Farm~School~Life

Showing posts with label chickens. Show all posts

Farmlife Friday: Stock Show Life

We are a stock show family.

We spend days, weeks and months

training kids and animals to work together as a team.

Kids have to learn how to set an animal just right to make them look their best,
the animals have to learn to trust the kids and listen to them.

We spend weekends and holidays traveling 100's of miles

to look at, judge, purchase and show stock.

In our family it's not just one kind.

We show pigs,

lambs,

2005

cows (beef & dairy),

and the occasional chicken.

Many folks have asked why we do it...

and some days I can't tell you why...

it's hard work,

cost lots of money & time,

some days you get hurt,

& it can make everyone a little grumpy from time to time...

but on more days than not I see why in the boys eyes...

it's the patience and responsibly learned

the friendships gained,

the work ethic,
the determination,

the compassion it teaches

the togetherness that it brings,

the tradition that lives on,

You see this isn't a game you can leave at the field,

this is a way of life for your entire family.

It takes everyone doing their part to make showing livestock fun.

I love that our boys can continue showing livestock...

they are at least the 4th generations in both families to show.

I pray that they grow to love the show ring and the work it takes to get there.

Until we meet again...God bless you & keep you!

(We're off to another show)

Caci

Farm Life Friday

This time of year is busy around the farm.

A new crop of calves are arriving from now until Dec...which we call Fall Calving Season

Cows still have to be milked and pastures made ready for winter

And sometime farm babies start practicing driving early.

Not to mention show season kicks into high gear here in the Southeast.

Some shows like the pullet show at our local livestock show just award participation ribbons, while others place kids and their animals all the way from 1 to 10 (or more).

Showing livestock isn't for everyone.

It takes lots of work to teach your animal to walk and set up.

Not to mention it takes a good deal of funds to feed your animal properly for show.

Sometimes it even takes a little help from a friend, when you are showing a ewe or a calf bigger than you.

But all that hard work pays off.

Not only to the kids get ribbons and prize money

They also learn valuable lessons in responsibly, animal husbandry, and sportsmanship.

Overall our 1st full weekend of showing went well but more than the ribbons and awards, the Farmboy enjoyed hanging out with his friends and eating Nana Peggy's animal themed cupcakes :)

Until we meet again...

Caci

#Farmlife Friday

Periodically throughout the year I take a couple of weeks off from blogging.

I do this for a couple of reasons but the main one is to refocus.

Blogging doesn't make me any money and requires a fair amount of time,

but I really enjoy it. It allows me to express myself and share a little about our life.

With that said over the last couple of weeks I have really thought about what I wanted to share on the blog and have a developed a schedule. Today kicks off the first new feature #Farmlife Friday!

On Fridays we will be sharing all about what is happening around our farm.

Over the last few weeks things have been super busy.

Farmboy's hens started laying their first eggs.

Since they have started laying the hens need more room so

the Farmer & Farmboy have been working on building a bigger coop.

The Farmboy has also been working with his show lambs and calves

to get them ready for the upcoming shows

Sunday afternoons have been devoted to catching up on naps

and hanging out with the Farmer at the barn.

These farm kids really love to help during milking times as well.

We are winding down our last few precious days of summer,

hoping to grab a few more afternoons at the pool before school starts back.

So what has your family been up to?

Until we meet again!

Caci

Wrangler Wednesday

I can't believe it's already July!

And honestly it's quickly approaching the middle of July.

That means that lots of our friends who grow produce have many yummy things in their roadside stand.

Over the holiday weekend I grabbed some peaches, tomatoes, corn, squash and cantaloupe

from one of our favorite family farms....Cotton Hills Farm

(If you are a regular to the blog you've probably seen me mention them before.)

I put up most of the corn, squash and tomatoes this weekend.

Well I put up what didn't make it's way into our tummies I should say ;)

This Farm Boy really impressed me this past week. He has taken to writing in his journal often. I can't always tell you what he's writing but he's putting his thoughts on paper!

He also did a great job of helping to shuck corn. He was very meticulous on his silking duties,

which slowed us down but that's ok.

His favorite part though was fresh corn on the cob. As you can tell Farm Boy #2

was quite pleased as well!

Speaking of FB2...he's a mess!

He loves to entertain everyone...see here why we have dubbed him...

