Virginia TSC farm swaps!

secuono · #1 05/16/14, 10:46 PM

Thought I'd share this.

All animals must be healthy, well kept, have shelter and water. Goat/sheep size or smaller. Equipment must fit into a common truck bed or trailer or in a car. NO selling out of business vans/trucks. No fees to come and sell or buy. Most are 9am to 3pm. Egg sales allowed, personally made baked goods allowed, personally made crafts and farm related items allowed.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Petchickensofvirginia/
http://www.petchickensofvirginia.com/

May
May 17: Orange TSC, Warsaw TSC, Smithfield TSC, Farmers Cooperative, Inc (Farmville),
May 18: Midlothian TSC
May 24: Morrisville CFC, Fork Union Community Market, Harrisonburg TSC
May 31: Powhatan TSC

June
June 7: Montpelier Feed and Seed, Fredericksburg TSC,
June 14:Gloucester TSC, Charlottesville TSC, Ashland TSC, Culpeper TSC, Farmers Cooperative, Inc (Farmville)
June 15: Midlothian TSC, Orange TSC,
June 21: Warsaw TSC, Powhatan TSC, Smithfield TSC
June 28: Morrisville CFC, Fork Union Community Market, Harrisonburg TSC

July
July 5: Culpeper TSC, Farmers Cooperative, Inc (Farmville),
July 12:Gloucester TSC, Charlottesville TSC, Fredericksburg TSC
July 19: Orange TSC, Warsaw TSC, Smithfield TSC,
July 26: Morrisville CFC, Fork Union Community Market, Harrisonburg TSC

August
August 2: Culpeper TSC, Farmers Cooperative, Inc (Farmville),
August 9: Gloucester TSC, Charlottesville TSC, Fredericksburg TSC
August 16: Orange TSC, Warsaw TSC, Smithfield TSC,
August 23: Morrisville CFC, Fork Union Community Market, Harrisonburg TSC
August 30:

September
September 6: Montpelier Feed and Seed, Fredericksburg TSC,
September 13: Gloucester TSC, Charlottesville TSC, Ashland TSC, Culpeper TSC, Farmers Cooperative, Inc (Farmville)
September 14: Midlothian TSC, Orange TSC,
September 20: Warsaw TSC, Powhatan TSC
September 27: Morrisville CFC, Fork Union Community Market, Harrisonburg TSC

October
October 4: Montpelier Feed and Seed, Fredericksburg TSC,
October 11: Gloucester TSC, Charlottesville TSC, Ashland TSC, Culpeper TSC, Farmers Cooperative, Inc (Farmville)
October 12: Midlothian TSC, Orange TSC,
October 18: Warsaw TSC, Powhatan TSC
October 25: Morrisville CFC, Fork Union Community Market, Harrisonburg TSC

November
November 1: Montpelier Feed and Seed,
November 8: Gloucester TSC, Charlottesville TSC, Ashland TSC, Farmers Cooperative, Inc (Farmville)
November 15: Orange TSC, Warsaw TSC, Powhatan TSC,
November 16: Midlothian TSC
November 22: Morrisville CFC, Fork Union Community Market

FarmboyBill · #2 05/17/14, 11:06 AM

What does the ABOVE have to do with Tractor Supply Co?

Conhntr · #3 05/17/14, 03:35 PM

Nothing but they let us have swap meets in their parking lots which is very nice of them and i try to support the store in exchange. The one i go to has people selling chickens/rabbits etc almost every saturday

Brighton · #4 05/17/14, 03:50 PM

We don't have TSC here, but we have Rural King and they let folks use the parking lot on Saturday's to sell anything from plants to goats. It isn't really organized, but it sure is fun!

FarmboyBill · #5 05/17/14, 04:05 PM

hmmmmm They don't do that here, and they have alotta lot to do it in as they take up 1/2 the old WM store that WM vacated after building their new bigger store.

countryfied2011 · #6 05/17/14, 06:57 PM

Wish our TSC did something like that...sounds like a good idea~might need to talk to the manager..lol

Thanks for sharing

Sensiblefarmer · #7 05/18/14, 09:48 AM

Those TSC swaps attract the wrong sort of livestock owner, those with little experience with animals other than a pet dog or cat. They often have an anthropomorphic outlook towards animals that fosters ignorance, with resulting animal abuse and neglect. In my state the backyard crowd has been responsible for increased enforcement and new rules designed to counteract their irresponsible behavior such as indiscriminate swapping without quarantine, excessive breeding without a justifiable reason, etc.

Better to stick with the traditional livestock auctions and private treaty sales, where you still have to be careful, but are more likely to associate with a higher caliber of animal management skills and approaches.

FarmboyBill · #8 05/18/14, 01:06 PM

I can see somewhat of what your saying, and in that, agree with you. BUT, and as to use as an example, A town 10 miles from me USTA sell any farm animal that was brought to them. BUT because of regulations required to continue to do so, they quit it, and instead NOW only sell cows and horses. The nearest auction is around now 30 miles away, that sells yet all animals. I usta buy at the sale near me, hogs, cows, goats rabbits. IF at the local TSC store in that town, they sold yet those kinds of animals, I would go there rather than to make the 30 mile drive to what might prove to find nothing of what I wanted.

Sensiblefarmer · #9 05/18/14, 06:58 PM

It's funny how many things can be justified in the name of convenience. Auctions in my area are few and far between, and lots of people would give anything to have to drive only 30 miles to get to one, instead of 100, 150 or 300. Still, I'd rather do that than give implied consent to the behavior of a lot of the folks at my local TSC swaps who confuse animals with children.

countryfied2011 · #10 05/18/14, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sensiblefarmer

Those TSC swaps attract the wrong sort of livestock owner, those with little experience with animals other than a pet dog or cat. They often have an anthropomorphic outlook towards animals that fosters ignorance, with resulting animal abuse and neglect. In my state the backyard crowd has been responsible for increased enforcement and new rules designed to counteract their irresponsible behavior such as indiscriminate swapping without quarantine, excessive breeding without a justifiable reason, etc.

