Update 5-31-09.

Hay, hay and more hay. It's that time again, so we are several fields into our hay cutting and rolling. We are buying our boer goats from MCHS possibly this week, and will be building fences this week, too. Photos to follow.

Iowa and the garden...

I recently finished a course for my master's degree at Murray State University. We traveled in vans over the course of one week to Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa to visit several manufacturing plants for agriculture implements. Quite an eye opening experience. We also toured two cattle farms while on the trip, and I was able to see a more progressive show cattle operation in action. I was able to take a few ideas home to discuss with dad, and I think we will shift gears again to up the ante this show season.

The garden is partially planted, and will hopefully be all ready by Friday. We have 3 new raised beds and the rest of the plants will be in our regular garden spot.

We have purchased our first goat feeder from Christian County High School, and I am eager to finish constructing the goat coral. I am considering purchasing goats from Montgomery Central High School's agriculture program. I will know in the next week if they have some does for sale. I will post some pictures soon, and update more frequently.

It's been a while....

It has been a few months since the last update, so here goes. Cattle farming is going strong, and the last of the spring calves are on the ground. We had a few close calls, but all is well. We will be adding new additions to the farm this summer.... a couple of goats, some chickens, maybe a horse and possibly some ewes for wool production. We have began preparations for the garden, and the cows are steadily fertilizing the freshly tilled soil. I have been student teaching agriculture this semester, and have been gone from dawn 'til dusk every day. Soon all will be back to normal, and hay season will begin. More to follow.

Cheatham Co. Fair.

The Ceatham Co. fair was Thursday August 21st. We again showed our three heifers and our bull, this time without any other Gelbvieh cattle to show against. They all behaved well except for the January heifer we call "Grumpy." I have blisters on my hands and a purple toe from getting stepped on. I still feel pleased with how the cattle looked, and we got positive comments from the other competitors about how well they appeared. We placed 1st, 2nd,and 3rd in heifer class, Grand and Reserve Champions for breed, and bull got 1st, and Grand Champion. We also got an award called "Get of Sire" for all our show animals being out of the same bull (Eagle Pass "Bahama"). We may travel to Robertson Co. show next Thursday.

Monday in the washpit.

Today was the day we decided to wash the calves for the first time. All in all, things went as expected. They reacted well to the washing and cleaning. We knew they would still be a little skiddish while on the halters, but they did pretty well with that process too. I believe they will be fine when the shows start.

Show Calves

My dad and I have been working on halter-breaking three heifers and a bull calf for the fair show circuit. We haven't done this since my brother was alive, over four years. We both have been patient. I haven't been expecting too much out of these calves as far as how quickly they become "broke", but I have been pleased with the process so far. We'll see when we get them in the ring. Monday is was day, so we will see how they act in the wash pit. Always something new with "teenagers".