Farm Bingo Card

Environment Niche Pasteurization

Erosion Fleece Breed

Harvester Agriculture Habitat

Aquatic Litter Barn

Heifer Crops Graze

Farm Vocabulary List & Definitions

the engagement in the practice, art, and sciences related to the
Agriculture production of crops and livestock to produce products for
consumption

Aquatic related to growing or living in or on water

a farm building used as housing for animals and storage of

Barn
machinery and crops for use in agriculture

to produce offspring under controlled conditions; plants or animals

Breed
descended from a common ancestry and sharing common traits

a plant or plant product grown for sale or for sustenance; may also
Crops
include animals and animal products
 the physical, cultural, and social conditions surrounding and
Environment
affecting any organism

the process of breaking down and transporting soil and rock by

Erosion
wind, water, and ice

Fleece the shorn wool from a sheep

Graze to feed on grass or other plants

Habitat the place an organism typically lives and grows

Harvester machines that have blades to cut plants

Heifer young cow that has not had a calf

Litter the multiple offspring of an animal that are born at the same time

the environmental habitat of an organism and the role it plays in

Niche
that environment

the process of sterilization of liquids such as milk by raising the

Pasteurization
temperature to destroy bacteria

Poultry domesticated birds raised on farms to produce eggs and meat

ENGLISH RUSSIAN ENGLISH: cover column
2 and write answers stable конюшня barn сарай straw солома grass silage fodder компост cattle shed сарай
для домашней скотины pigsty свинарник, хлев dairy молочная ферма orchard фруктовый сад vineyard
виноградник farmyard двор фермы farmer фермер

ENGLISH RUSSIAN ENGLISH: cover column

2 and write answers tractor трактор caterpillar tractor гусеничный трактор trailer прицеп, трейлер combine
harvester комбайн plough плуг rotovator плуг с почвенными фрезами to plough пахать to plough deeply
глубоко пахать to harrow боронить почву seed-sower высаживатель семян crop spraying орошение

ENGLISH: cover column

ENGLISH RUSSIAN
2 and write answers

hare заяц

fox лисица, лиса

weasel горностай, ласка

badger барсук

bat летучая мышь

fruit bat летучая мышь

mole крот

stoat горностай
 hedgehog еж

snail улитка

slug слизень

ENGLISH RUSSIAN ENGLISH: cover column

2 and write answers pond пруд field поле fertile land плодородная почва organically-grown food пища,
выращенная без применения химикатов fruit or vegetable picking сбор овощей или фруктов fruit or vegetable harvest,
crop урожай овощей и фруктов grape gathering сбор винограда grain harvest урожай зерновых crop rotation
севооборот to lie fallow быть под паром (о земле)

ENGLISH RUSSIAN ENGLISH: cover column

2 and write answers tree дерево grass трава grass verge травяное ограждение stream ручей river река
stile ступеньки для перехода через ограждение hedge живая изгородь wild flower полевой цветок waterfall
водопад cave пещера, полость mountain гора

ENGLISH: cover column

ENGLISH RUSSIAN
2 and write answers

rat крыса

mouse мышь

porcupine дикообраз

prairie dog луговая собачка

squirrel белка

lemming пеструшка, лемминг

chinchilla шиншилла

groundhog сурок

capybara, water hog воляной ослик

beaver бобр

beaver's dam бобриная плотина

ENGLISH RUSSIAN ENGLISH: cover column

2 and write answers soil земля, почва acidic soil кислотная почва alkaline soil щелочная почва clay soil
глинистая почва fine-grained soil мелкозернистый грунт coarse-grained soil крупнокомковатая почва topsoil
почвенный слой fertile soil плодородная почва sandy soil песчаная почва soil science почвоведение stony
land каменистая почва

ENGLISH: cover column

ENGLISH RUSSIAN
2 and write answers

cow корова

bull бык, буйвол

heifer телка

calf теленок

sheep овца

ram баран

ewe овца

lamb ягненок

goat козел

kid козленок

pig свинья
 piglet поросенок

ENGLISH: cover column

ENGLISH RUSSIAN
2 and write answers

horse лошадь, конь

stallion жеребец

mare кобыла

foal жеребенок

pony пони

Shetland pony шетландский пони

shire horse тяжеловоз, шайр

donkey осел, ослик

mule мул

zebra зебра

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Veterinarian comes from the Latin word veterinarius
meaning "of or having to do with beasts of burden".

