By Betty Jane Sheffield

• 1: Introduction
• 2: Childhood, WWII and Working for Blue Ridge Electric
• 3: Camping With Goats
• Download the full article as a

Camping With Goats

He enjoys telling stories about his exploits in the very old days. One time he and his brothers took a camping trip. “When I was about eight or nine years old, my two younger brothers, Albert and Jerry, used to work goats. And my two older brothers made me and my younger brothers a little homemade wagon. So in early spring, we decided to go camping. We harnessed up two of the goats and hooked ‘em to the wagon. Jerry, my youngest brother, decided he wanted to ride one of the goats. So when we decided everything was in order and were ready to go, we took off and went up to a pasture field on a dirt road. We went up the road about a quarter of a mile where there was a large flat rock along a stream. About the time we got there with our outfit, a big dark collie dog came out of the woods. He came up close to where we were camping, and the goats were afraid of the dog. So we realized we’re in for some excitement. Jerry was still riding the large angora goat, holding onto his long curly hair, and he broke loose and made back for the barn. We all started back, and when we got back to the barn, we encountered all kinds of excitement. The goat that Jerry was riding went up on top of this big barn with Jerry on it. Turkeys, geese, chickens, piggins, all a’makin all kinds of noise. Mother came out of the kitchen to see what the excitement was, and when she got out and looked around and saw Jerry on top of the barn with Jerry on the goat, Mother throwed a fit. Oh, Lordy! She reached down and got her long dress and she came down the hill. She called on the Lord to help us out of that commotion. After about a half an hour, everything was back normal.”

Forrest Wilson can be reached c\o L.E. Harrill Senior Center, 132 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite A, Boone, NC 28607.

Betty Jane Sheffield is a member of Blue Ridge Electric and lives in Boone.