Learning To Learn By Mistakes

#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk

Now that we have passed the stress of the Wool Festival work has slowed down a bit. This week, my host wanted to teach me how to tan a hide using a different method. A few weeks back, I learned how to tan a hide using eggs; this week, I used bark. Bark tanning, so far, has been less labor intensive and more laid back than the egg method, as you do not have to rack the hide. However, I do see the benefits and drawbacks to both methods. I learned that bark tanning makes white wool turn darker and the skin side a brownish color. I still need to finish the hide, but I am excited to see how it turns out. We ran into an issue as the first hide I picked was not salted right when the ram was butchered. I discovered that this could cause the hide to take longer to rehydrate, and I had to choose another one. We also tagged all the ewes and I learned the importance of proper placement in the ear. If you place the tag properly in the middle and far up enough on the ear, it is harder for the tag to get stuck on things and ripped out. This saves you in the long run as you do not have to replace them down the road.

I have fewer projects now, and we are back to doing the routine chores. This week, I am challenging the opportunity to learn in routine situations. I am learning and testing ways I can become more efficient, considering the typical paths I take and seeing if there are new ways to do things. I was taking down more fences this week, and the posts were configured differently than those I took down prior. I chose to take down the ends first and pull the middle nails off last by using myself as a counterweight. This, however, went differently from how I planned it to go, as I ended up taking the support posts with it. Instead of being efficient, I made my job way harder, which is okay as failing is part of learning. I do not want to become static, and I know there is still so much that my host can teach me. I have had more time to ask my host questions such as how aquifers work and how water might become a significant issue in our future. I was also able to learn more about how vital her tagging system is in determining what sheep she keeps, butchers, and sells.

After my conversation with my host about water, I still have questions about how water issues affect other operations. I want to learn more information about how water levels are depleting throughout the country and what the plans are for the future. Water is an essential part of agriculture and is desperately needed. I am interested in learning more about how bark tanning works as I understand that tannins play a part in the process, but I also want to understand why it works. I also want to know which method would be more efficient and profitable for the operation.

Throughout this internship, I’ve come to appreciate the value of continuous learning and curiosity. These insights have inspired me to improve my strategies, even if it means embracing trial and error. This was a significant lesson for me, as I’ve always strived to avoid failure. However, I’ve come to understand that failure is often a crucial part of the learning process. I’m eager to delve deeper into water conservation strategies and their potential impact on the agriculture world. My goal is to leverage these strategies and my curiosity to advance my career in agriculture, wherever that takes me.

Submitted by: Elizabeth Herman
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team