Time To Say Goodbye - Hello 4-H!

Last week-end was weigh in and sign ups for the Westmoreland Fair. A couple weeks before that was the same for the Derry Ag Fair.

John Clark and Elizabeth came to the farm and chose the two brother wethers out of Twee's triplets to go together to their new home, and they will show them in Derry in July.

Kayla came back for a third year and scooped up Britches, and also Anakin, to show at the Westmoreland Fair. Anakin's twin Angus will be shown there by Hattie.

Zola's twins will be shown by Philip. I am cheering for all the people kids and goat kids to do well at showing and at the auctions.

In the past month or so, our herd was up to 25 or 26 goats and kids.  Weaning was a noisy and painful process in April. Today, after seven kids going to 4-H homes, three going to start a new herd for future 4-H kids, and one sold to a chef (Sorry - the truth!), we are down to a most manageable fifteen. Of course, we have two goats waiting to kid yet, so our numbers will go back up as the farm has its first summer babies this year.
And speaking of babies...

We sold Ariel and Abi, who are both due in the next two to six weeks, to a local family who have a lovely farm just north of town. They have two young boys that will have the joy of kids born on their farm, and all the fun of seeing them grow.

Belle, our triplet doe, also went with them, and by next year they will have a nice little herd to breed on their own.

I happened to find my way there today, and here is their home. What a lovely sight for the passers by!

Welcome Spring! Time For Outdoor Auctions!

The hens were waiting to break out of the barn this morning. They were eager to find the bugs and worms that the still snow moist ground, and the warm sun, bring out. The grass, and everything green, are brightening up. What a change from February. The turkey vultures are here for a few weeks, as is their ritual. They seem to have the yearling kids a bit unnerved. Today's auction was at a farm in nearby Stahlstown, and was attended by every shape, brand, and color truck. More than a few were hauled out by a tractor and chain, when they found the snow moistened ground, that became axe deep mud. We managed to avoid that fate. There were all sorts of John Deere's. Large... ...and small.In the farm fashion world, there was every plaid shirt variation known to man and woman. Baseball hats with logos of every team, machine, farm, and contractor were seen, with a strong showing for -PENN STATE! It was a great spring day to be outside and enjoy the company of strangers. As for my buys - I didn't get these rolls of fence, but I got a pallet of wooden stakes and posts. And MORE plant pots. Total spent. $17.50. Good deal!

Pulled Goat at the Westmoreland Fair

To my friends that have never seen me eat meat - this was my lunch today. This is a Pulled Goat sandwich. It was very nicely and mildly seasoned, and I required a squirt of barbecue sauce to zip it up. The meal started with an 80 pound goat that was deboned and was at about 40 pounds when it was put in the roaster. It was the fastest "seller" at the luncheon for the auction goers, with choices of roast beef, lamb, and pulled pork. My compliments to Becky who made it and told me how it was prepared. It sounds a lot like the way I make a pot roast. I am less intimidated after today.
I think this is the second time I have had the opportunity to try goat in the past two years and this was very nice. I feel as a goat meat farmer I have to be able to sell my product from experience. I tried the Goat Stew at the PASA conference last year, but the meat was overwhelmed by the sauce and veggies. This was a very positive experience and I can stand behind the flavor and texture. Today was the auction of the market animals. All the hard work was going to market for sale. A few sad faces in the ring with their animals, but I think most of the kids should be happy with the prices they got for their efforts.

We arrived at the fair in a downpour, but as we left the skies were clearing, and the scene from the fair entrance was stunning.

Life Was Simple with the Simplicity

There she goes.

A simpler life of just mowing lawns and blowing New England leaves and blizzards into tall piles for the kids to jump in, sled down, and even ski on, in her history. I remember when she was a "big" tractor. Ah! The good old days.

I ran into my neighbor at an auction last Saturday and we got to talking. He was waiting to add a tractor to his collection. They other guys there were willing to spend more that he was, so it didn't happen. That's when I realized we had a bit of a collection ourselves. We had three tractors, although we/I had decided that the Simplicity was the snow blower now.

The talking continued and led to a goat visit, and a Darlington Volunteer Fire Department's Tool Bash ticket sale. Then to a tractor sale.

I wish I had thought to take a photo of our "collection" all lined up, before the Simplicity and all her trinkets left on the trailer and truck. She had quite a barn full of attachments.

I hope she serves the next folks as well as she did us. Sniff!