LOTS of bunnies in the nest boxes!... I should have plenty of weaned bunnies to choose from in the next newsletter. There are chocolates, torts, blacks, blues, whites, brokens (from the way things look so far). Litter #1 of weaned bunnies is ready now...just in time for Easter! See bunny page for details.

A new "knitwit" pattern for a quick and easy knitted Easter bunny is included on the bunny page. Can slide over a plastic egg, cadbury egg or use as a finger puppet. Takes about 1 hour to make!

Lambing and Kidding is about over with. I have some bottle babies that are available: a boer buck kid (great 4-H prospect) on the goat page and a beautiful show quality Hybrid Leicester ram lamb on the sheep page You will also find a few other surprises, photos and news on the sheep and goat pages.

HMFF Fleeces! I am trying to shear a fleece a day (and posting them periodically on ebay as I get them cleaned up and photographed) . If you have been waiting for the 2007 fleeces, check out my ebay store for Border, Hybrid and Bluefaced Leicester fleeces.Next month, look for some mohair fleeces! Just go to ebay and look for Herbal Maid Gallery!

If you are looking for a French Alpine doe kid , I will have one available this year. See goat page for details. A 50% deposit will hold her to weaning (end of April). There are also a couple French Alpine buck kids to offer.

raised with livestock and small children... have had first shots (Soloject). Three females. A large farm dog on duty at night will keep coyotes , skunks, possums and raccoons at bay. Raised on dry dog food (no poisonous wheat gluten). They know how to behave around sheep , goats, chickens and grandkids. I can't keep them all and need to find them good homes. Contact me at hmffarm@fidnet.com

UPDATE: Remember the kid with the possible frostbite on the ears? Well she has been doing fine, but recently started shedding the hair on the lower half of her ears. The skin is warm, but alopeceic. Hmmmmmm

National Agriculture Day is celebrated each year on or around the first day of
spring. It is a time to celebrate American agriculture and honor the people who
work within this diverse and vast industry. This years focus was The Convergence of Food and Fuel (kind of a mixed blessing to us on the farm... reducing foreign dependence on foreign oil vs higher feed costs due since so much diverted to fuel rather than feed)

The impact of feed costs on the livestock industry was the subject of a
recent hearing held by the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock,
Dairy and Poultry. ...The officials answered questions about the growth of the domestic biofuels industry and its impact on the crop and livestock markets. ...Copies of all testimony presented can be found at www.agriculture.house.gov/hearings/statements.html.

4-H / FFA Rabbit and Poultry Seminar April 7th at Clearview Feed & Seed near Union, MO pam@wbconstruction.com for details. Fun show and sales.

Southern Illinois Sheep & Craft Festival April 14, Waterloo IL www.mcsheepproducers.com

Fiber Faire May 19, 2007 Marshfield, MO helengrace1@netzero.net Small fiber festival with lots of charm and fun events

Heart of America Sheep & Fiber Festival June 1-3, 2007 Sedalia, MO www.moncwga.com I will be teaching workshops on Angora Rabbits, Hypothermic Emergencies, and Marketing at this festival

Estes Park Wool Market June 14-17, 2007 Estes Park, CO www.estesnet.com/events I will be the guest speaker at the Goat Breeders dinner and will be judging the angora goat show this year. Hope to see you there!