Monday, October 10, 2011

Happy Shipping Day?

Found this over at The Rustic Chick
It's shipping day at the ranch and I've contemplated writing about shipping day because it's a day of mixed emotions. I don't really know how I should be feeling about it yet.

I love all furry things and I have really enjoyed watching the lambs at the ranch grow, but the reality is that we do sell them in order to make a living. Does that make me any less of an animal lover? Is it okay that I am proud of our success in raising our first herd to sell?  Or am I expected to only feel heavyhearted?

Today, I am feeling a bit of both.

I guess this is just how it goes.

We can't keep every single one of these animals because it's just not possible and they are not our pets. Our job is to raise the lambs, give them the best lives possible and make sure they are happy, safe and healthy while in our care. I can say that we have done all this and now it is time to ship them off.

I think people take having food so accessible, for granted. It's easy to do. I'm guilty of it as well!

Today is a reminder that milk doesn’t come from the carton, meat doesn’t come from the deli and vegetables don't come from the produce section at the grocery store. These things come from farms and ranches like ours.
Found this at the Missouri Farm Bureau website.
Just know that ranchers and farmers truly care about their product(s) and it's good to remember the hard work and care that goes into making the food you eat.

{don't forget to submit your photo!}

8 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

nicely said. thank you - and all of the ranchers and farmers...

Anonymous said...

I applaud all your hard work! A loved and humanely raised animal is really the only kind to eat!

Gail said...

Very well said. I have heard, do not complain about a farmer with your mouth full.

Our fall crop of calves departed and it was bittersweet because there goes the young calf I bottle fed 'til her mom took her back.

I learned the lesson early, growing up on a farm. You can name 'em but we don't keep 'em. Each animal was cared for lovingly and on their last trip were treated kindly. It does make a difference in the flavor of the meat.

Farmers are a strong, yet gentle breed and I am proud to be in the bunch.

Jenny Glen said...

I don't have as much trouble shipping the lambs as I do losing the occasional one when they are first born. They are so cute and helpless then. It helps me out when shipping time comes that they aren't so sweet looking anymore. I try to be objective about who we are keeping as a replacement ewe and don't look at who specifically has to get on the truck.

The Coolidges said...

Very well put. It truly amazes me that people think their food comes from the grocery store.

Love your blog, btw.

www.coolidgelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com

Amy

Tena said...

I agree! Far too few people in this country have even an inkling of where food really comes from. I am proud to be a major contributor to our childrens' education in that regard (as my husband hunts and we butcher the meat ourselves). Yay for humanely raising animals!

Aileen said...

I love reading your blog for this specific reason. I get to see a " behind the scenes" glimpse at what it is like to run a ranch. As a cook, it really makes me stop and think about what I serve to my clients.

doublehphoto said...

Enjoying looking through your blog. My family used to have sheep also, and it's always fun to see pictures of them, the guard dogs, and the border collies!