The Shepherd's View by James Rebanks

Author:James Rebanks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Published: 2016-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

GINGER JOE

One of the rising stars of Lakeland shepherding is Joe Weir. He farms with his father in Borrowdale, at Chapel Farm. When you look at Joe you wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that many of us descend from Vikings. He has a mop of curly ginger hair, often seems to have misplaced his razor, and can be a bit wild when he has had a few beers (can’t we all). But he is (and don’t tell him I said this) one of the nicest and most honest lads you can meet. He is what we call “keen,” meaning that you get the impression he wants to be the top dog in our world. I’ve told him he might be the second-best shepherd in the Lake District when he grows up, but he tells me to eff off. He already has some great fell dogs, and is sometimes hired to come and gather our fell with us.

Joe has a bad case of tup fever, and from May onwards he starts visiting us about once a week to get a look at our best sheep for the shows and sales. He buys tups from us each autumn, and I wait nervously to hear whether they do well for his flock or not. If they breed good lambs and improve his flock I will be praised, if not, I will be damned. About five years ago Joe bought one of the best tups of recent times, from the Bland family at West Head. He had to stick his neck out a long way to get it, spending more than five thousand guineas to secure it. He shares it with the noted breeder Willie Richardson at Gatesgarth. That kind of big purchase sends out a statement that you mean business, and that old tup has fathered several show-winning sons and daughters that have gone on to make high prices, more than paying Joe and Willie back. I’m not sure anyone has ever loved an old tup more than Joe loves his.

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