Acheron Farm

January 15, 2014

On Wednesday we went on a day trip to Acheron farm. The man that owns and runs it (Scott) was such a nice man and was great to have us! First we learned all about his sheep and how he farms them, when he brings them in to sheer or vaccinate or drench etc, when and how he breeds them, when they lamb etc. Then he tought us about the buisness part of the farm. His main income is from wool and not meat so he told us about how they class wool, what is good and bad, how much wool you get per sheep and about his contract with Smart Wool. He also has a few cattle so he told us about them too. Then he brought in some sheep to show us handling and explain how he condition scores them (a condition score hoe healthy the sheep is based on how their body feels/looks, basically if they are too skinny or not). Once we had lunch we walked up the "hills" (you would probably call it a small mountain) where the sheep live. The walk was a little tough but we made it and the view was breath taking! We also saw his neighbors dairy cows while we were up there! After we walked down we walked over to his mother's house (a very nice women named Isla!) to look at her garden. As soon as I walked in I thought, I found a place for mom (and dad) to retire. Mom, if you had been here you would have fallen in love and never left, and that is exactly what I told Isla! The garden was beautiful, as was the view of the farm hills and the house, and don't worry mom, it has a pool. (I have tons of pictures that I will post on facebook once I get back from my long weekend in Queenstown!). We also went to the river nearby before heading back to campus. It was a very fast running glacier river that was supposedly very cold, but I didn't think it was any colder than the water back home! It was a nice way to cool off and all went in to about mid-calf (except for the few who had bathing suits and went all the way in!). I went in with Miranda (Susan's four year old daughter) who I actually spent most of the day with. She is such a cutie pie and says the greatest things! She actually has some very adult thoughts for a four year old. It was quite an exhausting day and we all slept soundly on the 2 hour bus ride back to campus. It was an amazing farm trip, very informative while also a fun day, it will be a hard farm to beat!