January 17th

Hi All!

It has been an interesting week on the farm. Lots going on (as usual!).  Barn cleaning was a success...so thankful for my sons and their willingness to serve on the farm. Barn cleaning consists of shoveling out 4+ TONS of urine-soaked sand, manure, and straw, and then refilling it with 2.5 TONS of sand (and 5 bales of straw, but we don't add that for another couple of weeks).  It was just the three of us doing a majority of the work this year--with Mr. D. driving the tractor and tilling out the compacted sand. The barn got cleaner than ever before!  

Can't wait for it to fill up with goat babies here in just a few weeks!  

For those of you who are new to this, we open up our farm to view kiddings. If you are interested in being called when a goat goes into labor and you live within 20-30 minutes from our farm, let me know and I will put you on a group chat (Even if you can't make the trip for the actual kidding, you are welcome to join the group chat for up-to-the-minute updates/pictures--or you can just follow my goat Facebook page, as I update there as well.). For those of you who are newer, if a doe goes into labor on a Friday, all activities are put on hold and there is a "Free Day" for those who come. Those who are capable of sitting quietly in the barn (and I am very strict on the quiet part) may also have the opportunity to observe the goat birth as long as I feel the doe is having a typical birth without complications.  You can read more about that here: Goat Kidding Season is Coming! (2021)

We only have four goats that are pregnant this year and they are all expected to kid around the week of Valentine's Day, so it should be an easy/quick year. 

But...since there are no goats giving birth this week, here is what we will be doing:

 Schedule for Friday, January 17, 2025

From 10-Noon(ish) we will break into group activities:

Group A-- Ages 5-8

You will be doing the Project this week. We will be having a little scavenger hunt around the farm. We will be learning how to read a map and follow clues. Come work as a team to find the treasures!

Materials Needed: 

• A water bottle to drink out of (if you think you may get thirsty)
• Sunscreen...if you so desire. 
• Clothes/shoes that you don't mind getting dirty. 

Parents, if your little ones tend to wander, please stay close by. You are responsible for taking your child to the restroom or providing them with water if they get thirsty. Try to remind them that this is a group activity, and they should try to stick with their group as much as possible. That will really help keep things flowing smoothly for everyone. 💗

Group B--Ages 9-12

You will be doing the P.E. this week. PROBABLY kickball. It seems to be always the popular game... if you want something else, make sure you tell Mr. D!

Materials Needed: 

• Athletic shoes of some sort
• A water bottle--if you think you'll want something to drink
• Sunscreen, if you so desire.
• A great attitude!  (That is mandatory!)

Group C--Ages 13-18

You will be doing Gardening this week. Not sure what Ms. Paula has planned, but I know it will be fun and you'll learn a lot! Come prepared to get dirty!

Materials Needed: 

• Sunscreen and Water Bottles...if you so desire. 
• And clothes/shoes that you don't mind getting dirty.
• Garden gloves if you think you want them.

Those teenagers that do not feel like participating in Gardening are welcome to volunteer with Group A. Please NOTE: you WILL be put to work if you volunteer in that capacity! 

I was made aware of an upcoming Volunteer Opportunity for Teens that I will share here:

A volunteer opportunity for those of you who know teens (and/or adults) who like horses. There is going to be a Mounted Shooting Competition at Horseshoe Park, February 17th and February 18th.  They are in need of volunteers for the Balloon Runner Team. There are 3 events, and the teen (or adult) would need to commit for the full event.  

The times are: 

1st event: Monday, February 17th, from 7:30 am-4 pm

2nd event: Monday, February 17th, from 6 pm-8 pm

3rd event: Tuesday, February 18th, from 7:30 am-4 pm

What they are needing: Ten ballons need to be reset on the course after every single run. We are looking to have up to 250 competitors. Therefore, 250 runs per arena (2 arenas per day). Ballon runners will also need to put balloons on sticks and air up balloons, have 5 red balloons and 5 blue balloons ready to "reset" the course. Prior to drags, balloon setters will need to pick up balloon pieces. 

If you are interested in volunteering for this/know someone who would like to, please contact me and I'll pass your information along. 

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Picnic Lunch

Everyone is welcome to stay and have a picnic lunch in the backyard area. You are responsible for bringing your own lunch. Please do not feed any animals with that lunch and please make sure all garbage is disposed of in the dumpster or garbage can.