agri-Culture

Where do we go for fun?  Well, all kinds of places, but fish hatcheries, farm shows, and livestock auctions are on the list.  

Today, we’re taking you back to jolly old England (almost Scotland, actually), to a little town called Hexham.  It lies at the foot of Northumberland National Park and a stone’s throw (literally) from Hadrian’s Wall.  This is as charming a hamlet as you might ever imagine.  It has lovely bridges, excellent tapas, wonderfully kind people, a first-class auction yard, and mules.

Wait – aren’t we talking sheep today?  What’s all this about mules?

Yep – mules -- that are technically sheep.  Listen in to Drew Patrick and Chris Armstrong, master auctioneers at Hexham and Northern Marts, to find out why some of these sheep are mules.  

And Hexham is in the Borderlands, so some sheep also look like rabbits – but that’s another podcast.

Links:
https://hexhammart.co.uk/
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-world-s-top-wool-producing-countries.html
https://www.nahillsheepshow.com/

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Located in the southern portion of Scotland, Lanark might be best known in agricultural circles for those big guys from the area around the River Clyde, and to history buffs as the first place local resident William Wallace drew his sword in earnest.  We love heavy horses with a passion, but the sheep need to have their day, too.  

Last September, Lanark Agricultural Centre saw Shetland Sheep and members of all sizes and colors coming for the Gathering, because “There can be only one!”  (oops – wrong movie again, though with William in the first paragraph, the sword thing kind of took us over.).  All shapes and sizes of SHETLAND SHEEP and the society that supports their continuation came to show, to sell, and to talk to the Backyard Green Films crew.

We’re still high on life from one of the most memorable trips of our lifetime – can you tell?  And still aloft from meeting the people and livestock of the British Isles.  Long may they rein (still had to make a horse joke).

Links:
https://www.shetland-sheep.org.uk/
https://www.shetland-sheep.org.uk/shows-sales-and-event
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Bakewell
https://www.britannica.com/story/whats-the-difference-between-great-britain-and-the-united-kingdom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_conquest_of_Britain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorking_chicken
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/lanark-p244081
https://scandinaviafacts.com/norsemen-vs-vikings-whats-the-difference/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Isle_(technique)

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In life, there are talkers and doers.  Of the doers, many of them have a characteristic known as “True Grit,” and today’s podcast guests are in that category.

Millie and Stacy Bradshaw own Dry Creek Livestock, and a few hours north of Salt Lake City, these two intrepid souls are building a place to call home on the windswept plains and low hills of Utah.  On their ranch you’ll find a range of critters, including goats (for meat and milk), cattle (for beef), livestock guardian dogs (for the previous two) and - periodically – mountain lions (because apparently ranching is just too easy in Utah).   Millie and Stacy know more than the average farmer about the plant life that surrounds them, and they use that and their livestock in a way that works with nature to build something out of this lonely land.

We hope you join us today for a talk with two modern-day pioneers (and a few comments from the always wonderful Tom Boyer), who are building a patch of land into a place to call home.  It’s something right out of a western movie, but these are the real heroes – even without the star billing.

Links:
https://www.instagram.com/dry.creek.livestock/
https://www.premier1supplies.com/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17505010/?ref_=ls_t_4
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_(TV_series)
https://www.nps.gov/state/ut/index.htm
https://heyexplorer.com/29-things-utah-is-known-and-famous-for/
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/582124/how-did-sand-come-to-mean-courage-pluck
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1403865/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065126/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

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It’s time for Horse Progress Days!  It’s one of our favorite events of the year, and this July it was held in Lancaster County, PA - just in time for the height of a national heatwave.  Everyone soldiered on through, though, with nary a complaint to be found from this stoic bunch.  

It was a good thing everyone pushed through the heat until the close of the day, because the HPD organizers saved some of the best for last (okay, the middle and beginning was pretty good, too).  The Backyard Green Films bunch had a front row seat for the Breed Presentation.  With longtime HPD participant Dale Stoltzfus doing a wonderfully informative commentary track, horses of every size, shape and color were on view, and riders, drivers, leaders and be-free-rs were putting on a show.

The commentary was so informative that we wanted to bring it all to you on our podcast, but in a few days you can go to the Backyard Green Films YouTube channel to get a (dusty) front-row visual as well.  Either way, we hope you feel like you were sitting right next to us for the whole show.

Links:
https://horseprogressdays.com/2024-event-information/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhZba-P7R18&t=81s

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It’s time for a talk – a Shepherd’s Talk, that is.  Every year, the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival has this popular segment available for shepherds, wannabe shepherds, ecologists, historians, and people who are just plain interested in fiber production from the ground up.  Today’s talk is with Erin Bradt, of Helder Herdwyck Farm, where she talks about not just these fantastic little primitive sheep, but also about importation limitations, disease issues in livestock, and…well, more than we have time for in the intro. 