1. What to Expect at the Vet

2. Vaccines and Booster Shots

3. Spaying and Neutering

4. Vet Vocabulary

Do you enjoy impressing your friends with new and unfamiliar words? Or do you want to just
understand what your vet is talking about. We've got vet vocab to help you talk the talk.

Acetabulum: The femoral head fits into this rounded portion of the pelvis to form the hip joint.

ALK Phosphatase: A liver enzyme. A blood test called a Serum Chemistry Profile checks the
levels of this enzyme; if the levels are higher than normal, this could mean that the patient has
liver disease.

ALT: A liver enzyme. Higher than normal levels mean the patient may have liver disease.

Aorta: A large blood vessel that delivers blood high in oxygen from the heart to the rest of the
body. The aorta is the largest artery in an animal's body. The left ventricle pumps blood that is
high in oxygen to the rest of the body through the aorta.

Anesthesia: A drug that causes an animal to lose consciousness and not feel pain during a
surgical procedure.

Artery: An artery is an elastic vessle that carries blood away from the heart. Arterial blood is
rich with things the body needs, such as oxygen and nutrients.

Atria: The atria are the chambers of the heart which receive blood and pump it into the
ventricles. There is a left atrium and a right atrium.

Bladder: The organ that acts as a reservoir for urine.

Blood: Blood is a fluid that transports oxygen and nutrients to all parts of an animal's body. It
also serves to carry away waste products. Blood is composed of a solid portion consisting of
blood cells and platelets, and a fluid portion called plasma.
Blood Gas Analysis: This is a test that evaluates the respiratory system of the patient. It analyses
arterial blood and records pH, bicarbonate, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels.

Blood Vessel: One of the many "pipes" in the body through which blood flows.

CanineTeeth: The four large, pointed teeth.

Carbon Dioxide: A gas byproduct of metabolism that is removed from the blood by the lungs.

Carpal Bones: The small bones that make up the wrist joint.

Cataract: A clouding of the lens inside the eye.

Cervix: The part of the female reproductive system which connects the uterus and the vagina.

Chemosis: Accumulation of fluid in the pink tissues (conjunctiva) surrounding the eye, giving it
a puffy appearance.

Complete Blood Count (CBC): This is a series of tests that evaluates red blood cells, white
blood cells, and platelets. This can quickly tell a veterinarian whether a patient has a variety of
problems including anemia, an infection, or a bleeding disorder.

Cornea: The transparent outer portion of the eyeball that covers the pupil and iris and lets light
into the eye.

Corneal Fibrosis: The formation of scar tissue on the cornea in response to injury or chronic
disease. This gives the cornea a white-gray color in the damaged areas.

Diabetes: A disease caused by the failure of an animal's pancreas to produce insulin. Insulin is a
hormone that allows blood sugar (glucose) to be utilized by cells.

Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a thin muscle that aids in breathing; it separates the chest cavity
(thorax) from the abdomen.

Electrocardiogram (EKG): A printout of the analysis of the electrical activity of the heart.

Electroretinogram (ERG): A test used to evaluate the electrical function of the eye. It records
the electrical changes in the retina of the eye after stimulation by light. It is similar in function to
an EKG, which measures the electrical activity in the heart.

Elevated Heart Rate: There are many things that can increase a dog's heart rate. Some reasons
include excitement, blood loss, and infection. Some birth defects can alter the direction of the
flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder and faster.

Enucleation: A surgical procedure which removes the eye. It is recommended for cases with
painful or blind eyes.

Femoral Head: The upper portion of the femur that is part of the hip joint.

