Margaret's Extreme Makeover

One aspect that fascinates me about farming is the cooperation that animals exhibit, when given the chance.

Margaret, the sheep formerly known as Lamb Chop, has been an interesting creature who has taught me lots about the sheep related aspect of farming.

Lamb Chop came to the farm from the Fair auction when my son bought her as the Blue Ribbon winner in the 4-H competition. Her bloodlines are a mix of Suffolk, Romney, and Ramboullet. (note to self...check spelling...) She just looked like a Margaret to me, so that became her new name.

Part of Margaret's heritage being a strong wool breed, she grows an enormous fleece, which must be sheared at least annually, sometimes more. The first year, the whole family got involved, taking turns. We knew nothing. Neither did Margaret. We built a small pen out of pallets, and got in there with her, two people at a time, and jumped out when she got frisky. With 4 of us taking turns and using scissors of all things, we got her shaved down in about 3 hours.

The next year, we got smarter and bought some hand held shears. Also, two of the helpers "had something else to do", so Connie and I took turns holding Margaret and working the shears. Our main goal was not to cut the sheep. No blood, that was our policy. After two such events, we had our time down to 1.5 hours, but Margaret was still not happy about the program.

By the third year, Margaret had lambed. So we had two sheep to shear. Connie and I were getting better and started to talk about taking our show on the road. ha. By then we had graduated from scissors to shears, to electric livestock clippers. Connie won't touch those things, so that's my job, while she uses the non-power shears to trim the edges and icky stuff while I run the power clippers.

The 4th year, Connie decided that her sheep should be sheared by a professional so she borrowed a horse trailer and we loaded Lambo up. She was gone a total of 5 hours, which included drive time and wait time at the shearing location for about 3 minutes of actual clipping. But in her mind it was time well spent because she is a social being and she enjoyed talking with the other sheep and alpaca people.

As for me, I preferred to stay home and de-fur Margaret all by myself. It took me two sessions of 1/2 hour each. Total one hour. I came out ahead, time wise, but Margaret looked like she had a poodle cut. At least she was cooler. Also, I did research and figured out how to trim her hooves. I call it Margaret's Extreme Makeover.

Now the reason for this long story is not the telling of the wool removal, but in fact is about what I learned about Margaret today.

I have a great fear of hurting her if she fights when I am down to clipping the area around her neck, her ears, and her eyes. But Margaret actually turned her head this way and that being really helpful to the process, as if to say.... "I know you are trying to help, and I really would like you to trim this stuff off because it's hot!!!"

Today I was TOTALLY amazed and fascinated. Margaret actively cooperated with the shearing operation around her head, neck, and throat. And for the other parts, she also lay quietly cooperative.

Now it never once ever occurred to me that Margaret would do such a thing. I have always tried to show her compassion and not be rough with her. I felt that if we worked together, it would be to her benefit. Today either she changed her attitude about the whole process or I finally recognized something that had been happening all along. Either way.......I love it when a plan comes together.

Haylady

Introduction

In this blog I plan to talk about the various aspects of farm life, and what they mean to me, to other individuals, to the family, and to the country. I will share experiences of my life on the three farms where I have lived, mostly the one in Alaska.

One might think a farm in Alaska is an oxymoron. It might be, but for sure, anyone who tries to farm in Alaska either is a character, or has character, or will develop it over time. Climate is the problem.... both weather climate and political climate. Non farm friendly weather climate include short growing season, cold temperatures, and non farm friendly political climate includes regulations, taxes, prices, and slaughter facilities.

Still, anyone who tries to farm will reap some benefits in satisfaction of self worth, exercise, fresh food, appreciation of sources, family cohesiveness, and healthy child rearing environment. As I say, The family that hays together stays together.

Farmers look happy in the pictures of various magazines devoted to farming by comparison to the pictures of other life styles.

Threats to traditional farming:

• NAIS
• globalization
• subsidies
• regulations
• corporate mega-farms
• breakup of small family farms

The perks of farm life outweigh the frustrations, as long as one continues to appreciate values rather than dollars.

Till next time,
Haylady