Convincing Myself
- John Hogeland
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
We started Whippoorwill Creek Farm back in 2018. Since that time, it's been an important goal of ours to bring new farmers onto our farm to work alongside us in the fields. We are convinced that without a working next generation of farmers, all the changes we make on the farm won't matter.
First, about two years ago now, a young man joined us, eager to start his own farm business. He was interested in small grains (oats, wheat, barley, etc) and maybe some cattle. He worked in his free time in exchange for some heifers and we made space for his grains.
Then, about six months ago, another person contacted us, eager to join us in our adventure. She is very excited, perhaps even starry-eyed, about opportunities open to a new farmer willing to work hard and think outside the box.
Her dream? Goats.
And so I'm getting ready to sell her my goats.
(Long silence).
We've been planning it for a while.
(Long silence).
Perhaps you can see that I am a little torn, now that the time has arrived for it to happen.
Just thinking about it...no goats.
Even though there will still be goats, they won't be my goats.
And really, they aren't even just my goats, they belong to both Beth and I, but they are still my goats. I'm their leader, I take care of them, I plan for them - they follow me... but soon none of that will be.
The young woman who is buying the goats is very nice. And she seems to really like the goats - in a different way than I do....but I am sure that they will trust her and follow her, too. So that is good.
And the goats will still be on our farm as we try to help her get started as a farmer. They will still be moving across the land, still hoovering up the invasive flora. So that is also good.
She plans go grow the herd, to a size much larger than we ever would, so that perhaps the herd can fully support her. So that is good, too.
She is a planner - likes statistics, numbers and tactile information. Weights and measures and daily gain rates. I never did much of that, I just tried to keep them happy and healthy. It's probably a good thing though. It's good to have solid information. Right? It's good.
I just need to let them go - go to her. I'll tell her about their various quirks - who's a good mom, who likes a scratch, who always climbs on top of the bales in the winter, driving me crazy. Who is suspicious, and who will get their head stuck in any available cattle panel. Who are the leaders and who the followers. Who's trust to gain first.
And then they will be gone. Not really gone, but gone from me. Off to another shepherd.
Yeah, that is for the best. Probably for the best.
(Long silence).
Maybe I'll keep just a couple.
Thanks for reading!
We will be taking orders soon for our 2026 beef (we have less available this year as we will be keeping back several heifers to improve the herd). Be sure to get your orders in quickly!!
I hear the sadness about letting go of the goats, but also the relief of no longer worrying about winter survival or pregnancies—not to mention the extra time you’ll have to pursue wonderful adventures (like Quicken!!!!).
I feel you, John. It still seems odd to not have multiple hives of bees for honey production but only one or two for education - it's been one year. I have to say the record keeping is better now.