Ahgosa won't do facebook, so...

Ahgosa is one of our founding rams here at Windy Knob Farms.  I thought I could do a blog summer series about the various sheep and their personalities, and  include some stories about them.  A chance for people to get to know each of these unquie and curious animals and to gain a little insight about life on the farm with them.  It was either I take the time to tell you a bit about them here, or have each of them start a facebook page.  The sheep and I talked it over, and decided that I would just do it here.

Ahgosa (Ah  GO  sah): Named to reflect the land of the farm, once known as Ahgosatown.  You see, back in the mid 1850's a tribe of Ottawa Indians settled here on this land under the leadership of Chief Ahgosa.  Chief Ahgosa worked very closely with Rev. Peter Doherty, helping to establish this area (now known as Omena).  Chief Ahgosa was quite the character known for wearing a Top Hat, something he once saw the president wearing in a photo and decided the look would be grand for him too. 

Ahgosa the ram is a beautiful Moorit Ram who is now two years old.  He has an amazing crimp that sets him fleece apart due to the consistency of the tight waves found throughout the staple.  He has a unique rich and dark brown color that stays true due to the jacket he wears year round that protects against the bleaching UV rays.  Because of his Bond breeding background, he has a wider snout, squat in body build but most importantly a longer staple length reaching 5 to 6 inches in places.  Its really quite the fleece.  His Spring shearing is available, please check our fleece page for more information.  http://www.windyknobfarms.com/2010fleeces.htm

His personality... I'll say spitfire.  He is the only one that has actually flipped me over out in pasture! And being the size that I am, imagine my surprise when I had him by the head and thought I had control yet soon found myself upside down and on my back in just the flick of his strong head and neck.   I remember laying there on the ground laughing watching him trot off with the others. 

He is curious and cautious, not the biggest in the bunch but its tough to compete with the size of Johnny our True Corriedale Ram.  Ahgosa was used in breeding two ewes this year, those being Alaina and Ella.  One of his offspring in Chester, pictured below.  Chester is available as breeding stock and being Homozygous for the Moorit gene and an excellent fleece, he would be a wonderful addition to any flock.

One of the much appreciated comments we received was from our friend Lindy in Arizona (congrats on the retirement by the way Lindy).  Her question was about any whethers (a castrated ram) that are available.  And while any ram can become a whether, its best when done during the first few days of the ram lambs life.  One of our ram lambs this year came out looking like a cow with a piebald black and white wool mixed throughout his body.  This is Ike, and he is for sale and would make a wonderful farm pet (still producing a fine fleece every year) or a great companion buddy for a pasture pet such as a horse.  Whethers are great because they are easy keepers.  You can use them as lawn mowers, pasture pets, companions, ewe teasers, etc.  And with a whether like this one, he is sure to be a conversation starter for all your farm visitors.