As Predicted, Sheep are like Children

Hey There !

Dave from McElhoes Family Farm/Belmont here.

Well, It's finally happened. One the most certain signs of Spring is when the sheep start to see the grass greening up, and decide, no matter how far away or how small it might be, it is certainly worth the extra effort to find and exploit a weak spot in the fence and go to get it for themselves.

I have heard of better farmers than I who can keep their animals in, but I have yet to discover their secrets. To be sure, some of the fault is mine, for my fence is seemingly never completed. Made worse by the last year or so of family distractions that necessarily superseded my own work.

But the truth is, at least some of the blame needs to go to those doggone sheep themselves. Truth is, we really only expanded our sheep business when a friend - a multi-generational, full-time, serious, knowledgeable, professional (you get the idea) farmer decided that he was tired of trying to keep sheep inside his (much better than my) fences.

Most of the sheep we raise were traditionally raised in the north of Scotland. They were more or less autonomous all summer, and were rounded up in the fall for harvest. Though many generations have past, they have not forgotten their sovereignty, and I believe, they feel obligated to occasionally remind us they are only here for their pleasure.

Monday morning started with a spilled coffee as I glimpsed a parade of sheep, accompanied by the (basically useless but friendly goats) hurrying up the driveway to beat rush hour on their way into town. The tiny skiff of snow was in no way discouraging to them, as they sought out some imagined greenery in their future

Now in the summer, when the novelty of grass is really only decided on by it's freshness and quality, these sheep come when called, because they know that we will be serving fresh daily.

Today, however, they have returned to their independent roots, and decided a lively roundup was in order. My sleepy daughter moved quickly into action, and between the two of us, (aided? by the world's dumbest, but most enthusiastic dog) we were able to get them only slightly before reaching our own total exhaustion.

Anyhoo... I had other, more improtant things to share with you, but...

I gotta go work on the fence.

Dave