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Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!:  Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16695 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16695 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 05 2025 : 5:49:57 PM
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Shennandoah Connor (Shennandoah, #8578) has received a certificate of achievement in Garden Gate for earning an Intermediate Backyard Farmer badge!
"For this badge I focused on expanding my skills raising poultry. I did not do the milking part, although I grew up on a dairy farm (picture of me with my dad when I was a kid included).
I started by researching the definition of heritage breeds and what the Livestock Conservancy deems at-risk/in danger. According to the Conservancy, "A Heritage Egg can only be produced by an American Poultry Association Standard breed. A Heritage Chicken is hatched from a heritage egg sired by an American Poultry Association Standard breed established prior to the mid-20th century, is slow growing, naturally mated with a long productive outdoor life."
I started listening to Coffee with the Chicken Ladies and their breed spotlights, paying close attention to dual purpose breeds that are adapted to my conditions. I also started researching how to hatch and breed my own chickens. I started with Buff Orpingtons, which are a heritage breed in the recovering category. It took some time to find an orpington rooster in my area, so I did have to secure some fertilized backyard mixes for a couple of broody hens while I worked on getting a mate and an incubator. From that I ended up with a Wyandotte, another Heritage breed, and an easter egger.
Earlier this year I finally secured a rooster and started incubating fertilized eggs, as well as letting a few hens go broody. Using the incubator and a brooder, I successfully hatched 26ish chickens, which I have since introduced to the main flock (which already had 25 hens and a rooster). The broody mamas outside also hatched a dozen chicks, but currently they only have 3 left. Some have disappeared, and a couple died without obvious cause. All the ones I raised are still thriving and should start laying soon. So far I have not spotted any roosters in the babies (I know they're in there though!)
I also decided to add some Muscovy ducks. They aren't classified as a heritage breed by the poultry association, even though they have been domesticated in this country long before standards existed. They are very well adapted for the hot conditions of south Texas. The organic farmers in my area use ducks for pest control with better results than just chickens (especially for grasshoppers). They also raved about the quality of the meat and the eggs. I found a local supplier and traded out plants for 6 ducks. One drake and one hen have disappeared, but the four remaining have been doing great. Fairly certain the largest one is a drake, but they are not sexually mature yet. They are great pest control, make cute noises, and I love their waddle.
I absolutely love raising poultry especially hatching babies!! I currently supply my sister's 16-room inn and kitchen with all of the eggs they need for their baked goods and quiches they serve to guests. They want to add more properties so I am exploring what I need to do to continue to be their egg supplier.
The chickens don't always behave, but all of the birds bring me such joy and I love having fresh eggs! I want to add meat birds at some point, and am toying with the idea of maybe selling chicks/pullets. Also still looking at getting sheep but it's cost prohibitive at the moment."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16695 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16695 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2025 : 6:21:52 PM
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Emily Nellinger (citychick03, #8229) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Intermediate Her-Story badge!
"I chose Katherine Johnson's Autobiography, "Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson."
for my intermediate merit badge.
I posted 5 things I learned about Katherine Johnson in the merit badge chit chat discussion.
It was such an interesting read!
I learned so much about Katherine that it was hard to narrow it down to just five things!
Here's 5 things I learned:
1. Katherine was born in 1918 in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, the youngest of 4 children.
2. She was gifted and skipped a few grades in school, causing her to graduate from high school at age 14 and start college at 15.
3. She was a middle school teacher of mathematics and science. She met her first husband there, and they had 3 girls together. He tragically passed away due to a brain tumor when she was 38. She remarried a few years later.
4. She worked for NASA, programming analytical codes and pathways for rocket launches. Her calculations put Apollo 11 into space and helped Neil Armstrong land on the moon.
5. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and, at 97 years old, wrote her autobiography."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16695 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16695 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2025 : 6:30:22 PM
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Candy Hogan (Tigger9777, #8283) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Expert Blogging badge!
"In June of 2025, I learned how to add pictures to customize my blog. This was a learning curve for me.
I created my blogging circle by advertising it on our Brentwood Farmgirl Facebook page.
GirlGab is no longer available to use, so I followed Mary Jane's advice and added my blog address to my signature on my member profile.
I finished my 10th blog post on 8/6/2025.
It has been interesting. I will continue to blog occasionally."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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MaryJane
Queen Bee
16695 Posts
MaryJane
Moscow
Idaho
USA
16695 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2025 : 6:43:28 PM
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Candy Hogan (Tigger9777, #8283) has received a certificate of achievement in Each Other for earning an Intermediate Connecting Growers and Eaters badge!
"I live on a ranch in agricultural land so most all my community farmers harvest and sell their produce.
In June the local Meals on Wheels had to relocate their offices, so that was not an option for my donations.
I made 13 donations of tomatoes, corn, cucumbers and basil to our local senior center to complete the intermediate requirement.
It went well."
MaryJane, Farmgirl #1 Plowin' Thru ~ giving aprons a good wrap for 45 years and counting ~
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Merit Badge Awardees - Woo-hoo Sisters!: Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees |
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Farmgirl Sisterhood Merit Badge Awardees
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