Visit to Leault Farm, a Working Sheep Farm

Leault Farm
Yesterday on our way to Inverness, we visited Leault Farm, a working sheep farm in the Scottish Highlands. This was truly a unique experience. The manager of the farm, Neil Ross, is an authentic Highland Shepherd. Neil gives demonstrations on how he uses his sheep dogs to herd sheep and how he trains his dogs. This was a particularly fun day for our boys as they love animals and who can resist sheep dog puppies (or "Collie Pups" as Neil refers to them).

Neil Ross Demonstrating How He Commands his Sheep Dogs

Austin & Collie Pup

Neil Showing Bryce How to Shear

Neil has more than 25 sheep dogs. And of course he had to bring out a bucket of 'wee' pups for us to see! Susan got some great photos of the boys with the puppies.

Needless to say, this was a lot of fun. It was also fascinating to hear about Neil and his wife and their experience as farmers. Their biggest challenge recently was (get this) that the big city environmentalists are trying to shut down their farm due to 'over-grazing' and 'damage to environmentally sensitive habitats.' These bureaucrats have already successfully shut down many family sheep farms in the name of 'conserving the environment.' It turns out that many of the 'sensitive' trees are now not doing so well as the native grasses have grown so high, due to lack of grazing, that the intended beneficiaries aren't doing well at all.