Good evening, friends and family! It’s Clifford again. Today was ruminant animal day here at MSU Tollgate Farm. Ruminant animals, like me, have a stomach that is very different from my pepper friends. We don’t have to completely chew all our food because instead of one compartment to the stomach, we have four. We are known as ruminant animals because of our first compartment to the stomach, the rumen. The rumen stores food that we snack on later to break it down further, and it is the largest compartment with the ability to hold up to 42.5 gallons of food!
The morning started off with some good milk and new friends.
To start the day off, the peppers came to my pen to learn all about me and the other ruminant animals on the farm. Mr. Alan explained to my new friends that I was a calf and that when I grow up I will be called a steer. He also explained to the peppers three ways to identify that I’m an herbivore. The first way is the placement of my eyes: eyes on side to hide. The second is my cloven hoof, a hoof split into two toes. Animals with cloven hooves have no sharp, canine teeth. Mr. Alan demonstrated by showing off my huge chompers. The peppers gasped to find that I have no teeth on top, which is how they can identify me as an herbivore.
Mr. Alan showing the Orange Peppers my teeth.
After feeding me sweet milk (moo!) the peppers spent the rest of the morning attempting to prepare for tomorrow, Fishy Thursday! The peppers went into the Maple Forest to search for worms to use as bait during their fishing trip tomorrow. What’s better bait than live worms? In the forest, the peppers put yesterday’s knowledge of recognizing poison ivy to use. Leaves of three let it be! The ground was very dry, so the worm hunt wasn’t too successful, but the peppers did find some interesting bugs!
Yellow Peppers releasing insects back into the wild.
To complement the worm hunt, the peppers practiced casting their fishing lines. Casting was new for many peppers, but they all did very well and I bet they’ll catch many fish tomorrow!
Green Peppers practicing their casting.
To end the morning, the peppers spent some time with Ms. Katie and Ms. Robin in the Garden Kitchen. Ms. Katie and Ms. Robin helped the peppers prepare homemade bread, butter, and jam for the afternoon. It smelled so yummy! I sure do envy all the delicious food they make and eat!
Green Peppers making jam.
In the afternoon, the peppers met with my sheep friends and learned about their wool. Mr. Alan taught the peppers that a sheep’s wool contains lanolin which is an oil that helps keep them from getting really wet when it rains. He also helped them identify the breed of sheep on the farm that is used for its wool, the Columbia breed. The peppers had a chance to meet with a ewe, a mother sheep, and clean raw wool.
Orange Peppers seeing raw wool for the first time. It needed a good cleaning!
After meeting the sheep, the peppers played with some Oobelck, an interesting substance that acts like liquid when you touch it, but is like a solid when you pick it up. It’s so weird and gooey looking! The counselors discussed the states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) with the peppers and helped them identify the state of the Oobelck. I could hear the fascination from the little peppers and all the fun they had with the substance.
The Oobelck dries quickly.
In the Garden Kitchen, the peppers made ricotta cheese to spread on their bread along with the butter and jam they made in the morning. The bread must have been good because everyone wanted seconds, but there wasn’t enough! I’m sure many peppers would love to try out their baking skills at home!
Yellow Peppers and Ms. Katie making ricotta cheese.
To end the day, each pepper group spent some quality time together playing games, brainstorming Friday’s activities, and reading a book.
Green Peppers practicing for the end of camp celebration skits.
It was a really great day here at MSU Tollgate Farm, but all the excitement has made me very tired. I’m off to get my beauty sleep so I’ll be well rested for another fun-filled day tomorrow. In the meantime, check out the photos below and like us on Facebook, here (Friday skits will only be up on Facebook, so don’t forget to check the page for the exclusive content).
Goodnight my peppers, friends, and family!
Until tomorrow,
Clifford the Calf
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- Yellow Peppers petting the ewe.
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- Mr. Alan showing the yellow peppers the sheep’s wool.
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- Little peppers did you know the plural of sheep is also sheep?
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- Mr. Alan showing the ewe.
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- Mr. Alan showing the dent corn that the sheep eat.
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- Green Peppers practicing for the end of camp celebration skits.
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- Red Peppers playing with the Oobelck.
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- The Oobelck dries quickly.
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- Yellow Peppers identifying insects.
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- Yellow Peppers releasing insects back into the wild.
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- Orange Pepper brushing wool.
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- Orange Peppers with their wool.
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- Orange Peppers waiting patiently to brush their wool.
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- Red Pepper explaining how Oobelck is made.
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- Red Peppers tentative to play with the Oobelck.
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- Green pepper learning about insects.
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- Yellow Peppers and Ms. Katie making ricotta cheese.
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- Yellow Peppers enjoying their bread and jam.
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- Green Peppers with the Oobelck.
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- It dries so quickly!
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- Playing with Oobelck can be a little messy.
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- Orange Peppers seeing raw wool for the first time. It needed a good cleaning!
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- Orange Peppers walking back from a bug hunt.
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- Red Peppers petting me.
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- Me and Mr. Alan.
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- Red Peppers mixing my milk, yum!
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- Adding water to make my milk just right.
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- Green Peppers coming to greet me.
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- I was a bit tired so I laid down while the Green Peppers came to chat.
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- The Green Peppers were very excited to meet me.
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- Red Pepper findings in the Maple Forest.
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- Green Peppers practicing their casting.
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- Mr. Alan helping the Yellow Peppers remember the rules before meeting animals.
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- Yellow Peppers identifying bugs.
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- Mr. Alan showing the Orange Peppers my teeth.
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- Mr. Alan showing off Stripey’s teeth.
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- An Orange Pepper with me and Brownie.
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- Orange Peppers meeting me for the first time.
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- Hello Orange Peppers!
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- Green Peppers making jam.
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- Green Peppers putting the mixture in the bread maker.
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- The Green Peppers are such great helpers in the Garden Kitchen.
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- Red Peppers discovering how big a rumen is (42.5 gallons!)
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- The Red Peppers’ reactions to my teeth!
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- The morning started off with some good milk and new friends.
I had alot of fun at camp and I’m going to ask my mom if I can go next week!!!
Hi Grace! We’re glad you’re having such a great time at camp. We’d love to have you back next week.