Lionel Giguere As I grow older and think of times past in my life, I realize how quickly life passes and the old adage of "with age comes wisdom" has so much more meaning, with every year.
This year marks the passing of a great man, my Godfather, Lionel Giguere. At almost 100 years old, he lived a vibrant, fruitful life, filled with love. He was a man of God and family. He once told me not to take everyday things so seriously. He knew how to live, and live he did.
He holds a special place in my heart.
They say, "good neighbors are hard to find" so I guess I am lucky. Totally got the tractor stuck in the south pasture early one evening and called my neighbor Mr. James Robbins for help. Took him a while to get there, then I found out he was in a meeting when I called him, which he left to come help me. I barely know the man. He showed up with his tractor but we couldn't get mine out. He came back the next morning with a backhoe and pulled me out. He also opened up the creek where the dang beavers had dammed up. Most old farmers are just flat out good people, he sure is.
It has been busy at the farm, and we have been waiting for the pastures to green. Here in North Florida the pastures go dormant in winter unlike South Florida. From the looks of things we will be cutting first hay in about two weeks.
I have really enjoyed the farm recently as my son Joe has become a big part of it. It is great spending time with him and enjoying the same thing. He is quite the cattleman and the calves just love him. We attended a reproduction class in Marianna where we did some hands on blood drawing with Dr. Cliff Lamb and spent time with Dr. Ann Blount in the forage test sites. I think we make a pretty good team.
We had to tend a down cow, a milk cow that had been given to me, and Joe was right there, day in and day out, hauling water and hay, meeting with the vet, and finding a hip lift. It didn't end well, but the school of hard knocks gave us quite the education.
This year marks the passing of a great man, my Godfather, Lionel Giguere. At almost 100 years old, he lived a vibrant, fruitful life, filled with love. He was a man of God and family. He once told me not to take everyday things so seriously. He knew how to live, and live he did.
He holds a special place in my heart.
They say, "good neighbors are hard to find" so I guess I am lucky. Totally got the tractor stuck in the south pasture early one evening and called my neighbor Mr. James Robbins for help. Took him a while to get there, then I found out he was in a meeting when I called him, which he left to come help me. I barely know the man. He showed up with his tractor but we couldn't get mine out. He came back the next morning with a backhoe and pulled me out. He also opened up the creek where the dang beavers had dammed up. Most old farmers are just flat out good people, he sure is.
It has been busy at the farm, and we have been waiting for the pastures to green. Here in North Florida the pastures go dormant in winter unlike South Florida. From the looks of things we will be cutting first hay in about two weeks.
I have really enjoyed the farm recently as my son Joe has become a big part of it. It is great spending time with him and enjoying the same thing. He is quite the cattleman and the calves just love him. We attended a reproduction class in Marianna where we did some hands on blood drawing with Dr. Cliff Lamb and spent time with Dr. Ann Blount in the forage test sites. I think we make a pretty good team.
We had to tend a down cow, a milk cow that had been given to me, and Joe was right there, day in and day out, hauling water and hay, meeting with the vet, and finding a hip lift. It didn't end well, but the school of hard knocks gave us quite the education.
Joe drawing jugular blood
On March 8th we worked the herd and the whole family showed up to help. Jeanine and I, Joe, Papo, Joey and Shelly, and Angela our friend, worked all day and got the job done. Calf vaccinations, worming, tattooing, ear tagging, and castrations. It went really well and after 55 head of cattle we were exhausted. I can get a tad grouchy during the process, but thank goodness my help takes me with a grain of salt. I need to heed the words of wisdom from my Godfather.
Otium's Uno We sold some cattle earlier in the spring. Sumners Farms in Alabama bought 7 of our heifers including Otium's Sunday that was bred to Mocha Latte.
We sold 2 young bulls as herd sires to two different ranchers in Mississippi. One of them will be breeding a beefmaster herd. They thought the South Poll genetics would work great with their herds.
We also sold 6 yearling heifers and our #1201 bull "Otium's Uno" to a cattleman in Alabama who was starting a South Poll herd. Uno was sired by the great South Poll bull M480 "Chïef".
The chicken population has dwindled some as we have a hawk problem and I am not quite sure which road to take on that yet. Those bitty's sure are funny though, and we love the fresh eggs.
Joe and I have been getting some light maintenance done on the equipment so it's ready when we need it. North pasture and hayfield have been fertilized and we spread some crushed block down over the creek bridge road where it had washed out some.
I usually work 7 days a week, and between the business, home maintenance, and the farm, it's hard to keep up with everything that needs to be done. I sometimes wonder if I am on the right course in my life, but I sure enjoy spending time at the farm, and being out with the herd is very soothing to me. I pray for good weather during the summer, it makes it alot easier on us farmers. No drought, no floods, just right.
As I was loading the pictures on this blog, I came across some pictures of my young kids and grandson Cash. I can't believe how much they have grown, and especially how time has flown by, yes ...... life is fleeting..... make the best of everyday, and don't take everyday things so seriously.
We sold 2 young bulls as herd sires to two different ranchers in Mississippi. One of them will be breeding a beefmaster herd. They thought the South Poll genetics would work great with their herds.
We also sold 6 yearling heifers and our #1201 bull "Otium's Uno" to a cattleman in Alabama who was starting a South Poll herd. Uno was sired by the great South Poll bull M480 "Chïef".
The chicken population has dwindled some as we have a hawk problem and I am not quite sure which road to take on that yet. Those bitty's sure are funny though, and we love the fresh eggs.
Joe and I have been getting some light maintenance done on the equipment so it's ready when we need it. North pasture and hayfield have been fertilized and we spread some crushed block down over the creek bridge road where it had washed out some.
I usually work 7 days a week, and between the business, home maintenance, and the farm, it's hard to keep up with everything that needs to be done. I sometimes wonder if I am on the right course in my life, but I sure enjoy spending time at the farm, and being out with the herd is very soothing to me. I pray for good weather during the summer, it makes it alot easier on us farmers. No drought, no floods, just right.
As I was loading the pictures on this blog, I came across some pictures of my young kids and grandson Cash. I can't believe how much they have grown, and especially how time has flown by, yes ...... life is fleeting..... make the best of everyday, and don't take everyday things so seriously.
my 2 sons
silly on the hay
chillin on the hay
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