Out Around the Barn

If you do not live on a farm or if you have never been on a farm this question is not that silly.  I was always told that no question is silly if you do not know the answer.  To someone like me, the first time I was asked this, I was surprised.  It seemed so funny that y0u wouldn’t know what is around a barn.

I guess the first thing most of us would say is animals.  Whether it be horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or whatever livestock we raise.  Then, of course, there is the feed, horse feed, cattle feed, salt blocks, minerals and cat and dog food.  Also, there is the hay for the animals to eat and straw for their bedding.

Then the next thing would be the equipment, such as, tractors, wagons, combines, disks and maybe plows.

Of course, there would be all the neccessities of farm life such as fencing supplies, shovels, rakes, pitchforks, manure spreaders, buckets, log chains, hammers, wrenches and all other kinds of tools.  

It may be surprising what you find out around the barn.  You might find lumber, where someone has been building something or horse shoes lying on the ground where they have just finished shoeing a horse, halters and bridles hanging and saddles on saddle racks in a tack room.  There will be lead ropes and sorting sticks and sorting paddles used for herding the livestock.  You might even find a skull or two of bulls or deer. 

There is just no telling what you may find.  I do know that a farm is a great place for a treasure hunt. 

Any how, these are just a few of the things you will find on a farm, out around the barn.

Autumn is a busy time for farmers. While the arduous task of planting is but a distant memory, harvesting the fruits of one’s label can be equally taxing. I like to spend as much time outdoors as possible before the harsh winter winds and blowing snow relegate me to a few months of indoor living. In addition to the harvest, fall is also the optimal time to do last-minute household repairs and home-improvement projects.

Whether I’m out working in the garden, cleaning the rain gutters or just fixing up a dilapidated board in the front porch, I like to keep my tools close at hand. It saves me countless trips to the garage, which in turn gives me more time to get crucial chores accomplished. A portable tool organizer is easily one of the most valuable garden accessories, as it can be attached to a handcart and pushed along like a portable work bench.

This may sound really strange but, how many of us think of pen and paper as farm equipment?  How many notes do we jot down each day to remind us of a piece of livestock equipment, feed and supplements, tools or fencing supplies that we need to pick up to start or finish a job?

Isn’t it amazing.  The smallest things that we utilize everyday really plays a very important part in our businesses.  We keep records of all our livestock , like all their offspring’s births, vaccinations, de-worming and weaning dates.  We track their eating habits and their activities.  Even with the adults, we track their habits and cycles so we know when the time is right to breed for the next year.

We take notes.  I know we carry note cards with us to write any changes down that we encounter and then we record them in our computer on our farm program.  Even our computer is part of our business so it is also considered as farm equipment. 

Remember, there are all kinds of equipment and even the simplest items can be just that and they are tax deductible sometimes.  Check with your CPA to be certain on what you can deduct come tax time.

What is the main reason a person gardens?  Is it because they like the fresh vegetables or they like the exercise and being outdoors?  There are many reasons I suppose.  It is a wonderful hobby for the weekend gardener that likes to work the soil and help make things grow and it is great for exercise but, I like it because I can provide fresh food for my family.  The other reason is I enjoy canning and putting up fruit and veggies in the freezer for winter use.  We have food year round that I know is healthy because I grew it and kn0w exactly how it was grown.

I look forward to my garden harvest.  The fresh tomatoes is unbeatable on taste and the green beans, whether bush or pole, taste much better than from a can.  Corn is so much sweeter when cut fresh from the cob and frozen.  It is so good around the holidays with the turkey and ham.  The cucumbers are even better fresh with their crisp mouthwatering flavor. 

At first harvest we get our fill of the fresh produce and we eat it everyday, then we begin to tire a little of having  the same things so we start trying new recipes and then we start planning for the months ahead.

The first thing is the green beans.  I try to can as much as I can, since I do it for ourselves and our grown children.  Then the corn is ready and we put it up in quarts.  Hopefully with a good harvest we have plenty but this year wasn’t one of them.   Too much early rain, not enough time to grow.  During June through September we can tomatoes into juice, stewed, whole, diced and salsa.  This year nothing.  My tomatoes are just now coming on, we have had a few to eat but, not enough for canning.  The cucumbers are the same. 

