COPPER HILL -- While most of his college peers are spending their weekends at parties and ballgames, Floyd County native and Virginia Tech agriculture student Derrick Spangler is spending his time on the farm, shearing animals.

Actually, the 25-year-old Spangler is a successful entrepreneur -- with his own booming shearing business, Lord Willin' Shearin'.

After completing his class work each week, Spangler travels to farms around the region to shear not just sheep, but alpacas and llamas as well.

"I'm putting in 48 hours a week," said Spangler with a laugh. "So I guess talking to farmers is my social life."

Spangler, who first started shearing sheep on his family's farm in Copper Hill in 1995, said there are only a few professional shearers in the region but approximately 30,000 sheep and 150 alpaca farms.

That means he stays busy and travels quite a bit during weekends in the spring and fall to keep up with demand.

And the work is physically demanding.

According to his Web site, eight hours of shearing is the equivalent to running a couple of marathons.

"Oh, I get a beating," Spangler said when describing his work, which can mean shearing approximately 90 sheep or 50 alpacas in a day.

"But you have to remember they're animals and, while they love it when they're done, they are a little unsure when you start."

Spangler said shearing, which produces an environmentally friendly fiber, is good for both the farmer and the animal, since the wool can get matted and, without attention, cause problems for the animal.

In addition to the shearing, Spangler also offers teeth cutting services.

"Alpacas have canines, or fighting teeth, to promote dominance," said Spangler. "So if you don't cut these, they can really do some damage to the other alpacas."

To master these skills, Spangler has attended a professional shearing school in Colorado, and the results are appreciated by his customers.

Alpaca farmers John and Robin Watson of Hardy have used Lord Willin' Shearin' for two years, and Robin Watson said she has always been impressed with Spangler's skill, personality and kindness to the animals.

"He's willing to come to the small farmer," said Watson, who says shearing at home avoids the added stress that traveling causes to the animals.

She also added that she gets a kick out of Spangler's helper, his girlfriend, Amber Hale, who is typically holding an animal's head while Spangler clips and cuts.

"They make such a likable team," said Watson.

Spangler's mother, Vickie Spangler, said she's not surprised by anything at this point because her son has always been very independent and has been coming up with his own ideas since he was little.

She said he borrowed about $3,000 to buy shearing equipment when he first started and was able to return it in just six weeks.

"He's an amazing person," his mother said. "He could call me now and say, 'Guess what?' and now I would believe anything."

For more on Spangler and his company, go to lordwillinshearin.com