Award-Winning Teen Farmer to Showcase Lamb For Second Consecutive Title
/Young farmer Natalie Dunford is gearing up for another successful year for the Peterborough Exhibition Junior Market Lamb show this Wednesday.
Natalie Dunford poses with her lamb. Natalie and her family also sell fresh sweet corn and pumpkins from their farm in Cavan. Photo courtesy of Sarah Dunford.
Growing up just down the road from her grandfather’s farm in Cavan, the 14-year-old Dunford has been farming her whole life. She has been showing sheep through 4-H — a non-profit geared towards teaching youth leadership and life skills — for six years and has been selling market lambs at auction for three years.
Last year, Dunford’s homegrown lamb placed first and was bought by Joe Donaldson from Smokey Joe’s butcher shop.
In past years, the Peterborough Exhibition Junior Market Lamb show has been open to the public with the lambs being auctioned off directly from the ring. Due to COVID-19, this and last year’s auction is online with an in-person show.
“The five kids that have entered lambs this year are exceptional,” said Sarah Dunford, Natalie’s mom. “They all have their own flocks. If it was in person, you could see the work that the kids do.”
To show a lamb, the farmer must “break it in” by getting the animal used to being led around the ring. Natalie has been working with her lamb that she will bring to the show on Wednesday for about a month.
She also helps look after the flock of over 60 lambs daily, performing vaccinations, putting fresh hay in their stalls and any other farm duties.
The money earned from this auction will go towards her post-secondary education says Natalie. The young farmer will attend high school in September and plans on pursuing an agricultural or horticulture education after graduation.
Natalie sits among her flock. Photo Courtesy of Sarah Dunford.