I was really disappointed with my harvest.  I am hoping that a late garden will work out better.  I have several late tomato plants starting to bloom,  new bush beans are coming up, my pole beans are just now coming on, the yellow squash and zucchini are beginning to produce and my peppers are doing great.  I believe my best crop is going to be my sweet potatoes, they have just vined and bloomed everywhere.  I did get my first ever crop of potatoes to produce well this year.  Also, my cucumbers are blooming like crazy and I have several little ones coming on. 

So even though my garden is late and is just now beginning, I still enjoy gardening.  I keep my garden tool caddy close at hand and weed out my garden weekly, make sure it gets plenty of water and pray for the sun and heat it needs to produce the food to tide my family over through out the winter months.  I acquired my greenhouse this year so I am anxious to see what magic I can produce in there this winter.   

With my late harvest, I hope to do more canning and put up a few tomatoes and more beans.  We will see how it goes.

So if you enjoy gardening, for whatever reason, I hope your harvest is plentiful and your green thumb blesses you with the wonderful pride you feel while you watch your garden grow.

On the farm there are many useful ingredients for making compost.  We have cattle, horses, chickens and g0ats.  I have read and also heard that horse and chicken manure is the best for this particular project so that is what I use, the rest goes out in the spreader to the pasture.  Being that 2008, was my first try at this, I am still learning.  So this is what I know.

I began to worry last Spring, when my compost didn’t seem to be composting.  I wanted to spread it in my garden and use it in my planters mixed with potting soil to fertilize the plants but, it just didn’t seem to want to heat up.  I finally figured out why.  We had a pretty mild winter and I did not water my pile of compost.  I did not realize that it needed to be kept slightly moist in order to heat up and also, it needed to be, at least, three feet deep.  So in February, I began watering the pile every other week, unless it rained.  I added some horse manure and then continued to pile on my kitchen scraps daily.  Every week I would turn the pile in order to mix up the ingredients.  Finally, after about four weeks it began to compost nicely and due to the fact that here in Illinois it rained all Spring, by the time I could plant and work my garden, it was ready.  I was very pleased, it saved me a lot of money on potting soil.  I used it in everything from my vegetables and herbs to my flowers and shrubs.  It has worked out w0nderful.

Now that I have used up my supply for the year, last weekend my son and I cleaned the chicken coup and started a new pile.  I had continued all summer putting kitchen scraps in the small pile but had done nothing with it.  So we started layering with manure then scraps from the small pile and then more manure and so on.  Now I have a nice 6′ round wire pen of compost to compost through the winter and a smaller one to add to daily.  I will take some from the small pen and add to the larger one every other week as I water.  By Spring, we should be ready to go.

I have gardened for years but, this was my first attempt of making compost.  A lot of trial and error involved but we did it.  Compost is a wonderful garden supply and it is inexpensive.  If you live on a farm or ranch, why not make your own, it is definitely worth it.  Also, many folks from the city that want to have a small garden will purchase some from you.  It is all natural and makes the garden grow.

We all understand that there are many types/ breeds of dogs.  We enjoy what we call, “Man’s Best Friend.”  Their friendship, company and loyalty is beyond that of any other animal.  We  even have those that we consider part of our family.  We love them, spoil them and even pamper them; they are our babies.

As farmers and ranchers we own dogs; some as pets but, usually, working dogs.  Their purpose on the farm and ranch is to work, they are a part of our livestock equipment.  They love and want to work and look forward to working.

We prefer Border Collies as our dog of choice.  We previously owned three but, lost our two best dogs last year, one to old age and the other to the heat.  We are now at a loss when it comes to working our animals.  It is so different now that we have to go back to walking the pastures or saddling up to check the herd.  We definitely took our dogs for granted.  The saying is true that you don’t miss something until it is gone.  Used to, we just said a command and the job was being taken care of.  Now we really have to work with our young collie to get her to work.   She just doesn’t have the heart to be a working d0g.  She really just wants to play.  It is amazing to realize how much time we saved by allowing our dogs to do just what they loved.

We are now in the process of wanting to find a new Border Collie.  So to try to simplify the search, I decided to do some research.  I read books, looked at magazines, surfed the internet and came up with some good advice on what to look for in a working/herding dog. 

