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**Welcome Wagon: Howdy from Western Montana!  |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
    
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2011 : 6:13:27 PM
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My name is Natalie, and I just joined today :)
I was raised in the big city lifestyle, but it never felt quite right. I went to college to study Animal Science, and find myself using something I learned there everyday on the ranch. My DH and I have a small ranch in the "banana belt" of Montana (meaning we get easier winters than East of the divide). A lady at work gave me a MaryJane magazine because it reminded her of me :) That's how I found you all.
We started out with dogs, added some dairy goats, then we got chickens and ducks, and then we were looking into some kind of larger stock that could stand up to bears, lions, and wolves- that's when we got some Tibetan Yaks. I must say, they are the most incredible animals I've ever had the pleasure of owning. They're so useful, it's crazy. We have our young starter herd, and we will be specializing in the pet/packing trained yaks to sell.
We're expecting our first baby (human) in the next month or so, and we're very excited :)
~Natalie~ Just a farm girl in Western Montana. Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
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LuckyMommyof5
True Blue Farmgirl
    
500 Posts

Suzanne
OH
USA
500 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2011 : 6:49:17 PM
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Welcome to MJF, Natalie! It's a really nice place to be - and congrats on impending motherhood! I have 4 little girls ages 9 to 1 and it's the best thing in the world. Your Tibetan Yaks sound amazing - what a unique choice. I'm more of a Farmgirl at Heart, but we live in an area that still has enough undeveloped spaces to allow for deer, wild turkeys and foxes (among other animals ) to be spotted in our yard or neighborhood almost daily. You should consider posting pictures of your yaks in the Barnyard Buddies section - I know the other Farmgirls and I would love to see them!
Farmgirl Sister #3243
"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
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annielaurel
True Blue Farmgirl
    
912 Posts
nancy
fernandina beach
florida
USA
912 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 05:30:10 AM
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| Welcome from Florida. You will love it here. |
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Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 5:27:39 PM
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Hi Natalie and welcome to the forum! What an interesting life you lead. I'd never have thought of Yaks as a farm animal but then again...why not? Too cool. Congrats on being a new mommy soon too. Very exciting! I know you'll learn lots from the women here. Everyone is so talented and has lots to offer. Enjoy!
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles 
http://pinterest.com/ctapestry/
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
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jan49829
True Blue Farmgirl
    
2428 Posts

Janet
Gladstone
Mi.
USA
2428 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 6:13:54 PM
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Welcome Natalie. You will love it here, very friendly and helpful bunch of gals. Yes, please do send pics of your yaks. We all love to see pics of anything. Congrats on your new soon to be arrival. How exciting. Mine are 33, 41 and 43. No more babies here!!!
Jan
Farmgirl Sister #3340
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herbquilter
True Blue Farmgirl
    
891 Posts
Kristine
Bonney Lake
Wa
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 8:37:50 PM
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Hi Natalie, You'll love MJF. Our family & our daughter's hope to move to the "banana belt" in Western Montana some day. We go online and dream. In the meantime we love where we live in the foothills of Mt. Rainer on the west side. We have chickens, dairy goats & huge garden.
I would love to see pics of your Yak set-up. The grandkids would love too also.
The farmgals here are awesome!!!
Blessings, Kristine ~ Mother of Many, Herbalist, Master Energy Intuitive
http://herbalmommasda.blogspot.com/
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
    
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Oct 22 2011 : 9:05:59 PM
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Thanks, all :) I think I'll like it here very much. I've found that many of the livestock forums online resemble high school, I think this forum is different :)
I posted some pictures of the yaks in the Barnyard Buddies section, so be sure to check it out and ask questions if you have any.
This is Bullet, our Bull, back in June looking pretty shaggy:

~Natalie~ Just a farm girl in Western Montana. Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
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debra e
True Blue Farmgirl
   
