This is HUGE!!!

4/2/2013

    Well, I have no Idea where to start ... I really don't think anyone has noticed ... Why is no one half as excited as I am??? Oh, maybe that is because you have no idea what I am talking about...
    I guess I will have to back up and start about a month ago. Does everyone know that March 3rd was the day I won my Angora Goats that started it all?? If you remember I didn't find out until the 4th because I was sick. Last year I gave away some yarn to celebrate my 1st Anniversary. This year Mom celebrated all by herself by birthing out two Ewes in one day ... We marked that day with a full circle of life here on the farm. Sage gave up her fight for life just feet away from where Momma gave birth to Pickles. Then later that day, while I was away at a Rodeo Mom birthed out Commanche, took a coffee break and then birthed Quapaw and Chicksaw. I think we marked our 2nd anniversary very well and doubt I can ever really top it. But I can try ... How you ask??
    Well, If you remember 2 years back I went to pick you my goats and I met Susan Gibbs. I traveled the beginning of April. So since we had our hands full this year on the exact date of our anniversary we have decided to have all of you help us celebrate this year on the dates we actually met the Goats instead of the actual day I won them. So get ready to Enter the Biggest give away we have ever done ...
    I have to tell you I am so tempted to just post that and Keep everyone hanging until later today ... Maybe I will ... Okay that would be mean. So you want to know what we are giving away?? Oh, I don't know ... Maybe a share ??? Sure why not ... Since we have a couple of Shares left and we have the shearer coming in less then a month, Well, You got it ... There will be one Share of either Roving or yarn given away (it will be winners choice) Detail??? You want Details your say??
    Okay, So how do you enter? Well, you have until April 7th 2013 at 6pm to enter a comment here telling me how long you have been following me, how you found out about me and why you still follow .... The winner will be drawn by random from all the comments and required to email me your contact information. If no winner has been found by April 10th at 6pm we will draw again and it will keep going that way until We get a winner. So if you enter make sure you check back so you don't lose your prize... Ready ... Set ... GO!

laura link

4/2/2013 05:23:15 am

I have been following you for 2 years- ever since you got your flock from Susan. I found out about you via Susan's flock giveaway-- in fact I remember watching your video entry and voting for you! I initially followed you because I thought it was neat that you were managing a flock at such a young age. As someone who often did things as a kid that were more "adult" than most of my friends I identified with that. Now I follow you because I learn a lot from your posts and get good advice from you. Even though you are young you have a lot more experience than me at raising sheep and you are always helpful when I ask you questions about sheep/chickens/etc.

morandia

4/2/2013 05:47:26 am

Not sure how long I've been following you. I think it was Tempted that recommended you as a plurk friend. You will post the winner on Plurk right???? I can't wait to see you again at Fiber Christmas!

mariannem

4/2/2013 05:56:27 am

I "met" you in your video for Susan's flock giveaway and was excited when she gave you your goats. I started following your blog as soon as you started it, and I keep following because I am interested in your flock and your farm and I enjoy your honest, straightforward writing style. I teach English and have enjoyed seeing you grow as a writer. I know nothing about living on a farm or raising livestock so your posts give me real insight into your world. I read via RSS so I don't comment often, but I really enjoy the blog and would be thrilled to win a share of your fiber.

Charis (Nimrodita)

4/2/2013 06:08:02 am

1) Since Katie O had her joint contest with you, 2) see #1, 3) cute pictures of sheep and alpaca and fluffy things!

Oh, and I passed you in the aisles at Fiber Christmas a couple of times.

Congrats on the anniversary!

