Lindsey Sterkel
What an amazing time we had in the U.K. with Turk’s family!
We fit so much into three weeks that I think the only two days we didn’t do much was Christmas and the day after (which is what they call Boxing Day)! I cannot believe how fast those three weeks went by.
Turk’s family has a large-scale sheep farm. I have no background with livestock at all and, goodness, I’ve gained so much respect for everyone with livestock! I knew it wasn’t easy for them to leave for extended amounts of time, but being there for three weeks right on the farm I came to understand why.
Between all the animals needing to be fed, there are also puppies and sheep dogs that need to be walked, a horse that needs to be rode and looked after, maintaining the yard and maintaining a holiday cottage! They have to do all of this in the cold, rainy, muddy weather!
One morning, we were going out to walk the pups and before we went out I had to tuck my jeans into my socks to get them through my waterproof pants and then into my wellys (knee-high rubber boots) to get the waterproofs over my wellys. Then get a nice warm jacket, scarf, hat and gloves on. To think they have to do this every time they go in and out of the house!
I could have taken this cute little thing home in my carry on!!
Turk’s whole family works extremely hard on the farm, but as this is HarvestHER, I really want to recognize the women that work in this different phase of agriculture! Turk’s mom, Margaret, and his sister, Emma, are a force to be reckoned with! They are tough, strong and resilient ladies!
Their season really kicks off in April and is known as lambing season. There is a shed on the farm known as “Mum’s Lambing Shed” because it is where the inside lambing is done and she plays a major role in this peak time. Lambing will last until the end of April or early May and their days normally start at 4:00am-11:00pm without being able to leave the shed for more than half an hour.
That is “Mum’s Lambing Shed”!
Because it is a hill farm, they typically lamb outside and as we all know Mother Nature isn’t always on our side. The lambs that are brought into the shed are ones that are frozen and haven’t been able to get milk, if the ewe is having problems producing milk, or if the ewe is having problems lambing. This is where Margaret, with the assistance of Emma in training, comes in and makes sure all lambs are well taken care of and looked after by their mammas.
Emma is out every morning in her wellys, waterproofs, jackets, layers and hat helping her dad, Craig, every day feeding the sheep, rounding them up, giving them shots when needed, etc. She really is their go-to girl, especially when Margaret is getting supper ready or taking care of the holiday cottage.
These ladies work so hard and do an outstanding job! We never had a bad supper while we were there and we were very spoiled to have breakfast made for us every morning! I can’t wait to go back and learn even more! It definitely won’t be long until we go back across again!
This is Clive! He is the main bull at the farm. He is HUGE! and curly!!
This is Borris! He would come to the gate and let us pet him, and he would lick your hand off if you let him!
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".
