New lambs born in school barn; animals provide opportunity for students’ hands-on learning experiences

  In the NH barn there are two new additions to the family: two baby lambs! 

     According to Aimee Densmore, the agriculture teacher, “the students were so excited to hear the news.” 

     Senior Beverly Bigelow, said, “she was expecting lambs, but not the news of them coming to the school so soon.” She also thought, “of course they were born on a day when there was no school, because it always happens that way.” 

     The agriculture teacher explained that when they get a new sheep they “borrow a ram, which is the male, from a local farmer.” After they breed the sheep, “the ram goes back where it came from.” 

     Densmore said she had “no fears for the birthing of the lambs because of situations in the past where the lambs were turned the wrong way. [She] was able to go in and reposition the animals so they could be born the right way.”

     The experience was special for the teacher because, “the sheep were actually at […] [her] house for a little while. So just the continuation of the sheep family at NH and keeping the herd going was neat.”

     Helping the birth of the lambs was so special to Densore because, “the sheep were actually at […] [her]  house for a little while. So just the continuation of the mother, daughter, and then the granddaughter in the barn was neat.” 

     Once the lambs are born, Densmore said they “have to make sure they are able to walk and nurse before the lambs can be left with their mom. They depend on their mother more than anything right now [and they] have to make sure they keep nursing and that the mom is okay.” 

      The agriculture teacher claimed that caring for a baby lamb, “is not much different from other animals, the mom is what takes care of most of the lambs’ needs.” Aside from the mom they have, “heat lamps in their stalls because it’s been really cold at night and good straw that makes a bed for them to lay in.” 

     Bigelow revealed that, “to take care of the lambs […] [she] helps the freshmen kids check the mothers udders and catch the lambs to lock them in at night.” 

     By taking care of the animals, Densmore said the students “learn the responsibility of taking care of animals and how to socialize them. They learn how to get the lambs used to students and other people.” 

     The agriculture teacher’s favorite part about getting new animals is, “just the experience that the students get.” She loves, “seeing them take care of the animals and the excitement in the barn that a new animal creates.”

     Bigelow says her favorite part about the lambs is watching them “slowly become fluffy!” She described them as, “very calm and a little skittish.” 

     According to Densmore, “the sheep are bred at NH every year so the students in FFA can show them at the Harford County Farm Fair in July.” She claims they “do fairly well as the students have gotten second and third place before.” 

     Densmore also stated that, “NH is the only school with these animals and probably the only school in the state with a program like this.”