Femur: The thighbone, the bone between the knee and the pelvis.

Fetus: A developing baby in the uterus

Fibula: One of the two bones between the knee and the foot. The fibula is the smaller of the two.

Glaucoma: Increased pressure inside the eye, which can be painful and may lead to blindness.

Globulin: A type of protein in the blood.

Heart: The heart is a pump which circulates blood through an animal's body. The heart has four
separate sections called chambers. The heart also has a left side and a right side. The two smaller
chambers on the top of the heart are called the left atrium and the right atrium. The two larger,
more muscular chambers at the bottom of the heart are called the left ventricle and the right
ventricle.

Hormone: A hormone is a chemical which serves as a messenger or as a regulator of a process

in the body.

Humerus: The longest bone of the forelimb; it extends from the shoulder to the elbow.

Increased Respiratory Rate: Many things can cause an animal to breath faster than normal.
These include excitement, pain, lung diseases such as pneumonia, and heart diseases.

Inflammation: The body's response to an infection. It can result in pain, redness, swelling, heat,
or loss of function.

Iris: The colored part of the eye. In the middle of the iris is a black opening called the pupil.
Muscles attached to the iris can make the pupil larger or smaller.

Kidney: These organs filter the blood and form urine. They also control the blood levels of some
chemicals such as sodium, hydrogen, and potassium.

Large intestine: This structure is also called the colon and is responsible for the formation and
storage of feces, and the absorption of water.

Left Atrium: Blood from the lungs that is high in oxygen flows through the pulmonary veins
and into the left atrium.

Left Ventricle: The left ventricle receives blood from the left atrium and pumps in into the body
through the aorta.

Lens: The part of the eye that serves to focus incoming light on a specific area on the retina.

Lens Luxation: Displacement of the lens out of its normal position in the eye.

Liver: This organ has a variety of functions including digestion, metabolism, and detoxification.

Lungs: The lungs are organs in the chest which serve to add oxygen to and remove carbon
dioxide from the blood.

Mandible: The lower jaw bone.

Maxilla: The upper jaw bone.

Metabolic: Having to do with an animal's metabolism, which is the sum of all the chemical and
physical processes in the body used to make and utilize energy.

Metacarpal Bones: Similar to a person's palm, these are the bones between the wrist and the
toes.

Murmur: An abnormal heart sound that is caused by blood flowing in the wrong direction.

Metatarsal Bones: These are the bones between the ankle joint and the toes.

Nonresponive Pupil: Normally, the pupil should constrict when you shine a light on it, and
dilate in the dark. When the pupil does not respond, this indicates damage to the eye, and
possible loss of vision.

Olecranon: Part of the ulna which forms the "point" of the the elbow.

Optic Nerve: A nerve that carries impulses from the retina to the brain to form an image.

Oxygen: A gas that is used by cells in the body for the process of metabolism. The lungs serve to
add oxygen to the blood through respiration.

Palpation: A technique by which a veterinarian presses lightly with his hands to feel the
structures below the skin, such as bones, organs, or tissues.

Patella: The kneecap.

Patellar Luxation: A condition in which the knee cap slips out of place.

Phalanges: The bones of the toes.

Platelet: A small cell in the blood which helps it to form clots.

Prognosis: A prediction of the outcome of a disease, whether or not the patient will recover.

Pulmonary Artery: Blood that is low in oxygen is pumped from the right ventricle to the lungs
through the pulmonary artery. This is the only artery in the body that carries blood low in
oxygen. Arteries usually carry blood that is high in oxygen.

Pulmonary Veins: Oxygenated blood is pumped from the lungs to the left atrium through the
pulmonary veins. These are the only veins in the body that carry oxygenated blood. Veins
usually carry blood that is low in oxygen.

Pupil: A black opening in the colored part of the eye (iris). Muscles in the iris can make the
pupil larger or smaller in response to light.

Quadriceps Muscles: Muscles above the knee that serve to extend, or straighten, the leg.

