A Dream Come True
I have realized a dream I have had for a long time: Getting sheep!
I am super proud of this achievement. I have worked hard and my milestones are being checked off one by one. 35 days after I organized into an LLC, I expanded my chicken flock. 76 days into being Flocksadaisy Farm LLC, I got 6 beautiful ewes.
Before I could bring sheep to the farm, I needed to coordinate the removal of fencing, construction of a new exterior and interior fence, the installation of a deep buried water pipeline, a surface water pipeline, and a winter water, and continue to learn more about sheep and managed grazing. I could not have accomplished this work without the assistance of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Although one of the original folks we started working with on the project had their position cut, we were fortunate to work with other grazing and engineering experts who guided us through a managed grazing plan for sheep and were critical in establishing my business plan and producer goals as a new farmer. Please check out this excellent article on WPR about the NRCS and federal cuts to learn more about the NRCS and farmers in Wisconsin.
My journey to sheep began in earnest about eight years ago when I attended EWEniversity - A Program for Sheep Producers organized by Dane County University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Did I have the land for sheep back then? No. But I was sheep curious.
I have always loved critters. Growing up we had a couple of dogs and briefly I had hamsters. As an adult, I have had three dogs become part of the pack.
But sheep? They are cute, but what did I really know about them other than I think the cheese made from their milk is yummy? Was this an animal I thought I could take care of? I had done really well with a small flock of chickens I had raised from day-old chicks two years before the EWEniversity course, and they were all still living. So, what was next?
Not everything I have done from EWEniversity to now has been towards the dream of getting sheep and putting them to work eating grass, but I have put in a lot of research and learning time, including attending the course "Regenerative Design in the Driftless" through the Driftless Folk School, many in person and virtual UW-Extension courses, and the fabulous Shepherdess Camp at Driftless Curiosity. I really appreciate all the great mentors along the way!
So, let's meet these lovely wool ladies!
Thanks to Parker Hill Century Farm for raising the sheep, answering my many questions, and delivering them safely to my farm!! Parker Hill has an awesome country market - go check it out!
There are all sorts of interesting sheep breeds, some with funky horns, some with beautiful spotted wool coats, and some small in stature with hair instead of wool. I don't have a particular favorite just starting out. My flock is made up of sheep that "look like sheep". They are crosses of mostly Corriedale, Merino, and CVM. I think they are super cute!!!
The six ewes range in age from a few months old to 7 years old. The oldest is definitely the matriarch. She does her moo-like baa at me when she does not approve of what I am doing. All six are very chill. They are getting used to my pasture and being moved frequently to a new small paddock (currently I move them every two days). Two of the sheep are sisters a generation removed, and two of the sheep are a mother-daughter pair.
Just ten days in, I am loving hanging out with the wool ladies whenever I can, making observations, and just enjoying being out in the pasture. Watching the MANY spiders at work, the red-tail hawk flying fast overhead, the praying mantis climbing the blooming goldenrod. Creating a map of the pasture, figuring out the paddock dimensions, learning how the portable fencing and electricity work, learning how to keep these specific wool ladies healthy, and trying to learn just what plants are growing in my pasture are all out of my comfort zone. These are all good mind puzzles. I could not think of a better job!
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