Beneath Cummings Mountain to the north, Hail Mountain to the west and what's known to the locals as Overshot Pond, sheep dot the meticulously groomed pastures of the Good Shepherd Farm on Hogback Road in Crown Point.
Formerly known as the George Dushane Farm, it is one of two working farms that are still family owned in Crown Point today.
Century old barns, grayed and weathered, remain strong and in good repair. Fences are straight and tight with evidence of mowing or munching under the wire fence where grass and weeds fail to grow tall.
Two tractors remain parked in the tractor barn, all polished and clean as if just purchased in 1960 and 1951.
"My father taught me how to maintain the farm equipment," said Henry Dushane, son of the late George Dushane and part owner of the new endeavor. "My father always kept the farm and the equipment in excellent repair."
Speaking quickly with no time to waste, Dushane shifted positions as he talked about the family farm and the developing partnership. His graying short beard etched over his chin while his nose held tightly to the wire rim glasses that were attempting to slide from perspiration in summer's evening heat.
His hands were strong and rough and he was tan from exposure to the sun during his toils at the farm.
"I started farming with my father when I was seven years old," said Dushane. "We didn't have tractors then and I worked our two workhorses, Jim and Belle, in the garden and hayfields."
Dushane admits it was work then, but now it is relaxing to work on the farm.
"I wish my father was still around," said Dushane. "He'd sit by the hour and watch me work before he died."
Quickly changing directions, he pointed out the benefits of family farms and keeping his own sons interested in the farm, reminiscing too, of their working days with him.
"Will and Todd still help me during haying season and wish they had the time to help more," said Dushane. "But with their jobs, they just don't have the time anymore."
A budding relationship grew when niece and nephew Ron and Jennifer Siver approached Henry and Yvonne Dushane with the idea of a sheep farm. Ron's previous success as an entrepreneur was appealing to the Dushanes, who also wanted to revive his father's farm to a working farm again.
Siver, who had kept a few sheep of his own at his home, had learned the proper ways to care for sheep and had found them to be an enjoyable hobby.
"We would like to be self-sufficient and we look for ways in which to become just that," said Siver. "The sheep idea fit right into our lifestyle."
Sheep normally produce offspring once a year and that wasn't enough for spirited visionaries like Siver and Dushane. Research by Siver found the STAR Program to fulfill their desire to build a large herd in a short period of time. With sheep normally being seasonal breeders and lambing only in the spring, the STAR program helped farmers develop five breeding seasons a year.
The starting flock of 34 sheep was purchased in November of 2006 and produced 40 lambs in the spring of 2007. "We hope to triple the flock size in two years," said Siver. "Our goal is to have 200-250 bred ewes and 300-400 lambs at any given time."
With time, it is the partners' plan to increase the herd to near 1,000 sheep. "If we are going to have a sheep farm, I want it to be big," said Dushane.
The round white objects in the field and the new noise on the Dushane farm surfaced skeptics and excited optimists. Neighbors doubted that sheep could survive mountain predators but faithful guardian and llama, Dolly, has proven herself a good shepherd.
The 2002 New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets survey showed an increase of 68 percent in sheep farming from 1997 to 2002. Dairy sheep farms were becoming popular but Ron and Henry wanted to offer USDA certified meat and wool products. They wanted to offer farm tours to inform the public about sheep farming.
It took dedication and enthusiasm to work during the chilly fall months to accomplish their goal. Fences had to be installed, the cow stanchions had to be removed and the gutters covered up. Window glass was replaced and multitudes of repairs had to be completed before the bleating sheep entered the door.
The barn we shuffled through as we talked smelled clean enough to sleep in. Fresh pine shavings were spread on the floor, hay was in the hay racks, water buckets were filled and tools were hanging in the storage room, formerly the milk parlor. The meadows were as pristine and clean.
"Our meat is USDA inspected and Cryovac wrapped and labeled for local purchase or wholesale and retail," said Siver. "We've been talking to some fine restaurant owners in New York City and Boston and hope to be able to sell directly to them in the near future."
With a knowledge of wool processing and spinning, Jennifer made herself at home, washing and skirting the wool, preparing it for spinning and some of it for shipping to MacAusland's Woolen Mill in Prince Edward Island, Canada, where it is turned into blankets and handspun yarn and returned to the farm to be sold.
Though the summers are tough work with preparation for the ensuing fall and winter, there is solace for the partners. Both are proud of their accomplishments and Henry wishes his father could be here to see his farm working again.
You can check out their Web site at www.goodshepherdfarm.com for more information.
Lifestyles
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Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.
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Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)
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July 16, 2007
The revival of a family farm
Crown Point property brought back to life as sheep farm
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