Spring Update from SweetMeadow Farm

It’s been a beautiful spring here in Webster. We had a barn full of lambs from an outstanding group of brood ewes this year. Even using four different rams on our ewes we kept the lambing season to seven weeks. We started off with four sets of triplets, then finished with one single and four pairs of twins. Lots of ewe lambs! We only retained two ram lambs, and they’re both reserved for other flocks. We sent a few off for Orthodox Easter, sold some to repeat customers, and have put two ewe lambs into our grandsons’ names. Fingers crossed they’ll exhibit at the NorthEast Youth Show! We’re planning to take a show flock of both the Borders and the Blues to Eastern States, and we’re heading to Michigan with the BlueFaced for the National Show. Shearing has started and the sheep are out on pasture – where they belong!

It’s been a great spring for the cattle, too. We’ve had a very close calving group with 8 calves born in under a month. It’s an easy care herd. The mamas calve outdoors and if needed they stay in the barn for some bonding for a few days then spend a couple of weeks in the calving meadow until joining the full herd. The calves spend a lot of time snoozing in the sunshine and running about. They’ll nurse and graze for 6 – 8 months before weaning.

We made the trek to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival the first weekend in May. We hadn’t exhibited there in a number of years, and with lambs too young we took three yearling ewes. The BlueFaced ewe, “Ruckus”, competed in a class of 19 long-wooled black sheep and stood 3rd. The Borders stood 2nd and 4th in a strong class with “Prosecco” taking Reserve Champion White Border to Sarah Jakeman’s beautiful yearling.

“Ruckus” a SweetMeadow BlueFaced yearling ewe shown by Stephanie and Guy LaRochelle at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

“Ruckus” place 3rd out of 19 in a class of 19 long-wooled black yearling ewes.

“Prosecco” a SweetMeadow Farm Border Leicester Yearling Ewe shown by Guy LaRochelle at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

“Presecco” took Reserve Champion White Border Leicester at the Festival.

“Glacier” a SweetMeadow Farm White Border Leicester yearling ewe shown by Stephanie LaRochelle at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.

“Glacier” took 4th in the Maryland Sheep and Wool White Border Leicester Yearling Ewe class.

With a short turn-around time at home, we continued our sheepy travels with a trip to the Ohio Showcase Sale in Greenville. We took 2 yearling ewes that we thought were exceptional. The judge agreed and we placed first and took Grand Champion with “Glynnis”. Both ewes sold to new buyers: one to Indiana and one to Maryland. It was a good sale for Borders, with 29 head entered. We’re planning to consign to the fall online ABLA sale as well.

“Glynnis” a SweetMeadow Farm White Border Leicester Yearling Ewe took Grand Champion at the Ohio Showcase Sale in Greenville.

The 2023 weanling calves have moved across the street to a summer field. The grass was quite high, but they seem very happy with their field. It’s a daily half-mile walk to bring a bit of grain and keep the water filled. We’re fortunate to have the support of ag positive neighbors!

First cut hay is nearly all in. It smells so good in the barn! Lots of our “free” manure was spread earlier and the grass is quite thick. With a new-to-us tedder and rake, the one-man hay operation has moved along smoothly. Help with field runs, transport and bale wrapping is all he needs. With retirement from his full-time job, he’s been able to work in the fields in a more timely way allowing a bit more dry hay for us this year.

We’ve sold quite a lot of beef this spring and have 2 more to process this month. Awesome burger is still available. We also have lots of lamb sausage and 1 full lamb package available. No more lambs until September. Email to get on our list if you’re interested.

The gardens are in full bloom with peonies, scented day lilies, bleeding heart, bachelor button, iris, baptisia, columbine, lilacs, phlox, forget-me-not, cranesbill geranium, violets, lily-of-the-valley, mock orange, viburnum and lupine. The hops are taking over the front porch, the songbirds are busy, the weeds are persistent and the stock tank pool is ready. Bring on summer!

This post was authored by Stephanie LaRochelle, owner of SweetMeadow Farm, on June 5th 2024.