"PACI MONSTER"

we never leave home without at least 2 sometimes 3 or more!

Those peaches you saw earlier were made into peach cobbler for the boys

with a side of home made ice cream

And to cool off on the farm...we fill the old sandbox

with ice cold well water

and splash around

The farmer cut the hay field next to our house this week,

which means no more "over my head" field

and Farm Boy is excited to be able to run through it without fear of getting lost.

Here's the field while they were baling.

And we are finally getting a few things out of our own

tiny raised bed garden.

Farm Boy #2 is happy to help pick each evening,

while the original Farm Boy tends to his hens.

I'm just glad I don't have to deal with the chickens!

Until we meet again,

Caci

Wrangler Wednesday

I hope everyone is having a great week.

I am still recouping from last week's VBS.

I love how our small church comes together to share the Gospel with children from our community.

I love that our volunteers are AWESOME and always willing to go the extra mile.

And as worn out as I am...I am already excited about VBS 2015!!

With summer travel, VBS, and such the boys and I haven't been around the farm as much in the last week.

But that doesn't stop my farm loving boy from getting in some quality time with his pullets.

These pullets are a 4-H project that I personally have a love/hate relationship with :)

I love that ONE DAY (EVENTUALLY) we will have fresh eggs,

but I hate the pecking, the beady eyes, and all other bird characteristics.

I was so excited that our new smocked outfits arrived last week in time for church.

I love the James set both boys got. Wyatt did a great job showing his off while Waylon snoozed.

Thanks Stitches of Faith for a beautiful set of smocked outfits with cotton on it!!

This is how we roll on Sunday after nap time.

Chillin' w/ our horseshoe glass in big bro's carseat

all the while Momma empties the car of 47,834 items!

And then there is this kid who cries when you put him in shorts,

(cause cowboys don't wear shorts)

who would prefer to be at the farm with his daddy,

who couldn't wait to get out of the car and help Marty

move calves this morning.

Until we meet again.... God bless you & keep you,

Caci

Wrangler Wednesday

It seems like I only post on Wednesday...

maybe because it's easier to share pictures than words at times

This past week I was #blessed to find some photos our favorite photographer had done for us. She had dropboxed them to me and I didn't even realize it!!

NicCole Photography

Summer has definitely arrived in South Carolina! We reached upper 80's a few times already and I'm sure the 90's are right around the corner. The #farmboys have been enjoying the warmer weather and more sunlight. It means more time outside!

Farm Boy #2 loves to walk up and down the calf rows and inspect each calf

Farm Boy #1 has gotten into the habit of helping feed calves more regularly, which is good since starting next week he will be feeding every morning

The boys have also been fascinated by the 4-H pullets they got.

It's nothing to drive past our house and see at least one of them playing in the front yard with the chicks.

Farm Boy #2 loves the kitten as well... he has picked up a new word "KitKit"

which he will yell until you find the kitten...who is probably hiding for safety

Doesn't poor Dash (the kitten) look frighten?

I had the opportunity to help 3 Kindergarten classes harvest their gardens last Friday.

These kids did a great job of growing and caring for their crops.

They were all smiles during harvest! Between the 3 classes they filled a 55 gallon trash bag with lettuce!!!

We have been enjoying sweet strawberries and some yummy blue berries as well from some local farms. We actually have had berries from Bush-N-Vine, Black's Peaches, and Cotton Hills Farms already this year. We consider each of these farms to be owned/operated by dear friends which makes deciding on the best berries very difficult. Let's just say we enjoy them all!

Our show lambs have finally picked up on eating again since bringing them home a little over a week ago. Lambs have to adjust to their surrounding and learn the new routine before they resume their piggish appetites.

Farm Boy #2 was loving this toy we borrowed from a friend. He likes to make tractor sounds from behind the paci. He is actually in a field we had just cut for silage.

The Farmer...ever working. He is honestly the hardest working man I have ever met. I am amazed daily by his work ethic and passion for agriculture.

I'm not sure when the last time I talked to him on the phone that he wasn't on a tractor either mixing feed, chopping silage or baling hay.

That's all for now..

Until we meet again...

Caci

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Farmlife Friday: Stock Show Life

Farm Life Friday

#Farmlife Friday

Wrangler Wednesday

Wrangler Wednesday

Wrangler Wednesday

Instagram