wisconsin, apprenticing with a wild harvested seaweed business and 7-acre homestead in Maine, and apprenticing on an 80-acre diversified regenerative oxen-powered production farm in California. 

    These days he is a partially nomadic seasonal worker. In the springtime, he shears with Riversong Shearing. In the summer and fall, he works at two farms - Savanna Institute and Seven Seeds Organic, based in Spring Green, WI - where he continues to hone his skills in the agroforestry and pastured livestock spaces. Wintertime is for traveling and reconnecting with his loved ones. Last winter, he worked in the kitchen of a high-end Spanish tapas restaurant in Taiwan for four months while practicing his Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish. This past winter, he did a work trade with a goat and sheep shepherd in Spain where he practiced his Spanish and learned how to make cheese and olive oil.  

    While he loves his work, he also spends ample time foraging, bowhunting, fermenting and cooking, playing guitar and piano, training calisthenics, and of course, plunging in cold lakes and rivers. 

    Christopher is proud to be a part of the Riversong Shearing team and is beyond grateful for the adventures and memories that it enables him to have.

  • Assistant Shearer

  • Assistant Shearer

    Meet Kat Gurneau,(known by some as, Kat speaks with Rabbits) an optimistic, kind hearted being. For generations, the Gurneau family has been land protectors and animal caretakers. Her Grandfather, Charles/Jack Gurneau, was recognized as the first Native American Veterinarian, and was a big inspiration in Kat’s upbringing.

    Kat started her career in the fiber shearing business in 2020. While looking to leave the restaurant industry, Kat called a nearby alpaca farm, looking for work. The Magic Willows Alpaca Farm explained that Alpacas are fairly low maintenance, however, there would be brief  work starting in May… The following three shear seasons, Kat traveled all of Wisconsin as a  full time shearing assistant for Magic Willows Alpacas(and loved every second of it.) So when the owners of Magic Willows decided to retire, they were happy to recommend Kat to us, Riversong Shearing. 2025 is Kat’s first year on board with Riversong, and is delighted to be a part of the crew. 

    When she is not shearing, Kat works on her Native Tribe’s Farm, feeding the community. 

    Kat says “I am very passionate about my jobs. I like to be proud of my work!”

  • Alpaca Toenail Chewer, Head of HR

    Donnita Pedro, better known as D.P., Donnita, Pete, or Dip, is the beloved fuzzy team member of our traveling shearing business. Found behind the Don Pedro restaurant dumpster in San Antonio, Texas, on New Year’s Eve 2019, Donnita has come a long way since her humble beginnings.  

    Now around (roughly) 12 years old, this spirited chihuahua knows several tricks- including sit, paw, spin, and more- and can even perform them with hand signals alone. She’s also a fleece enthusiast, often rolling in alpaca, sheep, and llama fibers during our workdays. When she’s not “helping” on the job, Donnita keeps busy trying to sneak hoof or alpaca toenail trimmings to chew on.  

    An avid traveler, Donnita has joined us on lengthy canoe trips, long walks in multiple countries, and has even visited the Eiffel Tower. Her adventurous spirit makes her an irreplaceable part of the team and a joy to have on the road.