The Lambs Are Gone

Yesterday I took the lambs to the auction. Maybe I should have waited a little longer. Maybe the little flyers I made and posted at the feed stores were too little. Nobody called. I don't know. But I do know I was having to feed them too much and it was going to "eat into" my profits, if you can call it that. Is there such a thing as a negative profit? Well let me put it this way: I didn't want to have to lose more money on the lambs. That's how it is in the business world, right?

Since I started reporting to IRS about our "farm" I have yet to make a true profit. I'm not complaining, mind you, and our tax guy said if it hadn't been for the write offs associated with the farm we would have had to pay a load of money. I've always said I do it more for the enjoyment of working with the animals anyway and that is the honest truth.

I pried my son away from his on-line computer game and made him help me catch and load the lambs. I told him he could drive so I wouldn't have to go alone (and he could help me again if needed.)

Here's a view of the lambs from inside the truck.
We got to the auction yard and unloaded the seven lambs with the help of two boys who were working there for just that purpose. While I was waiting to give my information I was talking with three older gentleman that were sitting there shooting the breeze.

"Did you raise those lambs?" one old man asked me.

"Yes, I did."

"Those are some nice looking lambs!"

"Why, thank you!"

He continued, "You should be able to get 15 or 20 dollars a head for those."

I was taken aback a bit but I covered my disappointment. "Well, that would be okay."

Another of the men chimed in, "Did you tell her 15 or 20? She should be able to get at least twice that for those lambs!"

The first guy laughed. "Oh, I was just kidding with her." He turned back to me and said, "Those are some of the best lambs I've ever seen come through here. You'll do allright!"

"Thank you."

I won't find out how I did until next week. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

Have a good weekend!!