Ready or Not....... Shouldvknwnbetter- Fall

[Bruce]

She is so appreciative that you've given her a great home she will make every accommodation to get along with the others Besides, it is hard to be a herd animal of one.

 

[Fullhousefarm]

We go to several youth shows that do Danish for the goats. Basically they do it so the youth can earn more premiums. The judge places the animals in order but can give multiple blue/red/white ribbons. So- the first four goats may get blue, the next 5 red, and the last three white. Blue ribbons might may $20- so more $$.

All our shows the goats should be clipped- especially for showmanship. We don't clip juniors under 6 months and we've left one or two we know won't do well but we brought to meet sanction a little hairy if they've been clipped but not super recently. So- other than bucks their beards are always clipped off.

 

[Hens and Roos]

the premiums for our kids range from $3 for a blue and down- so not a lot given out. Guess we will see what next year's fair brings.

 

[Fullhousefarm]

the premiums for our kids range from $3 for a blue and down- so not a lot given out. Guess we will see what next year's fair brings.

That's probably about what our county fair does.
We go to quite a few ADGA sanctioned shows with premiums, though, and some pay quite well. We drive 5 hours for one, and three for another and both are Thrs-Saturday/Sunday and entry fees are $8-10 a goat- but no fee for youth show usually. Those shows pay much better. But, then again if you figure gas and travel it still seems like not much!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Hard to believe that summer vacation for the kids is just about over- fall sport practices for all 3 started last week so a new schedule to get use too.....

this past week we went and visited 2 colleges that DD wanted to visit to see which one she was interested in, she's planning to stay in state. We had a nice visit at both and really was the 1st time DH took a couple days off in a long time!

Of course nothing can go with out a hiccup....on our way back DH felt the car wasn't running right- it was searching for gears but then it seemed to straighten out and run. Forward to this past Friday and I was running around taking care of things and the car started searching for gears and just not running right(suspecting the transmission) so later that night DH drove it and pretty much said- can't drive it.... transmission is one step away from failure..... long story short, we spent Sat looking for a used vehicle and ended up getting a used Jeep Grand Cherokee that was only 3 years old- runs great and we don't have to worry about breaking down!

 

[CntryBoy777]

That always seems to cure the transmission problem when another vehicle is acquired........I had to have the one in the van rebuilt a few yrs back....getting about time for the same "Cure" here, too....

 

[Latestarter]

Yeah, not sure about the scowly face... you have a new(er) vehicle that is probably in much better shape and good to go for the foreseeable future. Of course there are (I'm guessing) those new monthly vehicle payments and higher insurance costs for the newer vehicle...

 

[Hens and Roos]

Waiting to hear back from our insurance agent as to how this changes our costs...not that a newer vehicle isn't neat but was so hoping not to have a 2nd monthly vehicle payment....seeing how DS(15) will be added as a driver soon! Guess that is life!

 

[Bruce]

seeing how DS(15) will be added as a driver soon!

I don't know about WI but here, or with our insurance (Liberty Mutual)??, a permit driver doesn't jack up the insurance. Once they get their license?? Whoo boy, does it go up.

visited 2 colleges that DD wanted to visit to see which one she was interested in, she's planning to stay in state.

As you may recall DD2 went to Beloit and loved it. I like their philosophy:

1. Each professor's' JOB is to teach and advise, nothing else. Unlike UVM where teaching is secondary to research. A friend was told point blank that teaching doesn't count toward tenure, only research does. She showed them, got a $1M research grant in HER name, therefore portable. They couldn't trip over their feet fast enough to get her tenure.
2. Almost the entire faculty is full time, not underpaid/abused adjuncts (who are generally just as capable!).
3. The kids call the professors AND the president of the school by their first names. Not without respect for their respective roles but Beloit wants the kids to challenge concepts, etc and that doesn't happen when the professors have a "superior" attitude rather than a collaborative relationship.
4. A majority of kids do a semester abroad, that was one of D2's requirements. She went to Japan.
5. Small class sizes, generally under 15. You have to work REALLY HARD to get "lost" at Beloit.
6. They have a "First Year Initiative" program. The freshmen chose 3 topics from ~20 and come a week earlier than returning students. One of their classes is the FYI course they are assigned to. The professor for that class is their advisor until they declare a major and can be accessed throughout their time at Beloit if desired. The advisor helps them choose their classes and sees them in class AT LEAST twice a week in class. I don't think I even saw an advisor until I changed my major.
7. It is one of the schools that "Colleges that change lives"
8. They are noted for several majors, including among others Creative Writing (DD's major before she took so many Japanese classes that she ended up with a double major) and Archeology.
9. ETA!! Beloit is a good school for people who do not feel a need to fit into a homogeneous group. No "must wear this years fashion or be ostracized" here!

Of course it would have been really hard to afford without the merit scholarship. She went to Beloit for little more than the instate cost of UVM. Vermont doesn't fund the colleges and University well at all.

 

[Hens and Roos]

hard to believe it's mid Sept already waiting on test results for Amelia to see if she can join the rest of our herd....one thing we know for sure is that she needs some manners as far as personal space/acceptable behavior with humans. Getting blood for her test was a challenge to say the least.

we have started once a day milking to start drying Coco, Melanie and Rio off, never did milk Obie this season-but her 2 doelings are doing well!

Tried our hand at making some Gouda cheese-we will be able to sample the 1st part of Nov!