Last Set of 2009 Kids Born

On Wednesday, June 3rd - the last set of kids were born for this year at Four Seasons Farm. With all the excitement about the Buck Show this weekend, it has taken me a little while to get these posted. Sienna, our only Nubian yearling milker for 2009 had 2 very nice buck kids. All are doing well, and the new boys will be looking for homes soon. We have named them Black Velvet and Jack Daniels. These are also the only 2 buck kids we have left that are sired by Tempo in 2009.

Tempo Wins at Little Falls Goat Show!

After our babies were born last week, we made a last minute decision to go to the Little Falls Goat Show on Saturday. We took 4 yearlings, 6 kids, and our Nubian buck - Tempo. Tempo had been shown before. As a yearling (2006) he earned Reserve Champion, as 2 Year Old (2007) he earned Grand Champion twice. So, all he needed was 1 more Grand Champion win to be named a permanent champion.

We did okay with our kids and yearlings in the Junior doe show. One first place, a few second places and a few bottom of the line placings. Then came the buck show. We had high hopes for Tempo, but weren't really sure how it would all turn out. Well, it went well! He was named Grand Champion Nubian Buck in both rings! This makes him officially a permanent champion! We are so proud! And then, to top it off - he won Best in Show in 1 ring! This has never happened to us before! I think we are both still flying in the clouds!

We have 2 buck kids left this year, sired by Tempo, and we are hopeful to find them wonderful homes.

June Baby Arrival

We had a new baby born last night (Tuesday).  Jasmine, one of our 2 year old Nubians gave birth to a lovely doe kid.  We've named her "Wild Tequila Sunruse".  As with all of our kids - there is a story.  We were both at work yesterday.  We have had a 4-Her comming to our place a few times a week after school to work with the goats and help with chores.  She usually gets to our house before we get home, so she sets up for milking, does some feeding and works with her animals.  Well, the phone rang a Laura's work - and it was her saying that she had been out to the barn and she found the new baby.  This was all a great surprise because the babies weren't due until Thursday!

What is not a surprise is that this baby is already spoiled!  She's a keeper for sure!

Video Clip From Fall 2008

If you haven't seen this short video clip - it was done last fall (2008). I thought I would try to embed it to the blog.

All Terrain Babies

I mentioned that we recently let the babies out into their outdoor playpen which includes a giant rock wall.  We finally had time this morning to take a few pictures of them playing.  This wall has been one of the best ideas that Chris ever came up with.  The babies really enjoy it and everyone loves to watch them play.  Our niece and nephew even enjoy playing on the rock wall with the babies.  Happy Easter!

Calves Arrive

Our first batch of calves for 2009 arrived yesterday.  We went down to Nicolet, MN to visit with our friends, Hilda & Kevin, and picked up the calves.  The 3 amigos we have right now are Oscar, Monte & Lonestar.  They are quite a bunch!  We think that the white spot on Lonestar's face looks like the outline of Texas.  Oscar is all chocolate brown with no white spots, and Monte has the all-white face.  These 3 fellas should really help take care of all of our extra milk.

Babies in April

Gazette was giving us little signals during morning chores that she might have her kids yesterday.  She would look at us in a far off sort of way, she was  lot more talkative or vocal and she was extremely uncomfortable.  The poor thing couldn't find a position that was comfortable.  She kept getting up, and laying down.  Only to get back up again.  All of this was enough for me to say "Okay sweetie - I'll stay home with you this morning in case those babies come."  And, she was not pulling our leg.

By about 9 AM we had another set of babies born yesterday (April 6).  Gazette, our best Saanen doe, kidded with a set of twin bucks.  I guess this just proves the point that we are having a buck year this year!  So far out of 22 kids born, we have had 7 doe kids.  I swear it is written somewhere in the universe that we are only going to have a maximum of 3 Saanen doe kids on our farm in any given year.  Gazette was our last Saanen doe to freshen this year.  I guess I should just be grateful for the 3 Saanen doe kids that we do have.

We are expecting 2 more does to kid (both first time freshening Nubians) - but not until June, so things should calm down around here for a while.  That will give us time to catch up on other chores like hoof trimming, fire wood, and a few very old recorded tv shows!  (that's a joke...)

I'll try to get photos up soon of the new kids.  We also opened up the outdoor kid play pen area which contains the rock wall we made a few years ago.  The kids were pretty amazed at how large their world had become!  We'll be sure to include a few photos of that as well.