Radiographs: Commonly known as X-rays

Radius: One of the two bones of the forearm; it extends from the elbow to the wrist.
Red Blood Cell: A special type of cell in the blood that is used to transport oxygen throughout
the body.

Respiration: The process carried out by the lungs which removes carbon dioxide and adds
oxygen to the blood.

Retina: The rear surface of the eye. It contains nerve cells called rods and cones. The rods are
sensitive to light and the cones are sensitive to color. The retina receives light and color and
converts it into nerve impulses that go to the brain to form an image.

Retinal Detachment: This occurs when the retina separates from its normal place on the back
wall of the eye. The retina then has a decreased blood supply, and will degenerate and lose its
ability to function if it remains detached.

Ribs: A series of bones in the chest which form a cage and protect the organs inside.

Right Atrium: Blood from the body that is low in oxygen flows into the right atrium.

Right Ventricle: The right ventricle receives blood from the right atrium, and pumps it into the
lungs through the pulmonary artery.

Scapula: This is a flat bone that, along with the humerus, forms the shoulder.

Serum Chemistry Profile: A wide variety of tests that examine how organs such as liver and
kidney are functioning.

Skull: The skull serves to protect the brain from injury.

Small intestine: This structure serves to absorb nutrients from food.

Spinal Cord: A bundle of nerves that connects the brain to all other parts of the body.

Spine: Also called the backbone, this is a series of bones which surround and protect the spinal
cord from injury.

Spleen: This organ stores red blood cells and helps to filter the blood.

Stifle: Another name for the knee.

Stomach: This organ serves to breakdown and store food.

Tapetal Reflection: The tendency for an animal's eye to "glow". It is caused by light reflecting
off the colored tissue on the back of the eye, known as the tapetal fundus.

Tapetum: The layer of reflective tissue that is on the back of the eye.

Tarsal Bones: These are the bones which form the ankle joint (hock).

Tendon: A strong type of fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone.

Tibia: The bone between the knee and the foot.

Trachea: Also called the windpipe, the trachea allows air to pass from the mouth to the lungs.

Transilluminator: An instrument that generates bright light to aid in the examination of the eye.

Trochlear Groove: The place on the femur between two bony ridges which holds the kneecap in
place.

Ulna: One of the two bones of the forearm; it extends from the elbow to the wrist.

Ultrasound: A diagnostic technique used to get images of deeper structures within the body by
using sound waves.

Uterus: The organ in female mammals in which the fetus develops

Uveitis: Inflammation of the eye.

Vagina: Also called the birth canal, the part of the female reproductive system which connects
the cervix to the outside of the animal.

Vein: A vein is a blood vessel that transports blood from the body back to the heart.

Ventricles: The more muscular chambers of the heart which pump blood into either the lungs or
back into the body.

farmer livestock eggs grain potatoes agriculture

farm worker gardening barnyard tractor ranch hand cultivate
plow harvest water farmland silo prairie
grain elevator crops pumpkins orchard hay baler weed
chores till barn acreage peanut plant
haymow wheat safety soil seed sheep
agribusiness market combine ranch cattleman horse
vegetable fertilizer herbicide cattle wheat drill irrigate
swine soybeans gardening tool shed drain tile fence row
apples corncrib poultry corn wagon farmstead

