Jerusalem Ridge Farms

Talk about a blur!  Things have just been moving too fast lately, so I profoundly apologize for not keeping up with my blogging.

Last week I spent some time Tuesday and Wednesday in the Benton-Mayfield, KY area buying some goats and visiting with my friends at the Purchase Area Goat Association (PAGA.)  I'll be going back on November 28th to do a website-building presentation for them.  It will be the second time for this presentation, the first came on Oct. 28 when I spoke to the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers annual meeting. 

I got back in time for church Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Steph and I headed out early for the Kentucky Women in Agriculture annual meeting in Louisville.  Steph attended the meetings, breakouts and round tables while I sat with the Kentucky Goat Producers Association booth.  It was pretty productive - I got to meet some new and prospective goat producers and make new friends.

Back to Frankfort on Friday afternoon to attend another meeting and get ready to head out early Saturday for Lebanon, TN and the Tennessee Goat Producers Association 2nd annual production sale.  Dr. Richard Browning from Tennessee State University was there with some nice young kiko and spanish-influence kids that were the hit of the sale.  Coming back through Nashville late Saturday night, Steph said "promise me we don't have any more events for the rest of the year!"  Of course I couldn't, because the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) started that morning and I'll be there next week for the Market Wether Show and the Boer Show.  I would have liked to have been at the NAILE Dairy Goat show last weekend, but we can't be two places at once.  Maybe next year.

Lest I forget (and I almost did!) we had a great time at the KGPA annual meeting on October 21.  Dr. Browning, Dr. Frank Pinkerton "The Goat Man," Tess Caudill (KY Department of Agriculture), Terry Hutchins (University of KY), Dr. James Strickland (USDA/ARS) and Dr. Michael Flythe (USDA/ARS) all had fascinating presentations and Apple Creek Barbecue in Lexington fixed a goat BBQ feast beyond compare.  To make a great day even better, KY's State Vet, Dr. Robert Stout spent most of the day with us and joined the association.  It's taken some work to build a rapport, but we're really getting some strong support from state officials.

So, I'm trying to cool my heels a little this week before I hit the road again.  Maybe I can even get to spend a couple of hours in a deer stand on opening day Saturday.

It's tough being on the road, but I don't mind as long as I get to see friends and talk goats and sheep.  If you'd like to have me speak to your association meeting or at your field day, please drop me an e-mail at ray@jerusalemridge.com.  I'd love the opportunity to visit with old friends and maybe make a few new ones.