We’ll be bringing you more of these fantastic seminars in the upcoming months.  If you’d like to see the visuals on this one (just like you’re sitting on a hay bale in Rhinebeck), head over to the Backyard Green Films YouTube channel for this video, and much more.

Links:
https://helderherdwyck-farm.square.site/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-57015478
www.sheepandwool.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLz9Oj_oVkg

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On this podcast episode Bruce Farr of Farrview South Farm, American Milking Devon Cattle breeder (and a teamster!), sits down with John Hall, the President of the American Milking Devon Cattle Association. They discuss the history of the breed, characteristics they appreciate, and some non-traditional ideas for a very traditional breed.

If you want to see the man himself (and the twinkle in his eye), head on over to our YouTube channel for our latest upload.

Links:
http://www.milkingdevons.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...

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This week, we’re speaking with Theresa Walker of Great Bay Wool Works and her lovely natural-colored ovine assistant Hazel (okay, so hubby Patrick did a little bit of modeling, too.).  We learn about natural-colored sheep, geography in New England, a bit of why New England and Old England feel familiar to each other, and much more. 

This is one of those where Rick had to keep saying, “Stop patting the sheep, Elara.”  We think this fiber is gorgeous, regardless of whether it’s on grass -- or on the very Patient Patrick.

Links:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ovine
https://greatbaywoolworks.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KcDt99gxko
https://ncwga.org/
https://americanromney.org/
https://sheepandwool.com/

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We’re going down memory lane, and back to the beginning of all things for today’s podcast.  In this case, it means the start of something that has grown into a behemoth in the world of Agriculture.  Originally from the shores of Scotland near Aberdeen, the cattle breed known as “Angus” has become the powerhouse breed by which all things are measured.  

 Today we’re going back to the roots of the breed that has become synonymous with “beef,” and which has also changed over time to meet the needs of production agriculture.  Today we have a great conversation with Geordie and Louise Soutar of Dunlouise Native Angus in Forfar, near the shores of Aberdeen Scotland…

…and you get to listen to that lovely Scottish lilt, too.

Links:
https://www.dunlouiseangus.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen
https://www.scotsman.com/regions/aberdeen-and-north-east/viking-link-to-the-north-east-of-scotland-1490003
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-55244660
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/

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We concluded the World Devon Congress adventure with the State that put these cattle on the map – okay, they’re on the flag, anyway.  We had a wonderful tour through the Green Mountain State of Vermont, on our way to meet up with Anson Tebbets, Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.  This lovely man took a walk down the lane on his family farm to talk about the finer things in agricultural life that are represented in Vermont – maple syrup, socks, adult beverages and ice cream, just to name a few.  He believes in those who produce our food and fiber products, and works to support them with legislation, funding and promotion, and, of course, his valuable time.

Vermont is a quietly beautiful agricultural state that is definitely worth a visit – even if you don’t have time to hit the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour (though we strongly recommend it).  These hills are alive…with the taste of maple…and cider…and wool…and pickles…and…

Links:
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/administration
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/agency-agriculture-food-markets-news/12-vermont-companies-running-2020-good-food-award
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/agency-agriculture-food-markets-news/fifteen-vermont-companies-running-2022-good-food-award
https://www.lancasterfarming.com/farming-news/dairy/american-milking-devons-the-perfect-breed-for-this-vermont-homestead/article_aec3cc10-0ef7-11ef-929b-83733b95d1f5.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Vermont
https://darntough.com/
https://www.benjerry.com/
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/
https://skinnypancake.com/
https://thetipsypickle.com/
https://cabotcreamery.com/

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Backyard Green Films is now in Florida, getting ready to start the World Devon Congress 2024.  But first (and last), our podcast with the butcher.  The place where everything ends – everything that is ordered medium rare, anyway.

A.J. O’Neil is the perfect one to encapsulate almost everything that is fantastic about why Devons are popular.  He’s a member of Red Devon USA, and a wonderful addition to their friendly and active Board of Directors.  He’s sometimes serious, sometimes quiet, but always a family-oriented guy.  He talks with us about O’Neil’s Quality Devons, O’Neil’s Quality Foods, and the joys of beef bacon.  Maybe not so much on that last one, but it cannot be stressed enough by all, so we put it in there.  There was bacon, though.

Head over to the Backyard Green Films YouTube channel if you want to see the man in action himself, but be warned - if your kids don’t know where the burger comes from, this will be an educational experience.  He IS a butcher, after all.

Links:
https://www.reddevonusa.com/oneils_quality_devons

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