Aftermath

Today was sheep auction day. Twice a month there is a sheep and goat auction I attend. I look forward to the auctions. My one consistent social event. The time to gather with those who I have met over the past seven years learning how to raise sheep and make money doing so. I have several friends who attend regularly. The auction meets twice a month, twice a month we visit and catch up as we buy and/or sell sheep and goats. The auction provides us a place to meet and talk about our sheep and goats. Sheep and goats are a source of income for me and my friends. Today’s first question was “Were you hit by the tornados?” instead of “How are you doing?”.

The auction had record numbers of sheep and goats to sell, due to the tornados that hit the area a few days ago. How does tornadoes affect the number of sheep and goats selling in the auction?

Today’s auction was very large, almost 3,000 animals went through the sale. There really was not much room for that many animals. The animals are kept in pens waiting to be sold, once they are sold, the animals are moved to the sold pens. Problem today there were so many animals there for the sale, there was not enough sold pens. The large buyers, those who by fifty or more sheep at every auction get their own pen. During the first part of the auction, there were not enough large pens to group the animals the large buyers had purchased. Why were there so many sheep and goats at the auction today?

People’s barns and pens were destroyed, removing any place to keep their animals. They brought all of their animals to the auction to be sold. Others needed money and sold their animals for the monetary value in order to replace items lost or find somewhere to live until their homes are repaired or replaced.

One friend of mine, lost all his sheep, except three ewes and a one lamb. He sold the ewes, lamb and the only livestock guard dog he could find at the auction today. His barns and pens are heaps of rubble, he has no place to keep the surviving sheep.

My heart goes out to those who lost animals, have injured and maimed animals from the tornados. I also feel for those who are left with the only choice to sell everything and start over after they rebuild their homes, barns and pens. Sheep and goats are a source of income for most of us who gather at the sheep and goat auction twice a month.

I spent six years building my sheep flock to the quality and numbers I have today. I put forth hard work and sweat in the care of my animals. To have to rebuild would be emotional heart wrenching.

Yes, these strong people are going to rebuild what was destroyed. They will buy and restock their the flocks of sheep and herds of goats. The number of total dispersment sale animals was saddening. But the past seven years has showed me these people are strong, they are determined and they have always had sheep and goats and will continue to have sheep and goats.

amtolle