Egyptian Farming
The Ancient Egyptians were one of the first farmers. Each
farmer's year was centered around what happened with the
Nile River. Once every year, the Nile River flooded the
parched land for a few weeks. As the water receded, it left a
layer of fertile mud to enrich the soil. Therefore, farmers never
needed fertilizer because the flooded soil was so rich. Low
floods caused starvation among the Egyptian people because the
unfertilized soil could not grow enough crops. The farmers were
responsible for the wealth of Egypt because they produced
enough food to support the rest of the population.
The Egyptians divided the year into three seasons. The three
seasons were: "flood time", "seed time", and the "time of
harvest". The "flood time" lasted from July to October. It was a
time when farming work stopped, and the farmers went to work
on the pharaoh's pyramid. "Seed time" usually ran from
November to February and was when the farmers planted their
seed. During this time the crops would grow. Canals and ditches
that had been filled during the flood season carried water to the
fields. Finally, the "time of harvest" was when the crops were
harvested or picked, and this usually lasted from March to June.
The Egyptians began planting seeds when the Nile's annual
flood had subsided. The main crops planted were wheat and
barley, vegetables, figs, melons, pomegranates, and vine plants.
Farmers used oxen to pull the plow and hoe through the soil. A
hoe was used for heavy digging and a plow turned the soil
easily. Plowing and sowing took place together. The Egyptians
used their hands to scatter the seeds onto the moist topsoil. The
seed was then either plowed into the soil or animals trampled the
seed into the soil.
Crops grew in the field during seed time. The boundaries of
fields were marked by large stones and were kept watered by
canals that had been filled during the flood season. The water
from the canal was raised over the canal bank to the field with a
tool called a shaduf. A shaduf was made by using a wooden pole
with a bucket on one end and a counterweight on the other end.
The counterweight was made out of clay, and it balanced the
bucket while it was in use.
At harvest time, every healthy villager worked in the field. Men
used a flint-edged tool called a sickle to cut down the ripe crop.
Women never handled tools with blades. Women and children
bound the cut crops (stalks) into sheaves. Then the crop was
taken to the threshing floor where oxen and cattle trampled on
the cut stalks to remove the grain. The women tossed the grain
into the air so that the wind blew away the light, useless chaff.
The heavier grain fell to the ground.
Farmers were required to pay part of their crop to the pharaoh as
tax. During the "seed time", officials inspected the fields and
decided the amount of tax to be paid. After harvesting, the
farmer's grain that was being used to pay the tax was stored in a
granary. This grain was used by the pharaoh. It was also used to
help feed the pyramid workers, and to feed people in times of
famine.

A Day at the Tulare Farm

Show!
If farming is what you are into, the Tulare Farm Show
is the place for you. The farm show had been
advertised on television and in the newspaper for
weeks. People from around the world were anticipating
the opening of the show. I attended the 32nd annual
farm show on Feb. 11, 1999. This show is the world's
largest agricultural exhibition, covering 100 acres of
exhibit space and having more than 1,500 exhibitors,
many from other countries, with the latest in farm,
dairy, construction, and industrial equipment. Other
topics such as technology, communications, insurance,
and the future of farming were presented. During the
six hours that I was there, I went to numerous
exhibits.

On my way to the Tulare Farm Show, I was wondering

what it would be like. I read in the newspaper that they
would take pictures of the farm show and put them on
a web site.The picture on the web site changed every
fifteen minutes. I wonder if I would be in any of those
pictures.

Finally, my mom and I reached a parking lot for the

farm show. A program called "Park and Ride" provided
free transportation to the actual show. Along with the
free transportation, we also received a special ticket
which allowed us to get one dollar off the admission
price. The admission price was six dollars a person. I
thought that was a neat idea.

When I finally arrived at the farm show ticket booth,

it was packed! People, mostly farmers and their
families, were milling around from exhibit to exhibit. It
was hard to imagine that they could fit all that
equipment and all the people inside the farm show. All
kinds of gigantic farm equipment could be seen
everywhere you looked. They had tractors, hay balers,
front loaders, sprayers for both tractors and
helicopters, plows and lots, lots, lots more! I had never
seen this type of farming equipment before. Inside the
exhibit tents, a variety of food could be found. Classes
on various topics such as insurance were also available
inside the tents. I did a lot of walking, so that I
wouldn't miss anything. I walked "aaaalll" the way from
one side of the show to the other side of the show.
The most interesting thing I saw was a barbecue grill
that was about thirty feet long. The grill was being
pulled by a truck. Succulent steaks and mouth-watering
chicken were being cooked on the grill. The one booth
that I missed dealt with future farming methods. I bet
it was neat!