Better to stick with the traditional livestock auctions and private treaty sales, where you still have to be careful, but are more likely to associate with a higher caliber of animal management skills and approaches.

You know most everyone has to start somewhere....I was one of those who only had experience with dogs and cats.....GLAD YOU WERENT AROUND when I started...bred,raised,showed and sold horses for 16 yrs, raised two bottle Jersey to 3 yrs old, have raised a gazzillion chickens and am now raising rabbits...if it hadnt been for folks willing to help me learn and sell me animals I never would have the knowledge that I do now. Again glad you werent around...

oh and by the way....I think livestock has "feelings" too

Sensiblefarmer · #11 05/18/14, 09:53 PM

You miss the point. I'm not saying that we should discourage the novice. That would be absurd to even suggest. I'm saying that those who are starting out would do well to understand that a calf is not a dog, a chicken is not a cat and neither are children. I guess it shouldn't surprise me that much, considering that even most pet owners with average intelligence really do not understand the behavior of even dogs and cats, often after having them for many years.

countryfied2011 · #12 05/19/14, 06:48 AM

Quote:

I guess it shouldn't surprise me that much, considering that even most pet owners with average intelligence really do not understand the behavior of even dogs and cats, often after having them for many years.

It shouldn't surprise me either...there always seems to be a pet owner with average intelligence who really believes they are experts on everything.

Have a great day~

Sensiblefarmer · #13 05/19/14, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryfied2011

It shouldn't surprise me either...there always seems to be a pet owner with average intelligence who really believes they are experts on everything.

Have a great day~

Well bless your heart, yes that is true!

light rain · #14 05/19/14, 07:18 AM

Oh no, Countryfied2011, he/she said "bless your heart". You know what that means...

Sensiblefarmer, sorta glad you're posting. I happily hand over the title of "opinionated, irritating, and over self-confident" poster to you.

Some may disagree with my outlook on this, but they'd be wrong.

Sensiblefarmer · #15 05/19/14, 07:27 AM

The only title I need is "Correct", and that I have.

countryfied2011 · #16 05/19/14, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Oh no, Countryfied2011, he/she said "bless your heart". You know what that means...

LightRain, I just consider "the source" and "Peace Out"

MDKatie · #17 05/19/14, 09:36 AM

I would NEVER recommend a beginner start out by buying animals at livestock auctions. Most animals there are sickly, diseased, or someone else's problems. I've only ever been to sell, not buy. Plus, you can't ask the owners questions at all.

The only auctions I'd recommend buying from are those specifically for breeding animals, or from on-farm auctions from farms selling animals specifically to be bred.

I think these swaps would be better than going to an auction that houses thousands of animals...much higher risk of disease there.

Sensiblefarmer · #18 05/19/14, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDKatie

I would NEVER recommend a beginner start out by buying animals at livestock auctions. Most animals there are sickly, diseased, or someone else's problems. I've only ever been to sell, not buy. Plus, you can't ask the owners questions at all.

The only auctions I'd recommend buying from are those specifically for breeding animals, or from on-farm auctions from farms selling animals specifically to be bred.

I think these swaps would be better than going to an auction that houses thousands of animals...much higher risk of disease there.

I agree, I would not recommend to a novice that they start out with auction animals either. As for "most" animals being sickly, diseased or someone else's problems, I try not to think in terms of such absolutes. There are so many variables that inevitably I'd be wrong.

The real farm auctions do have oversight from state and federal agricultural officials, and often access to a veterinarian that the backyarder swaps do not. Auctions for me are only for selling something that I don't want, but others have different ideas, standards and situations, and I'm not about to make a general statement that all auction purchases are wrong.

The best way to buy stock is by private treaty, through a knowledgeable breeder. Often they are serious students of their animals who don't have time to bother with the gigglefest mentality that often accompanies these TSC swaps. Some people enjoy that sort of thing too. More power to them.

secuono · #19 05/19/14, 10:41 AM

This thread was not posted for you guys to bicker and take out your frustrations on each other....If you don't like the swaps, don't go.

With everything, buyer beware and seller beware.

In many places, people are lazy and don't want to travel for anything. Then there's the issue with the psychotic AR people, I don't want them near my house, most people don't. Some of you say "that doesn't happen here" or "that will never happen to me." But guess what? Many members here and on other forums, who have said the same thing, have had their animals stolen because of AR false reports. Thus the need for swaps.

Everyone here advises people not to buy at auctions because it's a place where others "unload" their animals and that is very true. Whether or not they are ill, culls or w/e doesn't matter.

am1too · #20 05/20/14, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by secuono

This thread was not posted for you guys to bicker and take out your frustrations on each other....If you don't like the swaps, don't go.

With everything, buyer beware and seller beware.

In many places, people are lazy and don't want to travel for anything. Then there's the issue with the psychotic AR people, I don't want them near my house, most people don't. Some of you say "that doesn't happen here" or "that will never happen to me." But guess what? Many members here and on other forums, who have said the same thing, have had their animals stolen because of AR false reports. Thus the need for swaps.

Everyone here advises people not to buy at auctions because it's a place where others "unload" their animals and that is very true. Whether or not they are ill, culls or w/e doesn't matter.

Culled animals are a good first experience. The only problem is it could be expensive.