Meet the farmers
Not one of us claims to be the fulltime farmer here at Blue Rooster Farm but together we manage to keep the cows and sheep grazing, the water flowing, and the fences shocking. I, Julie, spend the most time at the farm however until recently most of that time was spent caring for our young daughters. Before they arrived I taught history and social studies at the local public high school. Our twin daughters are now in grade school and I am quickly finding ways for fill my extra time with farm work and marketing our pasture-raised lamb and beef.
Like most family farms we do not have clearly defined roles. We do what needs to be done. Even so, roles do begin to emerge. I do most the marketing and customer relations; I enjoy helping customers find the products that will meet their needs and tastes as well as providing preparation tips that will bring out the best of grassfed meat. Around the farm I move cattle and sheep to new paddocks, tend to the chickens and bottle lambs, and help with light maintanence.
Roy has two fulltime jobs, he works ecological services for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry and he works here at Blue Rooster as our herd manager and systems analyst. That translates into many walks around the farm pondering how to improve our operation. Along with all that, he has several construction projects under way, tends to the fencing and watering system, and buys and sells live animals with keen eye for herd improvement. His interest in cattle genetics has helped us arrive at a herd of uniform Angus cows that grow calves quickly on grass. Roy is planning for the day when his dream of having draft horses for field and woods work will finally come to fruition.
Riley and Frances have been gathering eggs since they were two. They also help us move cows and sheep, weed the garden, shell peas, and care for bottle lambs. They also offer advice, often unsolicited, on other animals we should add to our operation. Mostly they play and fight together, bounding around with seemingly endless engery.