 These are some of the tips that I found:

• Border Collies are structurally balanced and are medium sized
• They need to be strong, fast, light and agile – not large or heavy
• They should have substance and stamina, be balanced – giving the impression of effortless movement and endless endurance
• The best size is between 18′ to 22″ tall and slightly longer than their heighth – their sizes will vary but, this is the suggested size for working dogs
• The head of a Border Collie is pretty distinctive with its strong jaw line, oval eyes and pointy ears.  Their working ability is not affected by the head as much as the rest of their body but, a subtle difference, such as eye color/pigmentation, can certainly bring about a change in its herding advantage.  Example: dark eyes are not as intimidating as lighter eyes ( lighter eyes give off the creepy wolf stare).
• Straight and upright ears are said to be best for a working dog.  They can hear better when commands are given and when predators are lurking.  Also, they are less likely to have problems with infections. 
• Their necks should be flexible so they can lie still yet, move their head to watch the herd
• They should have coats that are smooth because they are easier to maintain and they need to be able to shed well in the summer months
• A shorter coat is preferred because less is more, best for speed and movement.  A long rough coat will hinder their performance.
• One deception is that all Border Collies are only one color but, that just isn’t the case.  There are several colors and markings not just black and white.  To a working farm/ranch it isn’t the color that is important, it is the performance and ability of the dog.
• One thing that needs your attention is the front build of a Border Collie.  The angle of the shoulders is pertinent to their herding abilities.  A sturdy front will hold up well with crouching and jumping, as well as, creeping low to the ground.  They need to work 10 – 12 hours a day, sometimes covering 40 – 50 miles.  They have to be able to move  quickly, make turns and get out of the way.
• Check their pasterns to make sure they are slightly turned outward; this gives them the ability to move and will not break down as quickly.
• A good/great Border Collie is able to curl up in a ball allowing for its flexibility within its torso for quick change moves.   They also use their tails as rudders for turning at high speeds, they carry them low while working allowing for their stealth like movement.

Border Collies have so much heart that they work non-stop, even if injured, through the pain and keep going.  They are efficient workers and have a ton of drive, this is what makes a great working dog.  They have to work; it is what they live for. 

Now that I have done my research, we are going to begin our search for a new working dog for our farm.  I never realized that there was so much to look at and for when trying to find the right dog.  Now the work begins.

The fair has came to a close and everyone enjoyed all the activities and events.  I have wrote about the 4-H shows and Kids Day and all the fun we had.  Now let me tell you of the remaining events that followed.

On Monday evening the ITPA , Illinois Tractor Pullers Association, put on a terrific show for all to see.  The noise, the smell of smoke and fuel and the roar and cheers of the crowd made for a great evening.

On Tuesday evening everyone was mesmerized by the beauty and elegance of the LiL Miss and Queen Pageant.  Our retiring Queen, Mallory Borger, presented our new Queen, Taylor Purcell, with her crown.

2008 Marion Co. Queen, Mallory Borger  &  2009 Marion Co. Queen, Taylor Purcell                

On Wednesday evening we were in awe of the C-Bar Rodeo and its performances.  The bulls, horses, dust, riders, hoots and hollers, made watching the bull and bronc riding such a pleasure.  The speed of the barrel racers and the preciseness of the rider and horse kept the audience on the edge of their seats.   Just being a spectator and watching the swiftness and agility of some of these horses, we know that they have to have the right nutrition.  That is why equine supplements are so important, to keep up their strength and stamina to perform.

We were then entertained by Dusty Crane, trick rider, with her unique riding techniques and abilities.  Such a wonderful event to watch and witness.  Dusty has been riding for years and her passion and love for the profession shows. 

Bullriding & Dusty Crane; C Bar Rodeo                                                       

During ther entire event we were entertained by Pork Chop, rodeo clown, and he kept the laughs coming and at half time, intermission, the children were included in activities such as chasing bunnies and finding their shoes.  Everyone had a blast.

Thursday was the Draft Horse pull and we had 14 teams show for the event.  Our winners in the Lightweight division were 1st place, Ronnie Onstatt from Farina, IL and Jeff Weidekamp from Morrisonville, IL.  Our Heavyweight division winner was David Cox of Newton, IL.

Heath Hager w/Allen Hager & Sons #2 team           1st -  Lightweight team – Onstott &  Weidekamp

Best handling team went to Allen Hager & Son’s of Nicholason, KY.  The best matched team went to Jim Weatherholt of Grandview, IN and the team that traveled the farthest from Mullen Point, MS, went to Jeremy Vice.

