You might want to check out www.Oklahomafood.coop I am going to try to market my lambs thru them. I gotta try something.... these were supposed to be my retirement...
Cecil ----- Original Message ----- From: "william bartlett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 11:42 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] sale prices in OKla > > Cecil: > > I've been going thru the ups and downs of Oklahoma's > market too. I'm on the border of Oklahoma and > Arkansas, and take my sheep about 35 miles to > market(Wistor OK) A couple of months ago I sold 3 > rams, 2 a little over a year old and a younger one > about 8 months old, two had trophy horns and the other > had a good set, the two best rams brought $90. and the > other a little less, then last weekend I sold 4 more > and only got $52. apiece for them! It certainly is a > shot it the dark taking them to the auction. The only > good part is that it's a fairly small market, and not > much difference is made between the sheep and goats. > Another draw back is that they sell hogs first,(but it > is quite entertaining to watch the young boys when > that send in the wild hogs) Just as everyone has been > telling you, I too should be advertising and selling > out the front door, but it's hard finding time and > dealing with folks. I have a co-worker that lives > farther up north in Arkansas, that raises and sales > Droper sheep. He sales his lambs for $100. each. Just > goes out and tells the people which ones are for sale > and they catch them, give him the money and away they > go. That would be nice, BUT... I'm kind of in the same > situation as you, we don't eat our sheep, as a matter > of fact, my wife has a hard time selling the girls! > so, I don't thing she would do too good with someone > buying them to eat. > So, I'm just going to keep on trying to break even (or > a little less). P.S. I'm going tomorrow to buy Hay. > THERE GOES THE PROFIT! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> Thanks for the encouragement, but I really do not >> have the heart or lack of >> it to butcher one of my lambs. I have the >> experience, the equipment and >> could make a walk in cooler our of an old >> airconditioner unit, I have done >> that for others. I can skin and butcher most any >> animal, but after bringing >> these guys into the world, I just can't take them >> out.... >> >> sign me gutless in Oklahoma >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Barb Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> >> Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 5:06 PM >> Subject: Re: [blackbelly] sale prices in OKla >> >> >> > >> > Cecil, >> > I think you're hitting on a painful truth that is >> being recognized far >> > and wide - that the small farmer, in order to >> survive, has to go direct >> > to the consumer. Most farmers don't want to be >> marketers. But a lot of >> > consumers out there are getting wise to the >> consequences of factory >> > farming. They WANT to meet the farmer, to buy >> natural food, to be >> > educated about the differences between factory >> raised and farm raised, >> > and to get in touch with their food again. >> > >> > The person who has to buy it can never experience >> the almost holy >> > experience of conjuring perfect food up from the >> earth, and raising it >> > and ultimately eating it, but it doesn't take long >> to educate the palate >> > to the difference between real food and >> adulterated. In our case, our >> > bodies are beginning to reject anything that isn't >> raised on the farm, >> > or isn't organic. >> > >> > We have to start with something that nobody else >> has, and we have that! >> > Then we have to raise it so it is better than >> anything else - and I >> > think Blackbelly can be better or WORSE than >> store-bought, depending on >> > how it's raised - and then we have to get a leash >> on our independent >> > spirits and go out and get our customers. >> > >> > There is a LOT written on farmer-to-consumer these >> days, it's becoming >> > critical to survival of the small farm. It CAN be >> done. But we have to >> > get off the farm to get people to come to the >> farm. This is going to be >> > the worst part of all of it for me. That, and >> taking somebody's money >> > from their hand, and not through the sale yard >> office. >> > >> > YOU need encourangement, my friend, and maybe >> start reading up on the >> > experiences of other farmer-entrepreneurs. I can >> make some reading >> > suggestions, and perhaps others can share some of >> their marketing >> > expertise. I am scared to death too, but having >> had a promising >> > experience this spring, I know my upscale market >> is out there, I know >> > that certain people will say "name your price" if >> you give them a >> > sample. They don't have to be health conscious, >> they can just be >> > enthusiastic foodies. >> > >> > There is a whole new movement to "eat locally" - >> it is going to be as >> > powerful as the organic movement. They say most >> of our food has >> > travelled at least 1500 miles to arrive on our >> plates. That is not >> > sustainable, it's not supporting the local >> community, and people are >> > beginning to twig that agriculture - food - the >> staff of life - is >> > slowly coming under the control of a few >> mega-corporations that don't >> > care about raising food, they care about making a >> profit. >> > >> > Cecil, there are so many reasons to keep trying, >> and to reach out of >> > this murderous commodities box and enter the >> farmer-to-consumer >> > movement. >> > >> > YOU have so much skill, and so much to offer! >> Please, let's all start >> > educating ourselves about these critical issues >> and stop trying to >> > compete in the commodities markets! Our buyers >> are out there! We just >> > ALL need to learn how to make the farm-fresh, >> exquisite, perfect food >> > experience accessible to people who are - >> literally - dying for it!!! >> > >> > Kindest regards to you Cecil! >> > >> > Barb Lee - Proud to have had a Greek chef declare >> of my lamb, "This is >> > the SWEETEST lamb I have ever tasted!" >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > This message is from the blackbelly mailing list >> > Visit the list's homepage at >> %http://www.blackbellysheep.info >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This message is from the blackbelly mailing list >> Visit the list's homepage at >> %http://www.blackbellysheep.info >> > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info _______________________________________________ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
