Introducing....some important guys on our farm! All of them are important, for different reasons....we are grateful for each guys contribution!
First of all, Dennis. He works away from the farm to provide us with many "modern-day" provisions, such as health insurance, a regular paycheck, and a top-notch private-school education for Alex. It's a bonus that Dennis loves his job away from home! Here in Esmont, though, he keeps very busy with other jobs. Dennis builds and fixes almost anything we have here. Other people in the family can mow, but Dennis is the "make-it-look-pretty" mower. Somehow, he puts a finished-edge on the landscape that no one else in the family can copy. Dennis is the guy who goes outside with a gun in the middle of the night when we hear strange noises or animals bawling... not knowing what he may encounter...to keep us all safe! He splits all the firewood in record time! He is the chicken/pig butcher...praying over any animal that gets killed here, to protect his heart from hardening to the process. He also grows grapes for wine making, likes cheese making, enjoys restoring old "things" (furniture/architectural items/cars). Den is the parent that "plays" with the kids. In the pool he gets them rowdy. He's the one that takes them to the river or takes them exploring through old abandoned houses....they rarely choose to stay home if he is going somewhere!
The next important guy on the farm is Alex. He is currently in 9th grade at Fork Union Military Academy. He is and always has been Dennis' right-hand-man. If Den is doing a job, Alex is next to him, handing him tools or running to get something for him. Alex has spent all his life mentoring under Dennis. He can shoot a target more accurately than most men! He is strong...coming to my rescue for moving/lifting things many times when his dad is not here. He has enjoyed soccer, football and wrestling over the years. I feel safe, even when Dennis is gone, if Alex is here on the farm!
Next is our favorite dog GUS! He's an Esmont mutt that was brought home by Dennis, just a fuzzy little fur-ball. He had a rough start...he killed a chicken soon after we fell in love with him. Although it is instinctive (and great fun!) for dogs to chase and kill chickens, it is not an option for a dog who lives on a farm where eggs and poultry are produced! Dennis was out of town when it happened, so it was my problem to solve. The weather was cold (no issue of rotting), so I took the dead chicken, smacked the pup with the dead chicken in a very loud, scary (but gentle) way. I then put the pup in the dog kennel and the chicken on top of the kennel. I left him there for 1 hour. I let him out of the kennel and watched him closely. As soon as he got the chance, he chased another hen. We repeated the above procedure (with the dead chicken) only this time even more loudly and scarily...maybe not so gently...and put him back in the kennel just as before. This time when I opened the cage I had a live hen waiting. I held her legs and let her flap around wildly, close to Gus's face...he cowered, not sure if THIS chicken was as strong as the dead one that he had encountered twice. Live chicken was definitely scarier than dead chicken...so, since then, he has NEVER chased or killed a chicken. In fact, he is the most obedient dog we have ever had. I say "Gus come" and he does 100% of the time. Now he does a good job protecting our animals by alerting us when a predator is lurking...that is if he is not sleeping on our couch, which he likes to do too much! We DO love that little dog!
And last, but not least, is Champion...our Jersey bull. We have raised many steers (bull without the testosterone and other important parts) but never have we kept a bull. Bulls are useful in breeding cows...something that steers cannot do! We appreciate the "maleness" of all of the guys here on the farm, but in some animals, there is a cost to all of that machismo...bulls can be very dangerous. We bottle fed this guy and that gives us an advantage because he knows us and trusts us...but when the hormones are flowing...watch out. They say that Jersey bulls are some of the meanest around and to NEVER turn your back on them. We do not!
The vet was out today to Artificially Inseminated (AI)our Jersey cow who was in heat. We wanted to mix up the genetics a little, but the vet said that most likely, the bull already bred her..."it will be a race...it only takes "one" to fertilize the egg and the bulls are so much better at it than the vet!"...so, in about 285 days we will see if the calf resembles Champ, or some other Jersey bull! While the vet was here, he did a pregnancy check on our Angus heifer and told us she was 38 days pregnant....I was amazed at his accuracy and asked..how do you know...he laughed and said that he was just showing off...but that she was over 35 days preganant. We are grateful to Champ!
To all the guys on our farm we sing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"!
Friday, September 17, 2010
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