Hastings Ploughing Match 2010

Once again, we manned the booth for the Ontario Katahdin Sheep Association at the annual Hastings Ploughing match. This was held at the Jarrell farm on Blessington Road near Belleville, so was quite close to us for a change.
We displayed 2 ewe lambs and an adult ram who is very friendly and nicely spotted so he attracted lots of attention, and he loved having kids pet him.
After 11,000- yes 11000 visitors came through on Wednesday we were both exhausted. We could have sold our entire flock of sheep about 10 times over. We did not have any ewes left for sale, even before the show.
We speculate that the reason for all the interest is the fact that a lot of baby boomers are retiring to the countryside, and want to have a hobby farm and a few sheep to keep them active and not bored. Sheep are easier to handle than cattle or horses being a lot smaller.

Of course, there was the obligatory thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon. There was a lot of wind and the roof of the tent next to us flew away. Our sturdy older tent managed to survive the storm without incident.

Region 8 Sheep BBQ

Just a reminder to everyone involved that the Region 8 BBQ will be at our place on Sunday at 1 pm. No need to bring lawn chairs as we have lots of chairs. It is a potluck. E-mail if you need directions.

Talk on pasture management

It was a great talk on pasture management at the Ontario Katahdin Sheep Association's AGM held near Midland, Ontario. It was a three and a half hour drive for us to get there, but it was well worth the effort.
Jack Kyle who is a pasture specialist with the department of Agriculture, gave a very interesting and informed presentation. He suggested a formula for figuring out how many sheep could be kept on how much pasture for what length of time.
A good way to tell when to change pastures, he said, is to go out in the morning and see if the bottoms of your pants are wet from the dew. If they are, the grass is about six inches high and it is a good pasture for grazing. If only the shoes are wet, then it is time to switch to another pasture. He felt that most of our pastures are too big and should be divided up with an electric fence. Water should be taken to the pasture with a hose or using a water wagon on wheels, so that sheep do not have to expend extra energy walking back and forth to the barn for water.

Agenda for OKSA meeting Sunday 25th April

Agenda for April 25, 2010 meeting of the O.K.S.A.

We would like to thank our gracious host Tom and Shanna Bourgeois, for letting us invade their farm today.

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Lunch will be served and is catered by Community Living South Huron.

12:30 pm – 12:45 pm
Meeting called to order.

12:45 pm – 1:30 pm
Special speaker Jack Kyle who is a pasture specialist. He is speaking early as he has to leave right after.

1:30 pm – 1:50 pm
All in attendance will introduce themselves and give a little history about their family and their farm.

1:50 pm - 2:10 pm
Minutes of the last meeting will be discussed. We can bring up any discussion anyone might have pertaining to those minutes.

2:10 pm – 2:45 pm
Discussion of new business. Any info members would like to address.
I would like to address members to see who would like their farm and info on katahdinsheep.info as we can have a page for each member for whatever they would like to list.

2:45 pm – 3:15 pm
Special speaker Judy Scott Weldon. She is a nationalist and is in communications field. She owns a marketing company.

3:15 pm – 3:55 pm
Elections held for the following positions:
President
Secretary / Treasurer
Directors
As well as other positions

4:00 pm
Meeting adjourned
Tracy & Garry Smith Oram-T Farms katahdinsheep.infooramteakatahdinsheep.com

All breeds sheep sale

Upcoming Sheep Sale at Hoard’s Station Sales Barn(near Campbellford, Ontario) on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 1 pm.Supported by OSMA District 8 Purebred or Commercial Mature/Yearlings/LambsMale/Female Sellers and Buyers needed!! Entry forms available from: Elwood Palmateer 613-968-8698orChris Byford 613-476-2380 Accommodations in area:Campbellford River Inn, 352 Front St. N- 705-653-1771 or 1-800-984-6665Waters Edge Inn, 149 Queen St, Campbellford, 705-653-4470 or 1-877-838-3343Other hotels in Belleville or TrentonRoom for camping trailers on sales barn property

O.K.S.A Spring Meeting

The spring meeting of the Ontario Katahdin Sheep Association will be held at one of our member's farm in the Georgian Bay area, north of Barrie, Ontario. If you are a member and need more info or directions, phone Tom or Shanna at 705-835-6103. There will be a lunch at 12 followed by the meeting which should go on till about 3.15 p.m.

The date is April 25th 2010.

The location is quite far north, but it is hoped that it will attract some of our northern members who find it a long drive to the Niagara Pensinsula or Eastern Ontario where meetings have been held previously. It's only fair.

Our young llamas are old enough to leave now

Pedro, shown here is the only male this year. He has lots of lovely wool and would make a great sheep guard. He was born in October 2009.

The black one is a female called Cinderella. She is the same age, but has a different father.

The top one is probably the fanciest one. She is called Miss Hastings as her mother is Miss Canada. Second from the top is a young female called Umbra -so names as she is an unusual taupe colour. Contact us for prices and further details.