I have a web site for both my sheep and horses. I only get a few hits for the sheep. I am in OK. OJ
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Susan Smith Sent: Saturday, July 08, 2006 9:48 AM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Re: [blackbelly] sale prices in OKla May I ask whether you that are having a hard time selling sheep have a website. I have very little trouble selling sheep to even people in Idaho, Oklahoma, New York, Missouri, West Virgina, etc. I get the prices I want and I give discount prices on small flock purchases. I mention this website thing because I do 99% of my business from my website. I do not ever go to auction to sell sheep, don't have to. I can get $150.00 and more for ewes and $150.00 to $300.00 for my rams (more depending on age). Ram lambs and ewe lambs are $150.00 until they are 6 months old. I am not bragging, and please forgive me if it sounds that way, but I really believe that a website makes all the difference in the world with these sheep. I get calls and e-mails several times a month from people just wanting to know what a hair sheep is. www.nebraskasheep.com is a website where you can ad your farm free. I receive many e-mails from this site along with my own website. Just a thought I wanted to pass on. Sue Smith >From: "Cecil Bearden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info >To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> >Subject: Re: [blackbelly] sale prices in OKla >Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2006 23:53:18 -0500 > >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! 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