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10th ANNUAL HANDS-ON
SUSTAINABLE SHEEP SCHOOL WORKSHOP
Held
every summer...
2015
Workshop Date: Saturday
June 13, 8:30am-4:30pm
NOW BEING HELD at Ramstead Ranch, Ione WA (about 90 minutes north of Spokane, WA)
Yep...I've retired the sheep portion of my farm business (to focus on the beef and the pigs) and I'm still conducting my popular Sheep School!
The wonderful shepherds of Ramstead Ranch purchased the SkyLines Farm sheep to add to their flock, and with this year's lambs
their flock will grow to around 175 happy healthy ewes, lamb, yearlings, and rams.
This year, for the seond year, I'll be presenting my Sheep School at Ramstead Ranch and
you're invited!
Read on for details about Sheep School...feel free to write me if you have questions about content...and
then visit the Ramstead Ranch website for registration. Hope to see you there! Melissa
TIP: As
preparation for this workshop, you may want to see SkyLines
Farm's website Management
Practices
for in-depth discussion of my organic approach to sheep
production.
WORKSHOP
OVERVIEW
This daylong workshop is
designed specifically for beginning small-scale sheep farmers,
whether you're just considering raising sheep or have
already started your flock. You'll get a broad overview of
all aspects of keeping your small flock healthy, happy, and
productive using organic and sustainable methods. You'll also get up-close
and hands-on with the sheep as you learn and
practice some of the basic sheep care procedures.
A SkyLines
Romney ewe nurses her chunky twin
lambs.
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Discussion
Topics
-
Overview of Ramstead Ranch's operation
- Management principles and practices for maintaining superb
sheep health and avoiding drug use
- Feeding sheep
- Managing rams
- What a healthy happy sheep looks like and how to tell when
something's wrong
- Basic sheep health care - dealing with minor wounds,
internal & external parasites, hoof care
- Simple and functional sheep facilities - barns, sheds,
gates, feeders, water
- Rotational grazing principles, advantages, and equipment
- Using Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) for
predator-friendly flock protection
Hands-On
Activities
- Low-stress sheep
handling - moving sheep, restraining sheep
- Condition scoring sheep (how to tell if this walking ball
of wool is thin, fat, or perfect)
- Drenching sheep with garlic (or chemical wormers if you
choose) for internal parasite control
- Trimming hooves
- Where and how to give shots if they're needed
Farm Tour
The day will include a guided walking tour of the farm.
We'll view and discuss:
- Examples of fencing styles and materials...woven wire
field fencing, portable electric, rigid
panels, fence charging systems
- Deciding on pasture divisions for rotational grazing
- Determining how often to move sheep to fresh pasture
- Low-stress method of moving the sheep to fresh pasture (this is fun!)
- Plus you'll meet all of the Ramstead critters...the team
of Great Pyrenees Livestock Guardian dogs, the cattle, pastured pigs, pastured turkeys & chickens...and of course
the sheep!
Leading the SkyLines
flock down the runway from pasture #13 to pasture
#1,
to begin another grazing rotation.
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SkyLines workshop
participants say...
Thank you for
the day of inspiration and education! What a
great way to get the "real scoop" on how to raise
healthy happy ewes and lambs, run a sustainable
business, and make decisions in line with your
dreams and your priorities.You're a rock star!
Melissa Radloff, Sustainable Ag/Small Farms
University of Idaho, Moscow ID
Thank you, thank you for an AMAZING day at your farm. I left full of new knowledge and truly inspired. I really appreciated the flow of the day, it felt jam packed, but not rushed. And it felt like you were totally attentive to each of our questions and individual interests. I learned so much watching you with your animals, perhaps as much as I did listening to you teach. I especially enjoyed the hands on work with the sheep and the farm tour.
It was particularly valuable for me to see a small scale organic operation. It was amazing to see the intimacy that you have with your sheep and your land. And it was really inspiring and enlightening to see what a strong, smart, passionate woman can do on her own! I feel empowered and excited by your work.
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and experience. I am so grateful!
Lindsay Warshaw,
Missoula MT
I wanted
to thank you for the clinic. I feel that I
learned a lot. I appreciated your down to earth and
realistic approach to your farm and am eager to
apply some of the principles that you
practice...such as breeding for a healthy flock
through a critical selection process. I look
forward to another clinic that would cover pasture
management and rotation.
Joel Steele, St. John WA
Thank you for providing this opportunity. I seldom get to be around other sheep people so very much enjoyed the time spent at your farm.
I am ordering some new electric fencing supplies because after seeing your gorgeous and healthy sheep I feel more divisions of pasture must be done here. I will also use your garlic wormer. Last year I started using DE with my salt & minerals per your web page. Which, by the way, is VERY helpful.
Most of all, I admire and respect your managerial skills!! You have done it all yourself and I am in awe of your capabilities. Also enjoy your web page and thankful you are so willing to share your information.
Thanks again for a most enjoyable and informative day. I will change my procedures based on what I learned at your workshop.
Judy O'Brien, Weippe ID
Thank you for
an excellent workshop! I learned far more than
I could have through just reading books and
websites. Your hands-on approach is very helpful
for those of us with no real experience, but a
desire to pursue shepherding.
Stephen Martin, Tensed ID
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Cost
* Registration fee $100/person including lunch and reference materials.
Two people registering and paying together $180/two.
* Nonrefundable deposit of $50/person/workshop to reserve your spot.
Space is limited to ensure a quality hands-on experience, so be sure to reserve your spot early.
To register or for more
info
write eileen@ramsteadranch.com.
SkyLines'
Angus
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Ramstead Ranch employs working
Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs.
Please leave your dogs at home.
SkyLines
Farm 4551 Highway 6 Harvard, ID 83834
208.875.8747
Purebred Romney & Romney-Cross
Sheep
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