From the Pastures: Kids are like seeds

Well, we finally got some much-needed rain. For the whole second week of June my rain gauge equalled 5.5 inches. I’m happy and so is everyone else, even if they have some drowned-out spots in their fields. Before the rain, I made dry hay and the yield was low. But we just didn’t have the moisture to grow any more grass, so I’m happy with what I got.

The rain came right in the middle of my lambing, but the sheep handled it great. I don’t think I lost any lambs to hypothermia because of the rain. My death loss is about what it was last year and the live lambing percent is 180%.

The body condition on the ewes is 3 out of 5, so they are doing very good. I’m moving them every two days to new forage that is shoulder tall on the ewes. They “talk to me” when they are hungry and ready to move. My motto this year is “don’t be afraid to waste grass” — which translates into leaving a taller grass height when I move out of that area.

On June 10, my oldest granddaughter received her State FFA Degree. Less than 2% of all Illinois FFA members meet the requirements to earn the honor of the State FFA Degree. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree the Illinois FFA can bestow on its members.

The next step up is the American FFA Degree that is the highest degree that the National FFA Organization can bestow. Less than 3% of all national membership earns that honor. I am very proud of her. Her mother told me that because of me and the sheep, Paige decided to get into 4-H and later FFA. I’ve had Paige out helping me and riding on the ATV since the time she could walk.

If you plant the seed and water it, the plant will grow.