In the past couple of weeks, FFA members have been busy training and caring for their new responsibilities at the farm. With a total of eleven students doing market steer projects, 2 students with replacement heifers and four students with breeding heifers, the school farm is filled with cattle! After the rain poured down, students began the process of digging out the mud and muck from their animal pens. Hoof rot, which is a fungus that grows in their hooves, becomes a concern when cattle are left standing in mud.

Alexus Galassi has her heifer, Talula, who she bred last summer, but Talula sadly lost the calf after an early miscarriage. Alexus didn’t give up, she sent Talula back to Mr. Bob Power’s ranch in Lockwood Valley to be bred again by his bull, RJ. Last Thursday, Alexus took Talula to Dr. Richard Giacupuzzi for a pregnancy check. Talula is approximately 40 days pregnant! Congratulations Talula and Alexus.

On Monday morning, Brittany Gurrola took her bred heifer, Millie, to Dr. Giacupuzzi for a check-up on her calf. Millie is approximately 8 months pregnant, and is due in February. Millie is a 2 year old Shorthorn heifer from Five R Ranch. Brittany is very eager for the delivery of Millie’s calf. Good luck Mille and Brittany!

Across the farm, in our pig barn, things are starting to get busy. Craig Harvey has 4 pregnant pigs, one sow and three gilts. A sow is a female pig that has delivered a litter of piglets, and a gilt is a female pig that has never delivered a litter. Craig’s pigs are due to deliver in January and February.

Ashley Jackson has a gilt, Dixie, who is a Hampshire. Ashley, as well as Craig, used artificial insemination to breed their pigs last October. If Dixie is pregnant, she will deliver her litter on January 28th. Best of luck Craig and Ashley with your swine projects!

Everyone needs a new calendar for 2011! Beautiful Fillmore FFA 2011 calendars are still available to purchase. You can purchase a calendar for $10 from any Fillmore FFA member, Booster member, or you can call the Fillmore High School to contact Mr. Ricards.