More Homestead Club pics and info.

Purchased in October 2021, sold August 2022 for the same price we paid for her, Nosey made a substantial contribution. She gave us over 1000 gallons of milk. Of this, perhaps 300 gallons went to her steer calf. Some 700 gallons went to cheese and butter and calves. We trimmed her nails, fed her special, created a tie stall for her in winter to help her maintain weight, and had her AI'd, but when we decided not to do the barn this year, we knew our pure-bred Jersey had to go.
Depending on how we value her milk, she gave us far more than her feed cost, and she was a great cow - more efficient than our other cows, no question about it. We are sad to see her go, but we are glad to not milk and board her through the winter.

Initial rototilling of this unproductive higher ground bordering 2nd Street was in May, but I did not plant until end of July after rototilling again, using an arena groomer, broadcasting, then using a compactor. This Pearl Millet is to be a cover crop, fertilized (N + K), then tilled before planting a 2nd cover crop end of September. It is supposed to be able to produce 2 tons per acre in 60 days. We shall see....

Two tons of grass hay from Jarrod here, adding to the 4 we already had from him - the last bales of the year to be stored at our place. We also got 4 tons of 2nd cutting alfalfa and 7 tons of grass from Laban (stored generously by Scott because our barn was cancelled for the year), and 7 tons of 2nd cutting alfalfa and several tons of grass hay from Rusty (also stored by him). Niko's crop of triticale was not clean enough for dairy use, though he had planted it for us and another dairy; the Dog Fennel/Mayflower Camomile invaded. Huge bummer! Overall, we are so grateful for the covered storage.

Thanks so much to the Mills for their extravaganza and food! Many of last year's fireworks were lit this year because last year was so dry, but the wet June made this year's festivities lower risk and way fun.

Thanks 1000 times over Abel for the help installing this hitch!

In a rare opportunity after over an acre was dirt post excavation, the kids made a cone-based race track and did time trials in the Rabbit. On the way walking home before the races, Kyra and Josh bumped into some Mormon missionary girls and invited them to participate. One had never driven a stick, and they needed more than one push start. Josh's parents enjoyed the event, though his mom was a little stressed and objected to Joshy or Joseph driving....
Needless to say, Josh had the fastest time for the day, but he failed to power-slide the jalopy, despite mayor Pfaff's request from the hay field across the way.

At an estimated live weight of 370lb average (250lb hanging), these little guys grew 2.9lb per day each for the three months we had them, assuming they started at 150lb. Apparently 5 to 10 gallons of milk per day plus pea-barley mix did them well!