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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 14, 2018)
Ag Day Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 14, 2018 A13 Contributed photo Bruce LeGoat, left, and Mike LeChevon are the first known goat caddies in the world at The Retreat & Links at Silvies Valley Ranch. Selected from the ranch’s meat goats, they will pack golfers’ clubs and items on a seven-hole ridgetop challenge course at the resort. GOATS Continued from Page A10 goats raised for meat. While most of the goats are destined for the table as chevon, those selected as caddies will work until they are 8 years old and will then be adopted out to golfers, or others, interested in taking them in as pets. The goats have many rounds ahead of them before retirement, however. Bruce LeGoat is the oldest caddie at 4 and has been training for three years. “Bruce is in the prime of his career right now,” Mar- shall said. “When he does retire, he does want to spend that time telling jokes and sit- ting around the caddie shack with other old golfers.” The caddies are all affec- tionately named: Mike LeCh- evon, Bruce’s nephew Peanut LeGoat and the first female goat caddie, Roundabout La- Doe. Peanut was the reserve grand champion market goat at the 2017 Harney County Fair — “already a star in his own right, but he will tell you he’s very excited about this new career,” Marshall said. The caddies start training when they are kids. The more than 2,000 goats on the ranch are tended by a Peruvian goat- herder, who uses the young caddies-to-be to carry extra water and food. “Goats, for thousands of years, were pack animals, so this is not something new in terms of them packing things or packing carts,” Marshall said. “It’s just a new spin on that.” To make the transition from the range to the golf course, Silvies contracted with Seamus Golf Company to design a special backpack. “This is a first-in-the- world design,” Marshall said. “It’s specially made so they can pack three or four clubs on each side.” The goats are selected for the caddie program based on their personality and whether they enjoy wearing the back- pack. Marshall said they be- have much like a dog. “They will lead on leash. They will stay with you off leash,” he said. “They’re very social. They want to be right there with you. You have their favorite snack, which is a pea- nut. They’re kind of in heaven up on that course. They’re just not going to want to run off somewhere.” If they do decide to walk off the job, golfers are pro- vided two-way radios to contact their supervisor. Columbia Power Holliday Land & Livestock Proudly Celebrating being a part of Grant County’s Agricultural Industry since 1948 Proud Sponsor of National Ag Day • Irrigation • Plumbing • Electric 311 Wilson St. Monument 541-934-2311 42709 John Day Basin Office IT’S A WAY OF Oxbow Conservation Area LIFE At Old West we are committed to helping our members achieve their dreams. Forest Conservation Area The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs has a long tradition of natural resource stewardship. The John Day River basin is within the Tribes ceded lands and supporting sustainable agriculture and watershed restoration efforts are an important part of maintaining cultural foods and fish populations. The Tribes want to recognize the value of local agriculture, and the landowners that work to build and maintain the lands and communities that we live in. We have a top-notch, well trained Agricultural and Commercial Loan team to help you meet your business goals. Need an FSA Guaranteed Loan? We are the number one USDA Guaranteed Loan servicer headquartered in Oregon! oldwestfcu.org • 888-575-0264 John Day 650 W Main Prairie City 162 W Front Burns 937 Oregon Ave John Day Basin Office • 320 W. Main Street • John Day • (541) 575-1866 42708 La Grande 3 Depot Street Baker City 2036 Broadway Hermiston 1739 N First Street Pendleton 301 Main Street 42706 3850 10th St. Baker City 62302 Pierce Rd. La Grande 1160 S Egan Burns 86812 Christmas Valley Hwy. Christmas Valley 541-523-6377 541-963-6577 541-573-6377 541-523-6377 45017