Just Grazing .......

Two Rambouillets & One Dorset At Wild Rose Farm

We're just grazing these days at Wild Rose Farm.  The rain during the last few weeks has made a world of difference for the pastures.  We also got some 2nd cutting round bales & square bales this week hauled & stored in the barn. 

Lisa Watching

Wild Rose Farm Ewes

Lambs Learning ......

Wild Rose Farm Lambs Grazing

The Wild Rose Farm lambs were out in the "hospital pen" tonight grazing while the barn is being cleaned.  They haven't been around the electric net fence since we brought them in for weaning.  The dry weather kept them off of the pastures and on hay while we waited for rain ---- can't nub the pastures down & destroy them!   Well, first off, one of them managed to get itself under/between the high tensile fence strands before the fence was energized.  So, one lamb shadows the others, but a bit distressingly now, separated by the wires.  If you have sheep, you know this is a typical sheepy scenario.  But notice how the lambs are reaching under the bottom wire to graze ....... they were also nosing up to the net fence.  The picture below illustrates what happens when one or two of them get zapped.  They jump back and run away followed by other lambs who don't know why they're running, but sheep are flock animals!   :)

Ouch!  What Happened ?!?

It will happen over & over until the lambs learn their lesson.  This is how they are "trained" to respect electric fences and it doesn't take very long.  Within a few hours no one is touching the fence anymore and all is well! 


Back To Grazing!

P.S. - look closely near the barn in the top picture for the latest project in progress .......

Another Drought Casualty

Here we were yesterday talking about the size of the "Largest Squash" at the Canfield Fair, and I stumbled upon this Midwest tragedy related to the drought.
Wisconsin had a Cow Chip Throw competition in trouble .........
Click the link to read about the shortage and the plans to recover for next year!
;)

2012 Canfield Fair Pics!

Canfield Fair - Largest Squash "Only" 891 Lbs - Under Drought Conditions!

Wild Rose Farm was off to the Canfield Fair Saturday morning ....... it's an annual tradition and we go in the morning to beat the heat.  As large as this fair is, we actually manage to run into people we know every year.  This year it was a couple of friends who are normally vendors at the Sewickley Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings.   Even farmers need to get out sometimes!
The drought this summer did a number on the squash competition for the year.  Usually 891 lbs won't even get you into the building for 2nd place!  We don't usually study the other "largest" fruit & veggie section, but here they are ........

Largest Watermelon & Other Veggies!

One of the things apparently unaffected by the weather was the "Tallest Sunflower" category.  This was more of a Jack & The Beanstalk story!  All of the other sunflowers lined the side of the building where they lean against the wall with their heads in the rafters.  This is the 1st time we've seen one in the middle of the building supported by 2 x 4's!    How do you haul this to the fairgrounds?!?  I suspect it was tied to the 2x4 and came in on a trailer .......  :)

Canfield Fair Tallest Sunflower - 198 5/8" Tall! 

More of my favorites ........ Jersey cows .........

Canfield Fair - Jersey Cows

Canfield Fair - Jersey Cow Class

And finally, it's time to leave when we all feel like these sheep ..... all faired out!

Suffolk Sheep - All Faired Out!

Best Use Of Wool - Part II !

Blue Ribbon Rug Hooking - Hookstown Fair

We saw this great rug hooking entry at the Hookstown Fair yesterday and immediately thought that it "looked familiar". Well, I looked back a couple of years and retrieved this fantastic entry by the same local rug hooker.  Very impressive work.  Too bad we couldn't move the framed needlework on the right to capture the whole image .........
Speaking of wool, Wild Rose Farm came home with 1 Dorset fleece, having sold the 2 Commercial fleeces to a hand spinner.   No Rambouillet entries this year ....... thanks to the folks who purchased our best Rambouillet fleeces at Waynesburg in May.  :)  We love it whenever they go to "good homes"!

Hookstown Fair Opening 2012!

Hookstown Fair Merino Rams

Wild Rose Farm has been at the Hookstown Fair this week enjoying the food, exhibits, & 4-H Livestock Shows.  Of course we've run into many of our friends and local farmers.  Maybe we'll see you there tonight at the Beaver County 4-H Stockman's Club 39th Annual Livestock Market Auction! 

Hookstown Fair Oxford Sheep Under Cover!

Some of the sheep in the show pens are covered to keep them clean ..... it makes for an unusual look if you've never seen this before!

Hookstown Fair - Waiting For The Show

Hookstown Fair - Southdown Sheep

Southdown sheep are a smaller framed meat breed.  This breed is required to be shown as "slick shorn" in order to be properly evaluated to breed standards. 

Hookstown Fair - Relaxing 4-H Rabbit!

There seemed to be more 4-H Rabbit Projects this year.  It's certainly a good entry point for young people showing animals and you don't need a lot of space to house these projects. 

Hoopiefest Was Here Again!

Hoopiefest 2012

It's that time of the summer and another Hoopiefest is apparently in the record books.  We passed the bright sign again and circled around to the locale.  Last year regular blog followers will remember that we actually found Hoopiefest  on a local back road.   That post gave a hint of what the area looked like.
Well ......... here's a look at a nearby scene just minutes down the road from the party.   Did someone come to party & decide to make it permanent ?!?  :)    Classic!

Home To Stay!