Lyle, Girl 1, Girl 2 (maybe I'll have the energy to think up names tomorrow!)When you have a "mini" farm, you don't always have the equipment necessary for ventures. Especially ventures that I come up with. When we originally started talking and researching hogs we decided we want to try Red Wattles. We also made the decision that instead of starting small with a couple of feeders, we would jump in to breeders. Do you sense the path this story is taking? Flash forward to this weekend when we made the journey to pick up two gilts (young girl pigs who have not had babies) and a boar. Red Wattles are a rare, heritage breed, so you have to search a bit harder to find them. The gilts were located south of Owatonna, and the boar was southwest of the Twin Cities. Nate and I were just happy to find them in Minnesota.
The Red Wattle Adventure began on Friday after a long school week and chiropractor appointment. We dropped my car off at a friends and headed south. A four hour drive to Rochester and we arrived at Nate's sisters. The boys were relatively good, plied with bean burritos and a view of the gorgeous full moon as it rose, a bright orange color. They loved visiting and playing with their cousins (unfortunately I left my camera in the truck.) After a good breakfast we headed west.
First stop was at Auntie 'Laine's for some visiting. Nate and Kohen headed to the farm to get some straw. Next stop was picking up a rental trailer in Owatonna. From there we headed south. Upon arriving at the first hog pickup location, we were greeted by a loose pig. I was just happy she wasn't the one coming home with it. After considerable chasing, grabbing, corralling, and a fair bit of pain for Nate (he fell hard on his hand, hitting the ice) we had two gilts in the trailer. They are nine and almost eight months old, and big! Both are over 225 pounds. Nate and I were more appreciative to how strong pigs are, how much they can lift with their snouts, and the lack of anything to grab on them. I guess we've been spoiled by the wool that makes the sheep easier to catch.
Back on the road and headed north. A quick stop for tacos and to check on the girls, who were riding comfortably in the trailer. Through the outskirts of the cities and on to our second hog pickup location. The setup at the second farm was much easier for catching and loading. Lyle however, had other ideas. This two year old boar gave us a run for our money. He stepped right into the trailer but then hit the brakes before his hind legs and rumps were in. This led to plan B, plan C, plan D... and finally Lyle was loaded. Multiple doors, pieces of plywood, bumps, bruises, and not so clean words were shared.
By this time it was 6 pm, and we still had a 4 1/2 hour drive home, and 1000 pounds of pig to unload. Thankfully we were ahead of the weather. Jan, Nate's mom, called this morning and said they had three inches of snow in 2 hours this morning, and more falling. The boys were at the end of their ok stretch with being stuck in carseats in the truck for the majority of the day. DVDs and bribes finally led to some quiet.
The adventure wasn't over. There is a section of interstate north of Hinckley that is horrible. Big potholes and chunks of concrete out of the road. So we are driving along, about 8 pm when suddenly an SUV pulls alongside us with the passenger waving out the window, motioning us to pull over. The longest fifteen seconds of my life till we were stopped on the shoulder of the road. I jump out of the truck and run back to the trailer expecting a flat tire. Nope, it's better. The rough road had jostled the trailer enough that the rear door had popped open. On the interstate. At night. With three stressed hogs pressed to the front of the trailer away from the edge of death. Not a good feeling. I said a quick prayer for hogs in their place and good samaritans on the road with us. A bungee securing the door latch and another stop for gas and checking the door, we were still one and a half hours from home! Thankfully the boys were asleep.