The purpose of the Tulare Farm Show is to sell

equipment and inform farmers about new and imporved
methods of farming. The three day event was a huge
success!
Other Farm Show Pictures

A Day on the Farm

I quickly realized the enormity of the task at hand: to capture a typical day on the family farm
through photo-journalism. How could I possibly do that when I had just spent months learning
about the incredible diversity within farming? I knew that there was no such thing as a "typical
day." Things vary so greatly according to the type of farm, the season, the size, the day of the
week, and countless other things. Knowing that even if I studied one hundred farms, I still would
not be able to graph a "typical day," I resolved
my dilemma by visiting one farm on one day. I
hoped that this would serve as a mere example
of what a day on a farm might entail.

I chose to visit Dennis and Becky Shinaberry's

sheep and cattle farm in Fredericktown. Becky
and I spoke and decided that a Saturday would be the best day. My day on the farm actually
began the night before, as I knew that I would have great difficulty rising early enough to make it
to the Shinaberrys in time to start their day with them. Late Friday night, I packed some "get
dirty" clothes and awaited Becky's arrival. She whisked me off into the soft country hills where
her family farm lies. We arrived home to find all but Dennis asleep-- I soon followed the
majority, drifting off with thoughts of what my experience might be like the next day.

Becky roused me at 7:15 am. I eventually stumbled downstairs to the kitchen and found Becky
trimming Dennis' hair. In the living room next door I found the t.v. on with Joshua and Jeremy,
two of three sons, intently watching Saturday morning cartoons. Jim, the youngest, was the last
to come down. After some hefty persuasion, Becky and Dennis were able to convince the boys to
tear themselves away from the t.v. to meet me and eat some breakfast. This seemed to be the
typical family scene on a Saturday morning. The boys appeared excited and confused upon
learning that I would be taking photos of them doing daily tasks on the farm. My presence,
however, was not enough to lure them away from the t.v. when breakfast was over and to come
along with Dennis and me on our first chore of the day.

Dennis and I headed out to the shed that houses about half of the Shinaberry's sheep-- the
mothers and their newly born lambs. Dennis filled their water basin. He pulled down bales of
hay from the storage above for the grown sheep. He
also fed them a ground meal substance consisting of

mostly corn and other nutrients they need, as they were still nursing the young lambs. The lambs
received their own specialized food placed in an isolated pen.

Once the sheep were happily munching, we hopped into Dennis' pick-up truck and traveled about
a quarter of a mile down the road to get a tractor from the cattle farm of his father and mother,
Doc and June. On the way over, I learned that Dennis
spends a good deal of his time working his parents' farm
as well as his own. The two farms seem to be almost
inseparable. In return, Doc and June help out at Dennis
and Becky's farm whenever they can.
I quickly checked out Doc and June's cattle and then climbed on the tractor for the slow, but
exhilarating ride back to the
Shinaberry farm. As we drove
back I could see that Becky had
gotten the boys out of the house
for I could see them staging an
ambush for Dennis and me in the
ditch by the side of the road.
They were now ready to help out
with the chores for the day. The
next task involved filling up a
large wagon with straw bales to
be used as bedding for the sheep
and lambs.

Dennis backed the tractor up to the back storage end of the

sheep and lamb shed where the wagon rested almost empty.
After some struggle he, Josh and Michael (Josh's friend visiting
for the day) managed to get the tractor hitched to the wagon.
Dennis parked across the yard, just below the second floor
window of the barn. Becky, Josh, Jeremy, Jim, Michael and I
clambered up the ladders to the second story of the bale-filled
barn. We spent a great deal of time tossing bales of straw out
the window as Dennis stood in the wagon below and stacked
them up. I quickly learned how exhausting this work is, for the
bales most definitely did not tip the light end of the scale. The
hard effort did have its rewards, for when we finished, the boys took turns swinging from a rope
dangling from the rafters.

