The Goat God

Houston, we have a problem.... Our intention was to have BK be a companion to the horse, when he gets a little older and bigger - BK that is, not the horse. But you know what they say about best laid plans! The goats have fallen in love with "their" donkey. They're never very far from him, toddling after him like love sick puppies.

So far, the goats have only gone out to graze if I've been with them. After all, they're only babies themselves, and as such, are fairly timid about being out in the big, wide world without adult supervision. Enter BK, the Goat God. If he goes out to graze, they go. If he comes into the barn they scamper right along behind. 

(There is a donkey in this picture. Guess it's sort of like those hidden pictures.)

If BK lays down for a siesta, well then, it must be goat siesta time as well. I've heard that mini donkeys are like potato chips - no one can have just one.

Oh no, don't tell me we're going to have to get another one to keep the goats from screaming that their "God" is in another pasture!

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He's Here!

Meet BK, that handsome redhead in the back. I'll bet you can sense a story coming about the name, and you're right! DH wants to name him Barack but I refuse to let him insult that poor donkey's intelligence. My daughter, granddaughter and I want to name him Kirby, after a favorite character in a movie. So his name is Barack Kirby, or BK because I refuse to call him Barack. Anyway, BK, aka Kirby, is a 5 month old miniature donkey, who will eventually be a pasture mate to the horse. Right now, he's hanging out with 3 goat kids and 2 Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs until he grows a little bigger. Making new friends is always fun.

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Pin The Name On The Donkey

DH has always wanted a mini donkey and I just found a baby, pictured in front, that doesn't cost an arm, leg, and 2nd mortgage. Most of the ones I've seen are as much or more than a full-sized horse! As a baby he'll get used to the LGDs as part of his herd and, hopefully, accept them when he's grown. After all, I don't want the donkey to stomp the dogs, or the goats, or the chickens! When he gets a little bigger he'll actually be pastured with the horse as a companion. We're looking for name suggestions. He'll look very much like his mama when he grows up. DH suggested Barack, but I don't want to insult the little guy's intelligence. (I apologize to my liberal friends, but I just couldn't resist.)

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Coming to a Farm Near You

The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a rule to reclassify all farm equipment as commercial vehicles. This proposed change would mean that anyone operating any piece of motorized farm equipment would have to have a CDL (commercial driver's licence), with all the resultant schooling, expensive licensing and insurance, and record keeping that those who drive 18 wheelers have. It would also mean that farm workers, from the farmer's 14 yr old kid who helps with baling hay, to the elderly farmer who no longer drives on public roads, could no longer operate farm equipment, even on their own property. Now just to be fair, the DOT is holding public hearings on this matter until today, August 1. But in my experience this really means they're going to do what they want but want to give the impression that they're listening to input from affected parties. However, just last week, a DOT opinion piece closed with this statement:

"Everyone in this Administration - from President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary LaHood on down - is committed to the long-term success of America's agricultural industry. In many ways, agriculture is the backbone of our economy - feeding hundreds of millions of Americans and billions more around the world. As the largest user of freight transportation in the nation, the agricultural industry is also one of USDOT's most important constituents. We hope that this comment period is the start of a new and productive relationship. We may not ultimately agree on every issue, but we will always listen - and do our best to help America's farmers succeed."

If this is helping farmers to succeed I'd hate to see what damage they could do if they were actually TRYING to hurt us. It is up to not only every farmer, from those with backyard gardens to those who make it their livelihood, as well as everyone who eats, to oppose this. If you think this doesn't affect you because you don't own any farm equipment, wait till the increase in costs is reflected in the increase in prices at the grocery store. To make a comment to the DOT, visit www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket site. Or you can fax your comments to 1-202-493-2251. To read more about this proposed legislation see http://www.theblaze.com/stories/agenda-21-update-family-farms-are-under-attack/

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