One always starts the year with high hopes for a successful
kidding season, followed by a fruitful sales period, then a busy
and happy showing season, all the while maintaining a thriving
cheese business. We had a good year in that we sold a number of
wonderful animals and did well at the national show. However, a
number of things conspired to slow things down, as, unfortunately,
they seem to do every year to some extent. Last year it was my
Lyme’s disease. This year it started with a very hard winter.
Central Virginia has escaped the major storms raging all around
us in 2010-11, but in 2009-10 we were in the crosshairs of
about three major snow storms. Usually in Virginia when it
snows the schools close, kids run out and make snowmen and
throw snowballs, and by next day it’s all a pleasant memory.
Last year the snow came on December 21st and never really went
away until April. Consequently the does were barn bound, the
pens were deep in accumulated bedding, and the normal winter
cleanup activities just did not happen. However, kidding went
spectacularly. I seem to have figured out how to control on
the many problems and pitfalls of caprine health. We had not a
single loss. I was looking forward to a long show season with
some really outstanding does. But first, we needed to recover
from the long winter.
On April 1st, my husband Larry and I were trimming trees which
had grown up around the vegetable garden, creating unwanted
shade. Larry climbed the ladder about twenty feet up, and,
although I tried to hold that ladder, he was knocked off the
ladder by a falling limb. As a result he was rushed to the
hospital in critical condition. Ten days in the ICU and a
month in the hospital followed by months of rehabilitation
were all required to mend his broken bones and internal
injuries. I pretty much gave up showing again for another year
except for two local shows and the National Show in
Louisville. Larry accompanied me, but we brought his
wheelchair and a burly high school Senior with us to help with
the heavy lifting.
We sold many lovely babies and even some yearlings and mature
does. I was able to do well at the National Show last year.
Our placings are reflected on other pages of my website. We
received Best Senior Doe and Best Junior Doe in Show at both
State Fairs we attended, and with different animals! I have
much hope for this year if we two can keep healthy, and I have
determined to attend the National Show again this year in
Springfield, Massachusetts. Hope to see
you there!.
Leslie & Larry Sidwell
Iron Rod Farm
2955 Earlysville Road
Earlysville, Virginia 22936
phone: 434-973-8407
e-mail:
lesliesidwell@ironrodalpines.com