  1st – Heavyweight team – David Cox

On Friday, the Grand Stand was packed and the Pit area full of spectators to watch the Demolition Derby.  There is just something about the crashing of cars and the smell of gas and smoke that will draw a crowd.  Friends and families come to witness the event as the contestants vied for first place.  This is the longest event of the fair and last at least 4 hours or more.  The mud slinging is a highlight and most go home with some kind of mud in their hair or on their bodies.  This is the Fair’s biggest event of the week.

Saturday we wrapped up our eight days of fun with the NTPA, National Tractor Pullers Assoc.  This event I wasn’t able to attend but, I heard it was pretty great. 

It was a wonderful week and the weather was good.  We only had a couple of days with rain but we were able to keep the fair going.  Mother Nature worked well with us this year and we look forward to next year for the 2010 Marion County Fair. 

Once again, thanks to all of those that prepared and organized this event for Marion and surrounding counties.  We all had fun.

Bright and early moms and dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters arrive on the fairgrounds with their little ones in tow.  It is Kid’s Day at the fair.  Children of all ages get to come to the fair for a fun and educational day.

When first arriving, the children register for information on the basics of 4-H.  They will receive material telling them all they need to know about the age requirements and rules.  This will provide them with the knowledge to decide if becoming a member is of interest to them.  

Then we are off to tour the livestock barns.  Our first stop is the Sheep barn.  So many to see, the children are so excited.  Some of the sheep stand right up next to their gates and let the children pet them and even feed them from their hands.  Others, not so much.

Next to the sheep are the goats. They are much like the sheep in letting you pet them.  There weren’t as many of them but the kids sure enjoyed seeing them.

Our next stop is a small group of cattle.  The girls got to pet a couple of steers and take pictures.  These were Herefords and Angus cattle.  We didn’t make it over to the other barns full of cattle.

We left the cattle and ended up at the Hog barn.  The barn was practically full of hogs. We were able to see the different ways to water the hogs by using what looked like PVC pipes with a spout on it for them to drink from.  The waterers were a good farm accessories to have.  It sure saved having to make several trips to supply drink for the hogs.  The girls thought that was funny.  They wanted to pet everything but, I was a little cautious here so we skipped the petting of the pigs.

After touring the barns, we went to the activity tent and let the girls pick apples from the tree display and place them in baskets.  Next was gathering of eggs and milking a cow and goat.  Now, I must explain that these are all made of wood and materials.  These are not the real thing, which is good, because as many children as there were, I do not think the animals would tolerate much.  I must say that whoever created the displays did a wonderful job.

The girls climbed aboard one of the John Deere tractors and we took pictures of the two of them and then they played in the straw pile.  They also enjoyed a straw maze that they could walk and climb through. 

Now it was time for a rest.  The girls wanted to ride the Merry-Go-Round and so they did with their friend, Rachel.  They giggled the whole time.  We decided it was time to cool down since the temperature was pretty warm by taking a tour through the Exhibit building to see all the quilts, antiques, school projects, canned food, homemade goods and etc. that was on display.

Lunch was served to all the families, provided by the Kiwani’s Club of Salem and free ice cream cones were given to all the children from the Bullard Family.

By this time my two were exhausted, not to mention myself and my mom.  We ventured out with fun in mind for my 3 yr. old niece, Kalissa and my 21 month old special little friend, Kennedy, she calls me grandma.  It was a girls day farm adventure.  The little ones had a blast, as well as the rest of the children that attended Kid’s Day.

It is so great to see the Marion County Fair dedicate one day just to the children of the community.  It gives our future generation of farmers a look ahead, although they may not understand it just yet, to get to see and touch the livestock and learn about the different breeds and responsibilities.  All the children took home goody bags full of infomation and surprises. 

Thank you to all those who participated in making this a wonderful day for our children.  I cannot even begin to name everyone involved but they know who they are.

It is that time of year again and the work has begun.  The fair grounds are being prepared for the eight days of events that is about to take place here in Marion County, Salem, Illinois.  There is so much work to be done that if you are not involved in the process, you would never know how much work really does go into the actual planning. 

