Kim's Pasture Walk

Most of you know I'm new at this goat thing. It will be two years this August that we have Boer goats, but the learning and research was intense for the year running up to it. I have found that some of the best ways to learn are field days, Ag fairs, and visiting farms. There you get to talk with the people who have had experience, and can save you from making some of their mistakes.Kim Miller, in green(5th from right), talking to the workshop group

Last week there was a series of informational programs included in the Southwest Regional Project Grass Pasture Walk. They were presented at two farms in Ligonier, but they were mostly cattle oriented.

The Kananga Farm cows

I decided to drop in for the "pasture walk" part of the day, especially since JB Harrold from Project Grass was involved, and it was at Kim Miller's farm nearby. I was given JB's name two years ago at my first PASA field day near Carlisle, and he designed our fences for the pastured grazing that we are doing here.

Harry Marker, listening on the right, is a fellow Penn Stater. I believe he got his Agriculture degree in 1955, and raised a dairy herd on this farm till about four years ago.

Kim's Devon cows are bred for grass grazing. Most of your grocery store meat is corn fed. These gals were curious at the technology we were learning about. I think they were paying more attention than some of the people!

We all came away with our sticks for measuring our pastures. I'm still working on how that really works for the goats.

I'm always looking for these hands on opportunities to learn, and organizations like PASA, PA-WAgN, Westmoreland Conservation District (who sponsored this day) and the Penn State Cooperative Extensions, all provide series of classes and informational presentations through out the year for minimal cost. These classes are also a great place to make contacts for advice and ideas.