All in a day's work

I've been told I'm a guinea pig. Nikki, the deputy farm manager, told me this as she was introducing me to the flock and the job of the pastorella. As guinea pastorella, I'm testing a new practice for rotating the sheep through concentrated pasture areas, controlling what is eaten and, basically, how far down the field is "mowed." Instead of getting full access to the pasture's salad bar, I will create smaller fenced pens, and a system for how the sheep will most easily and effectively be rotated through them. This work is done with my hands, from the pulling and planting of iron stakes, to the laying of the fencing in the stakes, to the, uh, rounding up of the sheepies. Man, oh, man, do I wish I had a sheepdog. My only tools in the moving of the sheep (day pen to night pen and vice versa), are the blue bucket of barley and my voice (and frantically waving arms, at times). Pecore, I yell. Andiame! And also, Go, go, go! They respond well to a shove on the tush, but they could definitely take me out, weight-wise, if they chose to. Had a panic moment the other day when one was trying to exit the pen by a route that went between my legs. The little ones are not only cute, but easier to move; you can simply stick one under each arm and carry!

I've got nothing but determination and novelty driving this one, but I'm getting a helluva tan in the process.

FYI, the sheep are used only for meat. There is no cheesemaking operation here (Yet, as one of the interns says), and the wool is not of the variety useful for clothing, etc. Butchering happens about twice a year. The sheep are a Tuscan breed that was once in danger of dying out. Other animals here on the farm include pigs, cows, horses, and chickens, all of which I will get some exposure to when I have weekend duty. I've seen the pigs and they freak me out (there are so many, and I've never heard such noise in my life when they get riled up); the other animali will be new introductions next week.