Westmoreland Fair 4-H Animals And A Bit More

 Celebrating 100 Years of 4-H in Pennsylvania 

Ali - 4-H Red Ribbon Winner, 19-24 month Crossbred Breeding Meat Goat Doe

A lot of work goes into the fair and much of it is volunteer.

Farmers take time from their fields and barns to make sure the kids get an opportunity to have a well run nine days.

Parents camp out with their kids after months of training and practice.

Or they drive back and forth twice a day making sure the animals - and kids - get fed, cleaned, and medicated if needed.

In this video, Adeline is drinking her electrolites from the bottle to wash down her Pepto.

 As you can see, Adeline is a well trained goat! Or maybe she just likes all the attention.

The kids become showmen and women for all the people coming to see their animals,...

Julia with Adeline - 4-H Red Ribbon Winner, 12-18 month Crossbred Breeding Meat Goat Doe

...as well as for when they compete. 

 Angus being "set up" by Hattie in preparation for showmanship.

 Julia and Adeline (third from right) in competition.

 Philip(third from right) did well with one of Zola's twins during the Showmanship,

and Market Goat sale.

Even the Fair Queen Rachel Sheffler, participates in the Market Goat sale - crown, sash and all.

(Rachel won the On the Pond Farm sponsored Breeding Meat Goat Supreme Champion Trophy)

 You've possibly read about animal identification.

See the tattoo in the ear?

 These hens are dyed with vet approved coloring (according to the sign).

Clyde is a naturally colorful guy.

I found this information a bit CSI-ish.

Is this Hydrographic(Camo Dipped)?

 Lots more food than this - trust me! Got to keep the audience fed.

The sun setting over the fair.

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!

Busy Week

 The first half of the week was white and cold. 

 We were using up a lot of power keeping water from freezing in the barn and out.

 The twins are big and hardy, so they have been out every day now.

 My favorite part of the farm.

 Jock enjoyed a walk with Dave in his favorite type of condition. Cold.

 Kids Brooke and Lillian on a school day off with kids Angus and Anakin

 Finally a warmer day to get the triplets out with the twins, and they loved it.

 The snow is completely gone and the mud is back big time. Will it ever dry up?

 This is job training. Now eat the tree.

 And as always, all the animals do their best to get along, share toys, and even food.

The biggest and the smallest manage to live peacefully together.

Wish they rest of the world could learn from them, don't you?

Freeze and Mud

Since the last post, the weather has gone as low as 12 with a -4 wind chill, and as high as 50. 

This is what happens to muddy footprints overnight.

The twins are pretty tough at two weeks old, and have been out in the snow and rain - with shelter - most of the week. 

They are pitching in with the Christmas tree recycling already.

 The triplets have been in the barn, and know how to find a sunny spot...

and mom.

What else do they need?

Once again, as soon as we brought the trips out for their first outdoor day, a hawk showed up. Here are all five together and almost standing still for a split second.

Angus is getting so huge and runs through the barn like a wrecking ball.  He is nuts! 

Anakin is just having fun, and plays with the triplets a lot since his brother is just flying around.
Check out the VIDEO HERE.

Kid Update

When the nannies have young kids, they each get their own cube in the maternity ward.  It helps make sure the kids stay fed and warm.

 Twee's trips are right next door.  They get to have the rest of the stall when I'm in mucking and the twins go outside.

 The twins have been going outside for a week now.

  The trips got to go outside for a short while yesterday afternoon.

 Its getting difficult to tell who is who.  Angus sticks out with his size and speckled ears. The rest??!!

And this is amazing.  All three triplets nursing at the same time. In the Boer goat world, people look for single teated does, but with triplets, that would be a significant disadvantage. Many of my does have two teats on each side.  Some more dominant than the other. Twee has three large teats and a smaller one, but they all have milk and they all get used.  Sometimes imperfection works!