261 Posts
Debra
Georgia
USA
261 Posts |
Posted - Oct 23 2011 : 09:04:09 AM
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Wow! I love the look of bullet! Welcome to the farm! Debra e from Ga.
Farmgirl Sister #2915 |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
    
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - Oct 23 2011 : 4:29:01 PM
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Welcome from Long Island, NY Natalie (and Bullet and the gang too!). I am sure you will find that this is a wonderful place with so many warm and welcoming- not to mention knowledgeable farmgirl sisters. enjoy everything about MJF- I know I do! Smiles,
~Laurie "Little Hen House on the Island" Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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classygram
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1812 Posts
Brenda
Pleasant Hill
Mo.
USA
1812 Posts |
Posted - Oct 23 2011 : 8:31:40 PM
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Natalie Welcome from Missouri. So glad to have you, just know your going to love it here. Hugs,Brenda
http:///www.scatteredlittleblessings.blogspot.com
Seek reasons to Love..In every sigment of everyday-look for something that brings forth within you a feeling of Love-Abraham Hicks |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
    
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2011 : 10:47:19 AM
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Thank you all :) Today is a day of cleaning and preparing for the home birth. I'm due in exactly a month- Thanksgiving Day! :) Hopefully everything goes as planned and without any scary "what-if"s coming into play.
~Natalie~ Just a farm girl in Western Montana. Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
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laurzgot
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1867 Posts

Laurie
Alvin
Texas
USA
1867 Posts |
Posted - Oct 24 2011 : 5:20:36 PM
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Welcome Natalie, Glad you found us. I've been out awhile, but I'm back. Congrats on the baby that is coming. Hugs, Laurie
suburban countrygirl at heart |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
    
5602 Posts

Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2011 : 4:20:21 PM
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Hi Natalie! welcome to the farmgirl hangout =) The yaks sound really cool, a friend of mine is looking into buying some, so I'll get to see them up close and personal soon. I'm thinking of just raising a bison a year to butcher, but I'd love to raise either yaks or bison if I had the room. I wish you an easy and safe birth and much joy of your new baby!
Annika Farmgirl & sister #13 http://thegimpyfarmgirl.blogspot.com/ http://pinterest.com/annikaloveshats/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
    
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2011 : 4:53:06 PM
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Annika- We looked into bison also, but they're notoriously hard on fencing. Our yaks stay in our T-post w/ 4' woven field fence with one barbed wire topper 8" above. Our fences didn't keep stray cattle in, but the yaks are A-OK with it :) Yaks allegedly have a 3/1 stocking ratio vs. beef cattle, I think it's more 2/1. So if you have the pasture to support one beef cattle steer, you can have 2 yaks :) They really are easy keepers. And delicious. Very similar to bison, a lean dark burgundy meat, not at all gamey. It's our favorite meat we've come across. We remind the yaks of this if they get the look of mischief about them :)
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. |
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herblady55
True Blue Farmgirl
    
3470 Posts
Judy
Louisville
Ohio(Stark Co)
USA
3470 Posts |
Posted - Oct 26 2011 : 5:27:59 PM
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Hi Natalie! Welcome! I think most of us found this site thru the magazine! The beginning of a great friendship(I'm watching a Bogart movie)...the line fit!LOL But it's true! I love the pic of Bullet...very impressive animal and Beautiful too!
Sister-chick# 905(Sept.14th 2009) Judy French-Hugs&Squeezles! I am not contained between my hat and my boots! -Walt Whitman- "Why couldn't I have been born Rich instead of So Good Looking?" |
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ClaireSky
True Blue Farmgirl
    
1792 Posts

Julie
Arcadia
WI
USA
1792 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2011 : 05:25:31 AM
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Welcome to our farm family, Natalie! We have such a wonderful group of caring and talented ladies! Enjoy!
Julie Farmgirl Sister #399 West-Central WI Farmgirls
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." Herman Cain |
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**Welcome Wagon: Howdy from Western Montana!  |
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