KateJonze

4/2/2013 06:23:42 am

I don't remember how long I've been following you, but it's more than a year. I found you through Plurk. I think you had commented on one of Stacy's posts. I've stayed with you because I think you are a very enterprising young man. I admire you for your work ethic and your love of animals. Keep working the way you do and you'll be a millionaire! ♥

penelope dubois

4/2/2013 07:52:28 am

I found out about you from Katie of "Knittin" On The Fly!
and I keep coming back because I think you have an awesome family and I love all the beautiful animals!
And I will continue to come back!!

chris french vtknitboy link

4/2/2013 08:00:38 am

awesome. i have been following you almost from the beginning. i heard about your through Diane Ellis, a twitter friend i actually met in person on a trip to california! i started following you because i am a spinner and a knitter, and a dyer! and i raise french angora bunnies. i love alpacas. i am highly interested in your journeys. the trials and tribulations. i cry with every loss you have and cheer on your successes. i continue to follow to see how you are doing. cheers!

Jenny

4/2/2013 08:36:32 am

Congratulations on your anniversary RJ, I've been bursting to see what this is all about! :-) I've been following you since you started your Ravelry group in May 2011, that's how I first found you. I've always been fascinated by everything you tell us about the farm and your flock, I'd love to live on a farm. I've read your blog from day one and it's the first place I visit every day to catch up with all your news. Thank you for doing the give away!

Anna

4/2/2013 08:52:49 am

2 YEARS! I can hardly believe how far you have come. I first met you in your video entry to Susie. And THEN I was so glad to meet you and your Mom in person when you came to pick up your prize! I am so impressed in all you and your Mom and Dad accomplish.

Sheri link

4/2/2013 09:14:22 am

I have been following you from the beginning. You have matured along the way. I like to glimpse into the life of such a successful young man.

Pat link

4/2/2013 09:39:30 am

I found out about you through Katie from Knittin' on the Fly when she talked about you. I still follow you because I think you are an inspiration to young people. I'm not sure adults take young people seriously enough or maybe some young people aren't serious enough but I find your writing and your life extremely interesting! I think you share a lot of great information and are a great role model for others. Thank you for taking the time to share your life, your home, and your family with us!

Kara

4/2/2013 10:20:49 am

I've been following since your video submission to Susan. I was sad that I didn't know you would be at her farm until after you had left. I still follow because I think you are an amazing young man. My oldest daughter is about your age. Your lives are so different but I love that about our county. I hope to expose my kids to all the possibilities life has to offer them.

Melissa Savoy

4/2/2013 10:24:52 am

I've been following you since you entered Susan's contest to win the goats. I voted for you! I kept following you after that & even have a share of your yarn. You've come a long way since then, and I've enjoyed watching both you and your farm grow.

Karen B

4/2/2013 10:41:24 am

I have been following you since you made the goat video and your mom told me to watch it, I did and of course voted for you, have been a shareholder since the beginning.....I still follow because you, your family, and your flock brighten my life!!

MaryE

4/2/2013 11:04:12 am

Hi RJ! I first saw you on the video you sent to Susan Gibbs in order to win your first flock. I voted for you and was so happy for you when you won. I was following your blog as you were traveling to pick up your flock and I think you and your mom and dad are doing a terriffic job with your animals! Hope you and your flock(s) continue to flourish! MaryE

Heidi (LunaKitty)

4/2/2013 11:06:56 am

Hi RJ! Well, I have been following you as long as Painty has,because I found out about you through her telling us all about you on Plurk. I am still following you because your stories make me happy! I love watching you grow as a shepherd, and your whole family (and that includes the 4 leggeds) dynamic warms my heart.

Michelle Kutrybala (knitalittle)

4/2/2013 11:07:04 am

Gosh I know I started fallowing you after Katie Jet girl mentioned you on her podcast. I really don't know how long that is.

Catherine

4/2/2013 11:25:24 am

I started following you when Susan gave you the goats. I have kept following your blog because your life is so different than mine: you are so open about the good and bad stuff that happens with your flock. Honestly, I have developed a real respect for you and for your family. You encourage me about the future. I also think your mom rocks. She's amazing.

Susan (sjanova)

4/2/2013 11:31:40 am

I have been following you since I saw your video on Susan Gibbs' blog -- presenting your farm and the reason you wanted to become a shepherd. (I read her blog every day and then come over to yours.) I enjoy reading your daily blog and watching as you develop both as a shepherd and as a young man. I also like your explanations for the choices your family is making about the farm animals. I am seeing great progress in your writing, but that's a side effect from your blogging every day. Hard to believe it's already 2 years!

