The Sunset of Lambing Season: Bitter, Sweet, and Loud

 As the final weeks of spring approach, the frantic energy of lambing season is beginning to settle into a steady, rhythmic hum. We are officially in the home stretch: between our two farms, we have 14 healthy lambs on the ground, with only 3 ewes left to go.

The Music of the Pasture

If you’ve never stood in a field during the "golden hour" of a lambing cycle, it’s hard to describe the noise. It isn't just a chorus of bleating; it’s a constant, layered conversation. The pasture rings with the high-pitched, frantic "Where are you?" of little voices calling out to mothers. In return, you hear the deep, grounding, and rhythmic responses from the ewes a sort of vocal anchor that keeps their wanderers in check without the mother ever having to stop grazing.

The energy is infectious. Every little hill is a mountain to be conquered, and every fallen log is a stage for a "king of the hill" match. Watching them race, explore, and test their legs is easily the best part of the job. As the sun dips low and turns the fleece into glowing halos, the chatter reaches a crescendo. It’s a roll call of sorts. You begin to recognize the individual tones: the raspy cry of the rambunctious black lamb who’s always a step behind because she stopped to explore, and the confident, booming answer of her mother who has done this for the last few seasons.

The Hard Choices

But with the joy comes the reality of the trade. As shepherds, we are the guardians of the land as much as the animals, and our acreage has its limits. It is a difficult choice to decide not to keep the next generation. Knowing that these little ones; the ones we helped into the world, or bottle fed all season because their mothers couldn't will soon be heading off to new farms or being slotted for camp is the "heavy" side of farming.

Living in the Moment

We know that soon the grass will be growing faster than the sheep can keep up and the days will stretch long and hot. But for now, we want to stay right here.

We’re soaking up the rumble of early spring thunderstorms, the morning surprise of new lambs tucked in the grass, and the bustle of early-season shearing. Before the season fully turns, we’re simply enjoying the music of a full pasture and the life we’ve helped bring into it.