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The day has finally come and it was very hard for me. I've grown attached to our first batch of offspring. But what must be done must be done. I'm comforted to know that these first four traveled very well to processing and delivery was stress-free (for the sheep I mean). The very nice staff at Lake Geneva Meats housed all our brood in their own pen for the day and the sheep were unafraid. I must stop typing now.   
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Yesterday was trimming day for the sheep. We got to try our new tilt table, which worked wonderfully. Though the sling chair was adequate, this new contraption was easier on the back. We still had to man-handle the sheep a bit to get them to go in, and some of the more fiesty ewes kicked around in protest, but by the time we finished with two or three we got the hang of it. 
Look what our friend Charlie caught out of Chester Lake today. We had no idea that Northern Pike were among the game fish at our farm. 
Always like to make a fuss over firsts at Bear Valley Farm. We're growing a fruit orchard and today we harvested our very first apple. Sharon will make a very very small pie from it. 
Spent the weekend and a day building a new leanto on the east face of the barn. It provides extra shelter for the new hay feeder and for our animals during rain and storms without letting them into the barn itself. But more importantly this new shelter will keep the snow and ice away from the barn door, which became consistently stuck last winter. Well no more! During the build, the goats and donkey became very interested in what was going on. Here are some photos:       Sheep farmers just don't miss going to the annual Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson, WI. We went on Saturday September 6th. There were lots of sheep, which only makes sense. There was a lot of wool too. Highlight of the day: The acquisition of a new tilt table for the sheep. This contraption will make it much much easier to trim the sheep's hooves. You simply lead the sheep into the apparatus through a stop gate, squish the clam-shell sides together to keep the animal snug and immobile; then tilt the animal onto its side, giving us quick and easy access to the feet for trimming. Much better than the sheep sling.  Just built a new feeder outside the barn. This was a necessary step as our hayfield paddock has been nibbled down to nothing. The Southern Exposure and Cottonwood paddocks are not quite ready for grazing so the sheep need more hay. The sheep and goats report they love the new buffet table. 
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