Kareen (HeavensJoy)

4/2/2013 11:55:47 am

I've been following you since Jan. '12, when I received a friend request from you on Plurk :) You are an amazing young man, with an amazing family, and I've enjoyed following you! The cute pics are AWESOME, and I've really enjoyed watching you and your flock grow! (I was also the blessed winner of another of your contests and continue to enjoy the wonderful lap throw -- thank you!)

Wooliegirl/jennifer

4/2/2013 12:04:59 pm

I've been following for several months and am a fan! I heard about you through Katie's podcast :). I love learning about your life and farm.

Nancy Pope

4/2/2013 12:28:58 pm

RJ I've been following your blog since day 1 and am always amazed at what you have accomplished in 2 short years. Keep up the great work, I enjoy reading about all your animals.

Katie O Jetgirl1313 link

4/2/2013 12:59:52 pm

I'm not sure how long I've been following! At least 6 months, might be a year already. I think it started on Plurk and then onto here and had a contest with you! I follow because life on the farm is up and down and I grew up with that, so I can celebrate and sympathize in the joys and the hardships of growing up on the farm.

4/2/2013 01:52:31 pm

I have known of you since before you won your flock. I remember watching your video on Susan Gibbs blog (fiberfarm.com) and voted for you. Was so excited that you won and followed you ever since. Was a lucky winner of the first skein of yarn you ever dyed. I love watching what a fine young man you are becoming and following your adventures... both good and bad :( since that is the life of a shepherd. I love hearing about your 4H events and rodeos. Your doing a GREAT job RJ! Keep up the amazing job you and your parents do on The Straw Farm and with RJ's QT's!

Debbie (calicokitty6)

4/2/2013 03:30:08 pm

I learned about you through Plurk right after you got the goats but really started following you during the contest with Katie O. I enjoy seeing how much you love your farm and animals. The pics of the animals are great. I watched the Easter video a few times and smiled the whole time.

Nannaw

4/2/2013 03:34:05 pm

I have followed you since birth..your birth..I have watched you grow into a very fine young man..One a Granmother can be proud of....And I am

Diane

4/2/2013 03:44:48 pm

I've been following since I first heard about you on the JMF blog. I've kept following because I have great admiration for the entire Straw family, and I also love your yarn!

Artie (Artieknits) Martin

4/3/2013 12:13:12 pm

I have been following you for a few months now. I first heard about the blog from Katie (Knittin' on the Fly). I will continue to follow your blog because you are a very special person, and I enjoy getting to know you and the family.

Trisha Willis (tgknits)

4/3/2013 12:57:26 pm

I learned about you through the Knittin on the Fly podcast. I started reading and following you then. I am a home school mom of 3 children and find it so refreshing to see a home schooler doing so well. I love reading your posts almost every day. Your sheep are really cute as well.

Torre

4/3/2013 01:49:30 pm

Hi! I just learned about you today, 4/3/13 from a link on a ravelry friend's post! Just finished watching your great Easter video and trying to catch up on your blog - what a great thing you are doing to raise college funds! I am very impressed!

Terri Shea link

4/4/2013 04:10:35 am

I've been following you since you won Susan's starter flock. It's fun to see you grow and your writing skills improve. You are very emotionally mature and responsible, and it's nice to see that. Parents sometimes only see the baby in their own children. ;)

Tena Pomeroy

4/4/2013 05:14:07 am

I started following you around the time the lambs started coming this year. Don’t remember the exact date.

Someone posted about you on Plurk is how I found out about you and your blog.

I keep fallowing you on plurk and reading your blog and watching your videos because I admirer you, you have great values, good work ethics, you are a kind and loving young man who respect others and I have never heard you say an unkind word about anyone or having to work too hard. Keep up the good work and blogging. (P.S. I am old enough to be your grandmother, I don’t want your mother thinking I stalking you)

Charlotte Haas link

4/4/2013 05:46:34 am

I've been following you since Susie posted your Video, love hearing about the up and downs of your life.