A quick stop in Eveleth to pick up my car (which was covered with over an inch of snow) and we were in the home stretch. No more door malfunctions, but the task of unloading two sleeping boys and three scared hogs awaited us. It was nice to get home and see my dad here, waiting to help us unload. We quickly carried sleeping boys into the house and headed down to the barn. Some expert driving by the hubby got the trailer as close as we could to the barn entrance. Add in a few pieces of plywood and some straw bales and you've got a nice wide shoot to the back of the barn were the pigs will stay till they can get out in the pasture. Opening the trailer door we were greeted with some grunts and other assorted noises, but no one was moving. Standing around trying to coax three big pigs out of a trailer at midnight when the temperature is dropping and your toes are freezing is not an exciting adventure. Finally, Nate decided he was brave (or as he told me this morning, ready for his life to be over.) He crawled in that small trailer with the three big pigs and a small piece of plywood. With all of his strength he shoved Lyle (who is around 500 pounds) to the back of the trailer. One final push and he was out, sniffing the straw a bit and then lumbering down our nice wide straw and plywood shoot directly into the pen. My dad was impressed with his size and laughing at our technique. A few more shoves and the lovely ladies joined Lyle in the pen. Quick work with 2x4s, ole bolts and the drill and they were secure in their winter home. Of course it took all of five minutes before they dumped half their water, and started fluffing up the straw to make some resting spots.
The night was not over. As dad, Nate and I surveyed our handiwork we realized that Mukwah was gone. Mind you- he stood by through the entire shoot building, trailer unloading experience, but did get yelled at when he came into the barn to check out the pigs. I figured they were stressed enough and didn't need his nose poking in. In the five to ten minutes it took us to realize Mukwah had hit the road he had lumbered over half a mile. Dad was parked behind me so he headed down the road to find him. Thankfully the fresh fallen snow made it easy to track his giant snowshoe sized tracks.
I waited for about five minutes, without saying a word to my husband who had his own opinions on this 12:30am task, and this dog for that matter. Finally I couldn't stand it, so out the car came from the garage, down the slippery driveway, and I was going to find my crazy wanderlust dog. As I turned our big corner and came up the hill, I saw my dad driving slowly towards me. I still wish I had the foresight to take out my camera or iphone and snap a picture of the scene that greeted me. (Somehow this always escapes me in the midst of exhaustion.) My dad drove slowly, window down, leading Mukwah alongside the car, with a, wait for it....household extension cord looped through his collar as a leash. By this time I couldn't stop laughing. Once Mukwah saw me the small Christmas sized light bulb that resides in his big head lit up and he realized he was happy to see me, like he had been looking for me all along. Thus he refused to continue to follow dad in his auto exercising method. Thankfully when I opened up the liftgate to my car Mukwah slowly, regally stepped up and crawled in. I then headed home. For some reason dad followed with. I think he was worried Nate would be waiting in the driveway with a gun. Thankfully Nate was stretched out on the couch by this time. Mukwah was again secured, and I finally headed into the house.
I waited for about five minutes, without saying a word to my husband who had his own opinions on this 12:30am task, and this dog for that matter. Finally I couldn't stand it, so out the car came from the garage, down the slippery driveway, and I was going to find my crazy wanderlust dog. As I turned our big corner and came up the hill, I saw my dad driving slowly towards me. I still wish I had the foresight to take out my camera or iphone and snap a picture of the scene that greeted me. (Somehow this always escapes me in the midst of exhaustion.) My dad drove slowly, window down, leading Mukwah alongside the car, with a, wait for it....household extension cord looped through his collar as a leash. By this time I couldn't stop laughing. Once Mukwah saw me the small Christmas sized light bulb that resides in his big head lit up and he realized he was happy to see me, like he had been looking for me all along. Thus he refused to continue to follow dad in his auto exercising method. Thankfully when I opened up the liftgate to my car Mukwah slowly, regally stepped up and crawled in. I then headed home. For some reason dad followed with. I think he was worried Nate would be waiting in the driveway with a gun. Thankfully Nate was stretched out on the couch by this time. Mukwah was again secured, and I finally headed into the house.
36 hours, 745 miles, one trailer rental, two crabby kids, an oversupply of adrenaline, bumps, bruises, headaches, promises to my man of never making him load or unload anything larger than a baby donkey, and three red wattle hogs in the barn. Not sure if it was priceless, yet. But I guess the adventure was.