When Becky and I got out of the barn, we found Dennis repairing a wood panel on the second
story barn window. He and Becky then proceeded to fix
a flat tire on the wagon- Jim watching enthusiastically.
The wagon was then replaced in the shed. Dennis drove
the tractor back to his parents' house with Josh, Michael
and Jeremy. While there, they cleaned out the clogged
drainage tile of the crick that runs through his parents'
property.

Becky, Jim
and I
returned to
the house.
Becky and I
talked while
she
prepared
lunch. I had
questions
about the
ways in
which her sons deal with the animals they raise--
knowing that they are raised for slaughter. Becky
responded saying that that was a lot of what growing up on a farm was all about-- learning that
what they do is their occupation: "I guess they've understood from day one, this is what Dennis
does for a living. . . . We do it because we want to be able to put food on the table, and we want
to be able to buy toys for the kids, and go places and do things. . . . The kids understand that
they're [the sheep] there to play with, but in order for us to live, this is Daddy's business. So as
far as the kids go, . . . it's the same way with us-- we were raised that way." -Becky Shinaberry

Dennis, Josh, Michael and Jeremy soon

returned and we all sat down to lunch. Just as
we were finishing, the Shinaberry's neighbor,
Art Noble, arrived. Dennis informed me that
he had come to help out with de-tailing and
castrating of the lambs. Doc, too, was
expected to assist with the main task of the
day. Before his arrival, however,
conversation concerning land and zoning
laws ensued. Because much of our class
discussions revolved around issues of farm land sold to developers, I wanted to know what
farmers themselves think about it. While they certainly seemed to lament that much of farm land
is now turned into subdivisions and strip malls, they could, at the same time, understand why a
farmer might be forced to sell to developers for a good price. In fact, that is exactly what Mr.
Noble had to do. He said that it was one of the hardest decisions he ever had to make. "Back in
the sixties and seventies, farmland was being bought by farmers. . . . Now, there is no farms
being bought by farmers. . . . Why would he [a farmer] want to sell it [the farmland] to another
farmer for a 1,000 dollars an acre when a developer is going to give him three?" -Dennis
Shinaberry

One of the most detrimental consequences of these sprouting subdivisions seems to be the lack
of communication between farmers and their new neighbors. Often times, the newcomers do not
fully understand the runnings of a farm. It might be frustrating to have to slow down behind the
tractors on the road or to have to deal with the foreign and sometimes unpleasant smells that a
farm will inevitably produce. Farmers, too, have their grievances, such as finding curious people
trespassing on their land in search of arrowheads, and having to clean up excessive litter. There
is a definite cry for mutual understanding here.

Conversation had to come to a close and we headed out to the lamb shed. As if reading my mind,
Dennis began to explain the processes of and reasons for de-tailing and castrating. I learned that
lambs are de-tailed for health reasons. If lambs retain their tails, fecal matter has the tendency to
build up on the wool around the rear end. This is highly conducive to infection as flies are
tempted to lay their eggs there. The castration is necessary for selective breeding. Farmers
generally choose the best of their animals for breeding. Besides, it would be a bit of a mad house
if they did not castrate some of the flock.
The most difficult part of the
process was first getting the
lambs isolated from their
mothers. Dennis, Mr. Noble
and the boys constructed a pen
from the loose fence pieces
and eventually weeded out all
of the sheep. The lambs and
the sheep were not happy with
the separation and continued
to call out to each other the
entire time.

The whole process was quick

and neat. Mr. Noble stood on
one side of the fence in the
lamb pen, and Dennis stood
on the other. The boys were in
charge of catching the lambs
and handing them to Mr.
Noble. Although between
catching lambs the boys
tended to get bored and sneak
outside the shed to play. Doc
and Becky guarded the fence
against brave sheep seeking to
rescue their lambs.

Every lamb underwent the

following procedure. As Mr.
Noble held a lamb, upright,
with its rump on the fence,
Dennis gave it a tetanus and
penicillin injection. The
tetanus is a required health
caution and the penicillin
ensures that there will be no
infection.
 If the lamb was male, Dennis
then castrated it using a large
set of clamps. This pinches the
tubes just above the testes,
preventing any seed to pass.
Dennis told me that he finds
this the easiest and most
sanitary way to castrate the
males.