Sarah

4/4/2013 12:11:30 pm

I think I started following when I heard about you getting back with your flock that you won. Or maybe it was when I was told that it was all my fault that you were into alpaca! That was at the County 4h meeting where the county officers were elected. That was about 2 years ago. I'm the one that started all this so I should win the share! Lol.

norma9(aka ewe2)

4/5/2013 01:51:37 am

It has to be a year since I met you on Plurk through Tempted.My Grampa had a sheep farm and I use to help when Iwent to visit.
as a small girl I lived on a mexedd farm

Fleur

4/5/2013 02:10:58 am

Congratulations on the anniversary, sounds like an exciting life full of lovely animals. Two days ago DH took me for a drive through the country side to look at the lambs and there were also two tiny little goats. Less than 30 cm (12 inches) high, so cute! I might want two for my birthday ;-)

Well... I have been following you since today, honestly. I just found your blog through RAV about your a generous giveaway.

Ciao, Fleur

Kristen link

4/5/2013 02:15:19 am

happy anniversary! I started following you after I saw your entry to the JMF flock giveaway. As a giveaway winner myself, I've been enjoying watching your progress, both as a shepherd and a person. I follow many fellow fiber farmers blogs, there's always more to learn and I love to see how everybody does things in their own unique ways.

Jordyn Dunaway link

4/5/2013 02:23:11 am

I have been following you for a while, I found out about you through Ravelry! I follow because I like reading about your flock and the yarn making, and just about the general things you post!

Robin

4/5/2013 02:36:07 am

I just started to follow you. I appreciate the excitement you have with your animals. I know some people who keep sheep and shear them themselves, but I'm not close enough to have see it happen.

I saw your post on Ravelry and decided to come and check it out. The prize is nice, but it pales beside being able to read about you goats and your work with them. So I will continue to read and thank you for giving us a chance to be part.

Luv2CUSmile

4/5/2013 03:30:22 am

Wow! I just found you through a Ravelry posting! So following since... now.
i have to say though, you are a very impressive young man. You have amazing events to share and inspire not just young people but older too. How amazing that you won a flock in a contest! We are in NC and the kids school does have a 4-H program but they are not able to participate in many areas of competition. I am passing your link and ravelry group (which i also had to check out) to my 16 yr old daughter who will also be amazed by all your activities. I will continue to watch you just because i am already in awe of what you share. I read your "YoungShepherd" page and will have to read back about this amazing contest. Your horse, Tropical Ice, and what else you do with your ducks and chickens. I also think it is great that you all open your farm to animals that need care, medical or otherwise.
~Luv

Adelaide

4/5/2013 03:43:24 am

Like several others, I've been following you since the "beginning." While I don't comment often, I love you blog entries. I'm so impressed by you and your parents. You are growing up so fast and it's great to watch from a distance. I truly wish I could meet you and your family in person one day. I wish you only the best of luck. Hugs to all the Straws.

kristen b

4/5/2013 03:48:26 am

I found you on ravelry, and now im off to explore your blog and web site, what fun!

~Julie

4/5/2013 04:43:58 am

I just found you through a revelry post. How nice to share some fleece/yarn. Looks like a lot to explore on your page. I hope I win!
strawberrykid on ravelry

Lucia

4/5/2013 05:04:24 am

I just found out about you on Ravelry!! I'm looking forward to following your blog, thanks for the chance to win!

purplepenguin

4/5/2013 06:33:10 am

I, too, just found out about you on Ravelry! I would love to win! Thanks for the chance!

Karin (KnitlessinSeattle)

4/7/2013 05:17:48 am

I have been a follower of JMF for years so I've known about you since you won the small flock. I continue to follow you because you are such a ray of sunshine and your maturity in dealing with the sad side of farming is an inspiration. (and coming to look at cute pics and videos of farm animals is a day brightener for this city girl.)

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