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On Takeover Tuesdays, an Ohio Farm Bureau member takes over the Ohio Farm Bureau Instagram for the day to share a day in their life. Check in throughout the day or follow us on Instagram, @OhioFarmBureau, to meet new Ohio farmers and ag professionals for #TakeOverTuesday. 

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Hi everyone! We are Nathan and Jessica Vandenbroek from Venedocia, Ohio in Van Wert County. We are this week’s #TakeOverTuesday. We have a small farm, Vandenbroek Family Farms, where we have sheep, chickens, ducks and a miniature donkey. We also have a 16 month old son, Henrik, who loves being out in the barn. Both Nathan and I have jobs off the farm. I am the Organization Director for Allen, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert County Farm Bureau’s. Nathan is the newly elected Van Wert County Treasurer. . .
#TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 6:10am PDT

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Not everything in the livestock industry is easy. There are times we need to take special care of our animals. This little lamb needed to be brought in and given extra love. She became a “bottle baby” due to her mom rejecting her. She had to live in the house for a little bit, so her and Henrik became quick friends! And yes, any of our lambs that get brought in get a little diaper (which comes off when she goes outside). . .
#TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 6:19am PDT

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Jessica’s family also has a family farm, Swihart Moonlight Tunis. Both farms help each other and work together in and out of the show ring. We are lucky enough to have such great support system that is also a business partner. . .
#TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 6:23am PDT

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The breed of sheep that we raise are called Tunis sheep. These sheep are a fat-tailed sheep that are born a cinnamon color. As they get older, their wool changes from red to cream but their heads and legs stay red! We raise these sheep to be breeders, market animals, as well as show stock. We show locally and nationally. This year we had our yearling ram place Reserve Grand Champion Ram at Indiana State Fair, place second place at N.A.I.L.E in his yearling ram class, and was awarded Best Headed Ram in the Tunis ram class. We love showing our sheep off at livestock shows because that is where we get to be the voice of the breed, show what we raise, as well as educated young farmers. . .
#TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 7:17am PDT

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Not everything on the farm is good, clean fun. There are other things that need to get done every year to help take care of our animals, like cleaning all the manure out of the barn. We do this twice a year. This type of project is a good family bonding experience for us since we have to work together to get it all done before the weekend is over. We even test each others driving skills on the skid steer to see who is the better operator. . . . #TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 7:42am PDT

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Henrik loves to be out in the barn with all the animals. He really enjoys being in the sheep pen with all the ewes. There are a few ewes who are curious about him, but others want nothing to do with him. But this ewe is curious because Henrik is willing to give her hay to get her attention. Henrik will be able to show his first lamb this summer, and we bet he will be super excited when he finds out! . . . . #TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 7:51am PDT

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We lamb at two different times a year- September-November and January-March. The ones that are born in the cold winter months all get a cute little sweatshirt when they are born. These sweatshirts help them stay a little bit warmer until they are comfortable in the barn with their mom. Also when they are born the ewe and lamb get moved into their very own pen so they can bond a little bit better. They are in these pens for about 3-4 days, after that they get to move out into the big pen with the other ewes and lambs. We also band their tails, put in ear tags, and give shots to the lambs. . .
#TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 10:05am PDT

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This is Dominic, our “guard” donkey. We got him in November 2017, and he lives with the sheep. During the summer months the sheep are out in our pasture and he goes out with them to protect them from any type of predator. Dominic loves the lambs and makes sure they are all safe. He will also let you know when you are late feeding them, even by 5 minutes. . .
#TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 11:14am PDT

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We would like to thank you for following us for this week’s #TakeOverTuesday. We have had so much fun letting you into our day-to-day life. We love our little farm and cannot wait to see what our little operation can grow into. We love having visitors that are interested in seeing what our farm is all about. . . . #TakeOverTuesday this week is with Vandenbroek Family Farms in Van Wert County. Meet Ohio farmers and Farm Bureau members every month for #TakeOverTuesdayOFBF. . . . . . .
#ohio #farm #farmer #farm365 #ag #agriculture #ohiofarm #ohiofarmer #ohioag #ohioagriculture #ohiofarmlife #ohiofarm365 #ohiogram #ohiofarmbureau #discoverohio #farmlife

A post shared by Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (@ohiofarmbureau) on Mar 19, 2019 at 11:22am PDT