SHEEP CAMP WRAP-UP

Wow, what a whirlwind of a weekend!  With over 75 participants and presentations ranging from Julie’s Frisbee catching Australian Shepard to hoof trimming and cheese making, we certainly had plenty of fun and learning opportunities.

The success of Sheep Camp depends on the effort and commitment of many volunteers.  As I think back on my first year of attendance there was Leslie Goodrich and Cindy Watrous, flanked by their children.  Seven years later Leslie and Cindy still offer their assistance and their girls are at camp, not as 4-H’ers, but as organizers, mentors and leaders.

Liz, Lindsey, & Meghan

Hannah, Abby and Lindsay

These Sheep Camp graduates offer so much to the next generation of shepherds.  Their enthusiasm, organizational skills, and smiling faces make returning a pleasure for us older folks.

Special thanks to all those, too numerous to mention, who gave tirelessly of their time this past year.   And to those who stepped up at the last minute to help make this past weekend a success.

Farewell to our good friend Mary Benoit, a tireless contributor for many years, as she heads for greener pastures.

Now lets all catch up on some laundry and sleep!

More on Sheep Camp

visit www.cartoongoddess.com for more art

Seven days to go.  Wow, it’s hard to believe that next Friday we’ll be loading sheep and heading for New Haven.

Just a few reminders for everyone.

Clothing

Bring plenty of warm clothes and at least one extra pair of shoes.  Raingear is always a good idea as the fairgrounds remains both wet and cold if the weather is bad.

Tents and camping gear

Most of us have figured out the benefits of a tent and some type of air mattress or cot.  For first timers, we are sleeping in barns that have birds nesting above…you can figure that one out.  Bugs are an annoyance at night without a tent.  Bring bug spray.

Sleeping bags should be the type for outdoor camping in order to offer the necessary warmth.  Some type of mat or tarp underneath makes the nights more comfortable also.

Flashlights come in handy for evening trips to the bathroom.

Sheep

Each 4-H’er should have a flock health paper and proof of rabies for sheep 3 months of age or older from their veterinarian.  Anyone coming with livestock from out of state needs interstate health papers prepared by your vet within  thirty days of June 26, 2009.

At a minimum check your sheep for hoof rot, sore mouth, and pinkeye before leaving your property.  If for some reason your sheep is ill and can’t come please contact one of the organizers or your club leader.  Chances are someone else can bring an animal for you to borrow.

Please refer to the article posted on June 10 on Show Season Biosecurity for more details.

Label all your equipment, every little bit of it.  There is no easy way to identify things that get mixed up.

Hand clippers, hoof trimmers, and hand cards are expensive to replace.

Volunteers needed

Being prepared for Friday afternoon means lots of running around and organizing all day Friday.  If you can come to the fairgrounds earlier in the day and help set up pens, etc.  that would be a big help for the

Vermont Sheep Committee members.

Come well rested and remain safe!

Show Season Biosecurity

Reprinted with permission from an article written by Dr. Kristin Haas, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets

With the long-awaited almost-arrival of spring, we have been focusing our efforts on preparing for the upcoming animal and agricultural events that Vermonters are so fortunate to be able to enjoy. The agency’s animal health employees are fortunate to be able to partake in these events and to work with producers, fair superintendents, and other colleagues who are responsible for participating in, and organizing them.

In this column, I would like to review with you some of the exhibitor guidelines that are in place to minimize the spread of disease.

If you are planning to exhibit your animals at a fair or any other area where animals will co-mingle, please keep in mind the following:

Abide by all animal health requirements established by the event organizers and make sure that your animals are vaccinated according to your veterinarian’s recommendations.

While at the event, use appropriate means of limiting contact of your animals with the public and other animals.

Do not share feeding, watering, cleaning, or grooming equipment used for other animals.

Supply your own feed and bedding and keep it separate from other animals.

Avoid using stalls recently occupied by other animals unless the stalls have been cleaned and disinfected.

Have disinfectant available for cleaning equipment when necessary.

Quarantine animals returning to the farm from an event for at least two weeks before reintroducing the animals into the flock or farm population.

If your animal develops signs of illness or disease during an event, contact the appropriate fair officials and then remove the animal from the premises.

Abide by all vaccination, testing and health certificate recommendations and requirements when transporting any livestock species to any fair or festival.   If you are uncertain as to the requirements for a particular species, contact
the agency’s Animal Health office at (802)828-2421 or visit our website at www.vermontagriculture.com. Vermont is host to more than 20 fairs, field days, and festivals around the state. Each one has something unique to offer, and they all support Vermont’s heritage, so remember to visit them this season!

Vermont has many great livestock events to enjoy, whether you do so wearing the hat of an exhibitor or that of a visitor. If you follow the proper precautions to minimize the chance of animal health problems, you can participate in these venues and keep your livestock healthy before, during and after.

Sheep Camp Update

SHOW CLOTHING SWAP

New this year will be a clothing swap designed to pass outgrown show clothes on to the next generation of shepards. If you have show clothes that are in good condition that your child can no longer wear please bring them along and we will have a table set up for distribution. The same goes for barn boots, barn coats, and any other items that you are willing to pass along.

VERMONT BASKET DONATIONS FOR THE YOUTH SHOW

Each year Vermont brings a basket of donated items to be raffled off as a fund raiser at the Youth Show in Springfield, MA. This year’s show is scheduled for July 16-19 and Sheep Camp will be the only time that all clubs are together before this show. We are hoping that each club will be able to donate at least one item for the basket. This year’s theme seems to be gardening and plant related based on the items that we have to date, but any type of contributions are welcomed. Last year’s basket was a big hit so lets do the same again in 09.