The Goatherd Experience

I've been so busy getting ready for fair the last couple of weeks, I haven't been able to post. This afternoon, Dad, Grandpa, and I went over to the fair grounds today. They set up the camper while I set up the goat pens. I have four and so I'm putting two goats in each. Here's the lineup of who's together:

Lewis and Clark (no brainer)
Clover and Ebbie
Diddely Squat and Annabelle (clover's kids)
Ellie and Samson


Open class is Weds. after the market goat show sometime
4-H show is Fri. @ 10am

so yeah. I move goats in tomorrow. Dad is staying at the fair Friday and Sat. Night. I'm hoping that he'll bring the digital camera from work so I can take fair 2005 pictures and put them on the site.

I had a thought the other day. I'm not going to go into too much detail but Personally, I think it's a good idea and so I'm going to talk to my parents about it. If they are okay with it, I'll give you more information when the time is right...

So every day when I milk usually one or two goats manages to get through the gate that separates them from the milking room. They squeeze through the bottom of the gate where it opens a bit. So today Clover's kids found out that they could get in. I stopped milking and hauled them out. A few minutes later, they got in again and I grabbed one and while I was hauling her out Clover kicked the milk bucket and spilled milk all over the stinking stand. I was furious but I thought that we might be able to use the rest of the milk, so I continued to milk Clover. The kids kept getting in while I was doing it. I was still frustrated and so when it was Ellie's turn, I forgot what I was doing and didn't put the first few squirts of milk in the strip cup. So I basically contaminated the rest of the milk. AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!! I cannot milk in that room if the goats continue to get in!

Mom and I messed with the new harnesses today. We figured out that they are indeed two separate harnesses and they're much better than my old harness. We hitched both Lewis and Clark up and they both pulled the cart really well.

We went over to the fair to drop off my entry papers for open class. I'm showing all the does in that class.

I milked as usual. Not much exciting there...

Mom and I ordered a package from Hoegger goat supply. It came today. among other things, we ordered a stainless steel bucket for milking, and a team harness for the boys. Mom wants me to get out the old harness and wash it and fix it, but that may not be necessary because it seems that it's two single harnesses that have the equipment to hook them together. So I may be able to work with that.

Samson got Disbudded, Dehorned, and tattooed the other day. Now he will hardly let me near him. *sigh* I'm going to train him for either pack or harness since he's so big. I have to sell Sirius and Cabrito before the fair, if anyone wants a goat just as a pet, leave me a note.