Next Dennis clamped the tail

high up near the lamb's rear.
With a swift movement, he cut
the tail. I asked Dennis if this
hurt the lambs. He said that
because the tail is only cartilage,
the pain is comparable to getting
ones' ears pierced. The younger
the lambs are, the less pain they
will experience. All the lambs
de-tailed that day were anywhere
between three weeks and three
months old.

The next step was spraying the fresh wound. Dennis

told me that the spray quickened the clotting of the
blood and also kept the area infection-free. Mr. Noble
then set the lamb down on the opposite side of the
fence, allowing it to seek out its mother.

Michael's father, a
hog farmer, joined in
for a while to help out
and experience
something new. He held the lambs on the fence, giving Mr.
Noble a break. It was interesting to witness this comraderie and
cooperation among farmers. For me, it solidified the idea of
farmers working together, always willing to help one another
out.
 This process took up the
majority of the afternoon, as
there were nearly fifty lambs.
Mr. Noble would know the
exact number, for he counted
the tails when we were done! (I
made him lose count when he
realized that I was
photographing him and had to
start over.)

Becky, the boys and I walked back to the house. After the work was done, Doc and Mr. Noble
went on their respective ways; Doc on his tractor, of course. Dennis and Michael's father stayed
out a while, chatting.
 I relaxed with the boys and
watched about half of The
Mighty Ducks until Dennis
came in and told me that there
was one more chore to do.

Although none of the boys wanted to go along, I faithfully grabbed my camera and headed
outside with him. We went back into the shed to give the sheep and lambs one more meal. We
then proceeded to the big barn to feed the second half of the Shinaberry's sheep. Because these
sheep were grown, and those that were female were not pregnant, they received a simple meal of
just hay. They, too, have a water basin that Dennis filled. One finicky sheep, who rarely drinks
from the basin, took her drink from the water spout.

Next on the agenda was feeding the cattle, which are housed in the rear section of the barn.
Dennis and I climbed up into the silo adjoining the barn that houses the cows' food: silage, which
is ground corn, stalk and all. Standing in the silo with a floor of silage one story high was a
strange experience. I felt rather claustrophobic as a wall of circular cement surrounded me and
the silage smelled fermented and strangely sweet. However, when I looked up and saw the sky I
felt calmed.

Dennis began hurling loads of silage with a pitchfork

down to a trough below. The trough had a silage auger
that cut up the silage a bit more and also moves it down
along the length of the trough so that all the cows have
access to the food.

Once enough silage was thrown down, Dennis and I

ascended the ladder. I watched the cows watching me
for a while- they seemed suspicious of my presence.
We were finally done! It was
about six o'clock and I was
incredibly tired. I could not
imagine what other seasons on
the farm were like since Dennis
told me that our day was
somewhat short as the winter is a
bit slow for them. We retreated
to the house and I told Becky that
I thought I had finally completed
my day on the farm. I gave many
thanks to the family for their
help, explanations, patience and
photographs. I promised lots of
pictures once I had developed the
film. I gathered my belongings and went out to the car with Becky and Josh, whom Becky asked
to come along for the ride.

On the way home, I reflected upon my day. I had witnessed some pretty spectacular things. The
Shinaberry family truly operated together as a family. The individual roles were dynamic and
that seemed to allow things to flow so smoothly. I was impressed with all the talents and
knowledge necessary to operate a farm. I had seen Dennis be a father, farmer, veteranarian,
carpenter and mechanic. I had seen Becky be a mother, farmer, cook and mechanic. Most
importantly, I had seen the Shinaberrys be a family that worked with dedication and cooperation.
That seemed to be the key.

I had learned so much that day. I felt that I could better appreciate what living on a farm is like. I
now have a more acurate idea of how full a day on the farm is. The crucial part, however, is that
I can share my knowledge.

To see more photographs of my

day on the farm click here.