Lone Jack Farm

Lambing is officially done! We are so blessed to have such a great group of lambs. Some numbers I am proud to share include a 59% ewe over ram ratio. Ratio of lambs per dam is 1.7 which isn't bad for a flock of 26% first-timers. Our first group weaning date is the weekend of April 10th based on weather and performance. We did a group of experimental F1 cross breed this year with a unique sire/dam combo that resulted in some really nice black lambs this last week. They are so cute and really healthy. Super excited to see how they perform to weaning.

Spring is right around the corner and I honestly can't wait. This winter is on the home stretch with March 20th being the first official day of spring. The baby lambs are growing great and so much fun to watch prancing around. The sunshine has ushered in garden preparations, pasture management, and winterized equipment coming out of hibernation. Sunsets are breathtaking each evening; a reward for a day of hard work.

Well, the sun has come out and the temps are moderating back to normal. We've been taking advantage of the great weather to get ready for spring. Looks like we are going to get 100% pregnancy this year which is a first for our farm on the 2-cycle fall breeding. So proud of our sires. Coyotes continue to be a challenge and are a nightly guaranteed visitor. A pack of 4 as been wearing our LGD out every night, but he continues to do a fantastic job. Woke up yesterday morning to... a coyote screaming after getting acquainted to our electric fencing...something he'll hopefully never forget. Lambs continue to arrive. Our first-time <1yo ewe mothers are now delivering, so we've been giving extra attention to these latest arrivals. First lambs, especially multiples, are usually really small but so cute. It's hard to believe we are near growing season and getting the pastures prepped for rotation. Can't wait to spring clean as well. See more

Weeks like this create perseverance, dedication, and focus like no other. I thought I understood cold and winter. No, this is cold. When the snow burns you like acid because its so cold, when every bone aches after 5 minutes, when your eye's can't focus fast enough before freezing tears, when your lungs feel like they are filling with crushed glass at each breath, when you are happy you can't feel your extremities because your lack of motor skills causes repeated bruising, wh...en the icicles from your face start getting in the way, when farting makes snowflakes...this is cold. Essential farm equipment has been breaking over the past few days which further frustrates the daily activities. A great example is how it took nearly 4 hours to change a tire which usually takes no more than 45minutes. Our priorities are focused on making it to the weekend warm up. I never thought I'd be so happy to see 30s forecasted. We continue to do daily chores, and work to keep our herd safe. We unfortunately have taken some loses, but continue the fight against the cold, hopefully now past the worst of it. We'll be keeping an eye out for pneumonia in the upcoming days. Overall, the herd is doing great. I'm amazed at how hardy our livestock guard dog (LGD) is in this weather. Just keep thinking warm thoughts. See more

Getting back inside from today's chores be like...

The phone camera can't do justice to the fall sunset over the pastures. Winter is holding off just a little bit longer as we hurry to get prepared. Putting on snow shoes for all our vehicles and winterizing farm equipment has begun. The morning fog creates a mystic dreamy feel while doing the morning chores. Absolutely treasuring the changing colors...wish they could stay forever.

The morning sunrise and chill is so refreshing this time of year...woke up to the 30s this morning. We've been having to rummage through winter boxes to get some chilly weather workwear out. The Old Farmers Almanac is showing a challenging winter with first frost in only a matter of days. Not gonna lie...I'm looking forward to the bug-free side of colder weather as it's been a very buggy summer. We still need to finish winter stores, pasture prep, fencing, and all the interru...pted projects before the first snow (ew, I said the 's' word). On a positive note, the fall breeding is almost complete for the first phase/wave. I have a second set I'm breeding late to stagger the labor and farm resource demand in the spring. This later group is also going to target a different market. I'm shooting for a 95% or higher pregnancy rate at 34 day (2 ewe cycle) breeding intervals. With cooler weather, this second group shouldn't take more than 17days (1 ewe cycle). Sorry if that's TMI...all part of the farming life. I'm gonna try to include the farm goals more often...keeps us accountable. Still gonna find time to stop, getting me some pumpkin spice, and enjoy the fall colors. See more

Here is a big boy that didn't make this falls cut for winter stocking. It's amazing how fast they grow in just a year and half (DOB was 2/24/2019). Wish I could keep them all.

