To Market, To Market .....

Lambs Munching 2nd Cutting Hay

The recent rains have been great for the pastures & the ewes started a new rotation today.  The sheep will be enjoying the cooler weather.  Fall is market time for lamb at Wild Rose Farm.  We've been fortunate to get good prices for lambs the last 2 years.  We'll be taking in freezer lambs for a couple of customers in the next 2 weeks.  We also have some registered Rambouillet ewe lambs that will be going to a new home.  
Work continues on clearing an area for a building site for next year.  There are old fence posts in a line through this area & a "dead furrow" where the ground had once been plowed.  It's probably been 60+ years since that area was a pasture field judging by the size of the trees.  Just look at some of the firewood & timber that we have built up.  We'll be calling in a small portable sawmill to saw the cherry logs into boards. 

Logs & Fire Wood

Clearing & Brush Pile

2011 Fair Wrap-up

2011 Hookstown Fair

Wild Rose Farm got in a couple of fairs this summer.  The Hookstown Fair had great weather & we got some good pictures of the 4-H kids showing market lambs.  What was the new catch phrase this year from the judge?  As readers know, we're alert to new trends in livestock judging and the show ring this year did not disappoint!  In separating a 1st place lamb from the 2nd place lamb, the judge indicated that "my second place lamb would have had to have been a couple of clicks better to win the show tonight" over the first place lamb.  Love it! 

Good Sportsmanship - One Click Better!

We got shut out of the bidding on the market poultry pens at Hookstown - prices went way up - so we ended up at the Big Knob Fair the following week.  We successfully bid on a market hog that we are splitting with friends.  It's a great opportunity to support the 4-H youth who work hard on all of their projects.
Our final shot is from the Canfield Fair.  It was really hot on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, so we got there early and were leaving by 1PM.  Whew .......
The Largest Squash contest is always impressive, but if you look, the weight was down this year.

2011 Canfield Fair - Grand Champion Largest Squash!