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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions regarding our Lambing Boot Camp (School)

  • What is the best week to attend the lambing school?

Lambing happens in a bell-shaped curve.  That is a bell with a really big top.  The first week is mainly for me to get the ewes settled in and a routine started.  By the second week lambs are coming steady.  This will go on an increasing level until the third week and starts to taper off the by the fifth week.  So, the best time will depend on what you want.  If you are most interested in getting as many births as possible under your belt, then the second-fifth week is the best.  If you would like more time with individual ewes and lambs then the first/second and fifth/sixth weeks are better.  And, if you are interested in trailing sheep, then the last week would for sure be best.  Also, if you want to see how to setup a lambing camp and prepare for lambing then the week before lambing starts and the first week would be the best.  A lot depends on the experience you wish to have.

  • How does one get to your ranch if it’s too far to drive?  There’s probably no “lamb train” out to Milton-Freewater; is my only option to rent a car and drive from wherever I fly into?

I would suggest that you fly directly into Walla Walla, WA airport.  We will send somebody to pick you up.

  • What are the options for lodging?

I will have an RV on-site with extra beds as will several others.  You can take a bed in the RV you like the best. 

You can bring your own RV. 

Our lambing camp is about 30 minutes from our house, so if you have a car you can stay at our house and drive to the camp each shift.

  • What kind of “working hours” have been the norm in past years?  

There are two shifts, day and night.  The day shift will start at first light and end at dark.  We will encourage everyone to take at least one night shift, dark till dawn, but we don't require it.  However, lambing at night can be very different then during the day and a good experience builder.

  • Will most of the work be indoors in the lambing jugs?
The main emphasis for our students will be lambing, mothering lambs, etc in the jugs.  Part of that however is learning to spot ewes that are about to lamb and bring them into the jugs from the lambing yard, outside.  The other side is once the ewe is mothering and ready to go out, how to move ewes with new lambs and mix them with other ewes. 
 
That being said I will send out a questionnaire with areas, other then lambing, that they may be interested in getting experience in.  Things like, feeding big bales, driving a tractor, driving a feed-truck, putting up fence, trailing ewes and lambs, loading ewes and lambs and the other things that happen outside the lambing jugs.  Again the main thing for our students will be keeping lambs alive and getting hands-on lambing experience.
 
  • Do you have any more info (like an “attendee package”) that I could take a look at?
 
I am actively working on that along with a schedule and interests questionnaire.  We want to make sure everyone knows what to expect for the basics as well as what else is going on that may interest them.

 

 

 

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Last modified: 03/11/07