Well, our livestock trailer tire fell apart going down the highway this past weekend. I've never seen the tread fly off like this before where it looks scalped but still holds air. Like with many things on the farm, stuff breaks right when they finally get close to the top of our priority list. This will be the third tire repaired or replaced on the farm this past month. It's now officially fall, time to make some tough decisions on the farm. We need to determine our culls and those we plan on stocking/feeding until next spring. It's always a hard one for me since I see the potential in every one of our sheep. I've got a nice group of a few already sorted off and ready for the sale barn. They have great pedigree and would do really nice. Let me know if interested and I'll post a couple pictures of them.

Some days things are just hard, everything hurts or is trying to hurt you, and there's a snake in the hay. Those days are when you pull yourself up by the boot straps, work through the blisters, and get the job done regardless. There is no quitting halfway through a job on the farm; builds character, muscles, and a feeling of responsibility to that which relies on you. It also puts life into perspective. Great lessons from hard work and days that never seem to end, but truths taught that are hard to learn otherwise.

Beautiful second cut raked and baled yesterday. Just in time before an unforecasted 6 inches of rain dumped this morning causing flash flooding everywhere. Big temperature swing (50 degrees) over the next couple days, so keeping an eye on the lambs as any big change in weather opens up the opportunity for illness and injuries. Looks like first frost might be coming nearly a month early which puts a new level of urgency on fall and winter preparations. Tupping has been going great with 50% bred in first week...ram sires are earning their yearly feed. The evening feeding is truly special, watching the sunsets full of color. Fall is right around the corner.

The fall activities officially start Friday, marked by medical inspection and sorting of the breeding groups. It takes extra pasture maintenance and fencing to prevent the breeding groups from co-mingling as we want to maintain sire lines for registered lambs. This years first-timers will also add a level of drama on everything as they get lost through the process. Lots of stress all around, until the groups settle and adjust. The rams are definitely ready to do there job, triggered by the cooler nights and shorter days. After Friday, we have a long list of fall chores; harvesting hay, winterizing equipment, stocking supplies, prepping pasture and the fields for spring planting...so much to do. Will do our best to keep you up to date on the goings-on.

It hard to believe summer is almost over. We start tupping (breeding) next weekend with so many things to do between now and then. What makes it tougher is old farm equipment that keeps breaking. Harvest is about to start as frost count down has begun. With all the challenges this year, we are working hard to end on a good note. Looking forward to the fall colors and cooler evenings.

"Rain is a good thing." The skies have washed the fields and filled the ponds. This upcoming week we'll be mowing all the pastures getting ready for fall breeding coming up the last week of August. First sunflowers are openning and the garden is full of color. It's hard not to feel blessed waking up to blue skies and butterflies. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VKy69sE4VY

It is hot. Summer rotation going pretty well though. One more round of the paddocks before tupping. Got great stock this summer working on a farm record for spring lambs. Got an unproven new sire with incredible numbers I'm looking forward to see what lambs he throws. Will be running 2 new sire lines this fall with 4 total. Always experimenting trying to do better. This year has been a weird one due to the late random frost we had in May. Fruit trees are 85% bare due to lack of pollinators...pretty disappointing but trying to focus on the positive. Bugs are now showing up all at once which makes for tricky management of the herd and pasture but the growth seems to be making up for it. Fun times.

Beautiful site! Really nice first cutting for the year. Hope the other cuts turn out as well as this one...stocking up for winter feed.

Ag pilots putting on an air show everywhere with their crop dusters...its hard not to stop and watch. Godspeed and safety. https://youtu.be/aUvRXGVQShQ