These members of the fair board meet once a month, all year long, to plan and prepare for just this event.  It isn’t like a month before and all falls into place, it takes time and planning to organize and arrange for every detail to work.  From my understanding, members have specific and different areas in which they plan their events.  For example, each event has a supervisor in which to oversee the details.  At the meetings, everything is discussed from the price of the event to the price of the tickets to be sold, rules are gone over and updated, any changes, layout of the fields for the events or any kind of promotions that need to be done.  Then come the day of the event, the supervisors oversee the preparations and get everything ready to go.

At the fair you get to see all the old and new models of farm equipment that has had an impact in our county and across the nation.  Farmers from all over bring tractors, new and old, in for the week for folks to view and watch when they are in an event.  Other equipment is brought also but, the tractors are a big attraction.

Same goes for the 4-H livestock shows.  There are those that cover this area as well.  Today is the day that they are setting up barns for the 4-H kids to begin bringing in their livestock projects.  There will be cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, horses, maybe some chickens, dogs and even a kitten or two.  We usually always find a stray kitten left behind to bring home at the end of the week. 

Getting ready for these events takes a lot of hard work and organization.  Pens have to be set up, separate barns for the different breeds have to be readied, water supply must be working, areas for feed, hay and straw have to be made available, and of course, a place for all the owners to stay as well.  Then finding Judges to judge each event is a job within itself.  They must have knowledge and experience in the field that they are judging.

There is so much to get done, that it is hard to list every little thing, like making sure the vendors arrive on time, that plenty of food and beverage is available, that there is adequate facilities for the crowds and plenty of working restrooms. 

I am proud of our Fair here in Marion County.  Mr. Ron Wilkins, President, and all the members do an excellent job.  Come for a visit, you are sure to have a great time.

For more information on the fair and events go to www.marioncountyagfair.org.

Those little cute yellow chicks, oh how fast they grow.  Why do we want to raise them?  Do we do it just because they are cute or do we do it to put food on our tables in the future months?  Are they worth the time and money?

I think so.  Fresh meat that we raise is so much better than that processed meat in the grocery store.  We know exactly what we fed them and if they needed any medications and for what.  We watch them daily and feel good about having the ability to be able to provide the freshest meat for our family.  Not only do we provide meat for our loved ones we also provide fresh eggs.  Fresh eggs are just the best!

Yes, the chicks cost little if you purchase them but the feed bill can get expensive depending on what you are raising.  If you are raising broilers for meat, they will eat you out of house and home.  They are constantly hungry.  You would think they would eventually get full but they keep on eating.  These little guys soon become big in a matter of weeks.  Not months.  I raised 15 that I purchased in May and here 10 weeks later, we are dressing them at 8 lbs.  That is their dressed weight.  So live weight, they would have to have been approx. 10 lbs.  They were huge and will make a good meal. 

I enjoy my chickens and have fun just watching them especially the little ones.  The hardest part is the day the we have to butcher.  When they get so big that they are beginning to have trouble standing we know it is time to call it quits with them.  I am not the one that will do the worst and kill them but, I do the rest.  The plucking is a chore within itself.  It just drags on and the checking and double checking to make sure they are clean before we can cut them up seems to take forever.  Even though it is tedious, I much prefer to raise my own and feed my family with good fresh food.

One thing I did learn throughout this process is that the water needs to be HOT!  Not just hot to touch.  I mean scalding, otherwise the feathers will be a pain to pluck.  Also, it helps to have your knives sharpened before you start.  Sharp knives are a farm accessory that is needed on the farm, especially if you do your own butchering.  A dull knife just makes the job harder.  Have your sink or tubs ready to put the chicken in to cool while you continue working on the others.  I save plastic milk jugs and fill with water and freeze and keep them on hand for jobs like this.  You can just take them out of the freezer and place in the sink or tub.  They will cool down the bird to prevent ecoli from setting in.  Get them into the freezer as soon as you can.  If you have several, you may want to clean and freeze them whole, you can always cut them up when you get ready to cook them. 

It can become a disaster area around the house fast when butchering.  All the pans and bowls, knives and rags to clean up, not to mention the counters and sinks, tubs, barrels and etc,  Just make sure you clean and sanitze everything when you finish.  This helps prevent saminilla poisioning.

So if you want to raise chickens, whatever kind, go for it and have fun.