Sheepmovers made their return to the UC Davis campus on Wellman Hall’s lawn Friday, Nov. 1. About 25 sheep of multiple varieties grazed the lawn, helping to mow, fertilize and improve the lawn’s ecosystem. But not only do these sheep help to keep our planet in order, they also provide students with an artistic outlet to enjoy during a stressful week.

When I arrived at Wellman Hall around noon, right after the sheep arrived at their designated spot, there was already a crowd gathered around them. Peering in awe, students were on their highest tip-toes trying to get a glimpse of their furry friends. After a week of midterms and papers, it was refreshing to turn off my mind and relax outside among the sheep. As I overheard chatter behind me, I realized many students felt the same. The sheep gave them a calming distraction from the chaos of being a full time college student. 

As I circled around the section of grass the sheep were occupying, I found myself watching a demonstration of screen printing under two large trees. Participants who signed up ahead of time got to bring tote bags, shirts, and hoodies to screenprint a sheep onto, a wonderful way to introduce them to the art form itself. The participant I spoke to brought a T-

shirt to screen print. Before long, it was a sheep shirt. 

She said she really enjoyed making art while learning about the sheep. There was also a merchandise table selling Sheepmowing tote bags, tank tops, T-shirts, and sweatshirts for those who did not have the time to make the art themselves. The adorable items ranged in price from $7 to $25.

The Sheepmowers are part of UC Davis’s Nature Rx program, an initiative to get students, faculty, and Davis residents outside for better physical and mental well being. By getting students to engage with the sheep and activities related to them, students are simultaneously spending time outside which is linked to reducing stress and spending time creating art that they can wear with Aggie pride. The sheepmowers are led by A. Haven Kiers, assistant professor of Landscape Architecture.