As the past year has come to a close, we reflect on the past and look forward to the future. This past year has brought about a web page as a source of information, with our Chicken breed profiles, informative chicken blog, recipes and earth friendly projects.
Our Facebook page has doubled since a year ago. Sis was approached to write for other blogs and bro has expanded the Washington territory with contacts and customers around the state. We met many wonderful Chicken enthusiasts throughout the year, and saw the introduction of chickens to children that have become enthusiastic chicken owners. Those children proudly showed JFA birds at fairs and exhibitions and came away with many awards for their efforts.
A new brooder building and brooder unit was installed, a new rare breed was added, and some new lines of existing breeds were added. An additional Commercial incubator was added and hundreds of chicks hatched through the year.
We had customers fly in, and drive in from out of state, as far away as Arizona, and our rare delivery opportunities were expanded throughout the state.
The opportunity for a new source of bulk feed came our way and tons of feed has been hauled in throughout the year.
Our Pheasant and Chukkar lines were expanded and a new variety of Pheasant added.
We picked up a new contract for consumable eggs for community weekend breakfasts.
As part of our efforts to stream-line operations, heated hoses and surveillance was added.
Of course there will always be bitter to go with the sweet, Sis had to have two life sparing surgeries, which left bro with not only the daily farm duties but also keeping the Facebook page active and to add salt to the wounds, the area was devastated by fires in July, which caused many to be homeless with nothing left but their family to cling to. The communities pulled together to provide food, clothing and shelter for all those affected, and donations came from far and wide, including egg donations from JFA to help feed the community. Livestock was lost while others were spared and fortunately JFA suffered few losses from smoke inhalation. JFA was near the fires and on high alert, but not directly in the line of the fires as so many others were. We maintained power and cell service while many others were weeks without, including the warehouses that process the fruit from the valley.
An early blast of winter sadly took its toll with the loss of a few free rangers that for some reason, could not find their way back to shelter that was provided for them.
Though the past year had its mixed blessings, we here at JFA are resilient and pick up the boot straps and move on, always looking ahead in spite of past events. In farm life you must know how to cope, be perseverant, resilient and determined to move forward in spite of set backs. Lessons learned at a young age that have been the foundation for everything we do and plan for.
We look forward to the new year, as we introduce our new breeds and new lines and as we add more content to the website, with all the information we have to share to make your own efforts easier and rewarding. We thank all of you for your continued support and encouragement. Without you, Just Fowling Around as we know it today would not exist. No one reaches their goals and aspirations without the support from others.
Happy New Year to All, may this New Year bring blessings in abundance to you and yours.
Just Fowling Around Team~~Bro and Sis
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