If you are a regular at the Minneapolis farmer’s market you have probably seen a truck like this. Blue Gentian Farm is owned and managed by Renee and Darryle Powers. This weekend we had an opportunity to meet Darryle on another field trip and tour his farm. Blue Gentian specializes in heritage breed animals like

Scttish Highland cattle,

St. Croix Sheep (these are hair sheep and do not require shearing plus they are parasite resistant),

Berkshire hogs,

and a menagerie of chickens/ roosters.

They allow the roosters to fertilize the eggs of the hens and they hatch their own chicks.

They do also purchase some meat birds.

There are also some meat goats. Boer I believe.

And here is the world’s friendliest goat. He was following all of us around tugging at back pockets and shirt sleeves. Proeun said he doesn’t know how he could ever sell a goat like that.

Somehow I missed a picture of the border collie that did a great job keeping everyone in line. After the tour the natural game would be “sheep.” Here Two, Avril, Mavis and farm friend Addie practice their animal skills. Addie’s dad was pretending to be a wolf so they all herded together because, “if we stay together we’ll be safe.”