Small but Mighty

The pastures shone silver Thursday and Friday when I checked on the animals. In the Shetland and goat paddock, frost decorated Hank’s black-brown fleece.

The animals trotted toward me from across the pasture when the RTV roared up. I stepped over the netting to check on their round bale. When I turned back to the vehicle, the flock’s matriarch, Spain, stately watched me.

Goats Mocha and Aramis were less stately as they knocked heads over a stray piece of hay. They reared on their hind legs, twisted, then dove downwards and connected skulls.

Even with Mocha’s smaller frame, she held her own and (as it seems from the photo above) knocked Aramis hard enough his tongue stuck out and eyes twirled cartoon-like.

The two herdmates left each other alone after that.

Throughout the last couple of weeks, I’ve heard Athos express his displeasure quite a bit. He has plenty to eat, but I often hear him chastising the smaller goats (father figure that he is) about taking away his hay. He grunts and maah’s as he knocks heads with the other goats. Sometimes, it’s the other Musketeers he’s pushing away. At other times, I see Mocha in the fray.

Afterwards, Mocha jumps straight to the top of the round hay bale and surveys her domain. Aramis follows.

Here’s to Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf goats, who may be small, but they are mighty.

Thanks for Reading!

And I hope you feel refreshed and rejuvenated for the week ahead with this moment preserved in picture and prose. Consider:

• What is your favorite autumn meal?

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If Sylvan Sundays was forwarded to you, welcome! To learn more about our farmers, check out “A New Year’s Introduction,” and to learn more about our name, visit “Being Sylvan.” Also, make sure to check out “This Week on the Farm” and “Farm Shop” below!

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This Week on the Farm

Aries, our ram lamb that won 2nd place at the Indiana State Fair, was purchased for a young 4-H member’s new Shetland flock. Early last week, we learned that he won Champion Shetland Ram at the Pumpkin Palooza in Ohio!

Yesterday, we gathered pumpkins of varying colors! We had two different varieties in the patch that we planted, one that produced regular orange pumpkins and the other producing green pumpkins.

Today, we celebrate a family birthday! We’re also preparing for the North American International Livestock Exposition, a major exhibition that showcases many kinds of animals. Aries will be there, too, so it’ll be fun to see our sheep shown by young producers just getting started.

Farm Shop

We are thankful for llamas watching out for our flock! “Snacking Llama” is part of the Light in Winter series. Support our Light in Winter artist, Lydia, with a llama sticker today!