Hello, my name is Addisyn, and I am a member of the Harwood 4H club in Southern Anne Arundel County.  I am currently an 8th grade student in the STEM program at Central Middle School.  

For the 2025 Fair, I am excited to introduce my market lamb, Natty Boh.  Natty Boh did not a have a typical lamb upbringing, his story started a little different...

On the evening of February 23, a breeder posted on Facebook: “Bottle ram lamb available.” His mother had died, and the breeder needed someone with the time to bottle-raise a newborn lamb. Dad and I got up at 4 a.m. the next morning and drove to Virginia to pick up my new lamb, Natty Boh. I got to miss a day of school to spend time with him and help him adjust to his new home and a different bottle. He was too little to go out in the cold, so Natty spent his first two months living in our garage with our new puppy, Jake. Natty started out eating every six hours, and I would get up in the middle of the night to feed him. As Natty (and Jake) got older, they spent their days running around the yard playing. Natty even figured out how to jump on the patio couch and curl up in the cushions, mom was not pleased!  Eventually, Natty had to move out to the sheep field and become a real sheep but his best friend is still Jake.

Getting to raise a lamb from the time they are a newborn was an amazing experience.  I could have done without the midnight feedings but sometimes you have to sacrifice for the things you want, and those hardships will not last forever.  Natty is my favorite sheep, ever.  He greets me at the gate every day and will follow me around the farm.  Training him was much easier than other lamb, he already wants to stay with me though he can be a little touchy about picking up his feet.

I hope you get a chance to meet Natty Boh at the fair and would consider purchasing him at the auction.  While I would hate to see him go to the freezer, I understand livestock have a purpose.  But, if you are looking for a grass mower or a pet, Natty Boh would be a wonderful choice.

Thank you for supporting 4H!

Addisyn