Old Hickory Ranch: Home of Adorable Valais Blacknose Sheep

11/23/2024

Anna and I are enjoying our day at
The Missouri Sheep Producer's Conference.

Anna gave a presentation about the grant money she earned from MSP to purchase her 1st sheep, Marilyn.

11/20/2024

Thanks to S🥰 many friends that have worked so hard the past 10+ years, there is no need to travel to Switzerland and use GPS to find these amazingly friendly sheep!!!!

11/15/2024

More about our beloved SHEEP!!!

ABC Rural News provides authoritative coverage of the business and politics of Australian farming, livestock, forestry, agriculture and primary production

11/14/2024

THIS makes my heart sing!!!!

My Lil Lincoln is still struggling, yet a miracle by anyone's standards as well!!! I am looking forward to sharing his TESTimony as soon as time permits.

09/24/2024

11-15-24 Update:

These are Truly A LIMITED EDITION!!!!

Momma Lyla was spayed yesterday, and Daddy Will has his appointment set!

A Couple are still Available for the perfect home or farm!

The ones that are in new farms and homes have been wonderful and are adjusting well. They also are quick to learn. Please reach out if you are interested.

Thanks!

Healthy & Happy Karakachan/GP pups looking for 5* homes!

Each was seen by our vet, microchiped with free registration and vaccinated. They have been lovingly raised and cared for since the moment they were born by my girls. They have been raised outside next to sheep, chickens, ducks. Karakachan's are known for barking with purpose and not wandering. They are also good with their family.

Girls and boys are ready to go to their new families as pets and guardians.

If interested, we can bring them the National Valais Show in Des Moines!

DOB: 6-11-24
Parents: Protect our sheep and foul
Mom-Registered Karakachan
Dad-Karakachan/GP

Please contact me for more information.

09/20/2024

Wool is truly a miracle fiber!

We would love to help the World rediscover this amazing fiber!

It is so much better for our bodies and environment than synthetic material.

09/13/2024

Please call ANYtime you need or want to talk!

Life is HARD! Ranching is REALLY HARD at times- the feeling of not having enough hay is awful!

“Heart breaking “
His cattle didn’t get a bid, they were fairly bloody poor,
What was he going to do? He couldn’t feed them anymore,
The dams were all but dry, hay was thirteen bucks a bale,
Last month’s talk of rain was just a fairytale,
His credit had run out, no chance to pay what’s owed,
Bad thoughts ran through his head as he drove down Gully Road.
“Geez, great grandad bought the place back in 1898,
“Now I’m such a useless bastard, I’ll have to shut the gate.
“Can’t support my wife and kids, not like dad and those before,
“Crikey, Grandma kept it going while Pop fought in the war.”
With depression now his master, he abandoned what was right,
There’s no place in life for failures, he’d end it all tonight.
There were still some things to do, he’d have to shoot the cattle first,
Of all the jobs he’d ever done, that would be the worst.
He’d have a shower, watch the news, then they’d all sit down for tea
Read his kids a bedtime story, watch some more TV,
Kiss his wife goodnight, say he was off to shoot some roos
Then in a paddock far away he’d blow away the blues.
But he drove in the gate and stopped – as he always had
To check the roadside mailbox – and found a letter from his Dad.
Now his dad was not a writer, Mum did all the cards and mail
But he knew the writing from the notebooks that he’d kept from cattle sales,
He sensed the nature of its contents, felt moisture in his eyes,
Just the fact his dad had written was enough to make him cry.
“Son, I know it’s bloody tough, it’s a cruel and twisted game,
“This life upon the land when you’re screaming out for rain,
“There’s no candle in the darkness, not a single speck of light
“But don’t let the demon get you, you have to do what’s right,
“I don’t know what’s in your head but push the bad thoughts well away
“See, you’ll always have your family at the back end of the day
“You have to talk to someone, and yes I know I rarely did
“But you have to think about Fiona and think about the kids.
“I’m worried about you son, you haven’t rung for quite a while,
“I know the road you’re on ‘cause I’ve walked every bloody mile.
“The date? December 7 back in 1983,
“Behind the shed I had the shotgun rested in the brigalow tree.
“See, I’d borrowed way too much to buy the Johnson place
“Then it didn’t rain for years and we got bombed by interest rates,
“The bank was at the door, I didn’t think I had a choice,
“I began to squeeze the trigger – that’s when I heard your voice.
“You said ‘Where are you Daddy? It’s time to play our game’
“’ I’ve got Squatter all set up, we might get General Rain.’
“It really was that close, you’re the one that stopped me son,
“And you’re the one that taught me there’s no answer in a gun.
“Just remember people love you, good friends won’t let you down.
“Look, you might have to swallow pride and take that job in town,
“Just ’til things come good, son, you’ve always got a choice
“And when you get this letter ring me, ’cause I’d love to hear your voice.”
Well he cried and laughed and shook his head then put the truck in gear,
Shut his eyes and hugged his dad in a vision that was clear,
Dropped the cattle at the yards, put the truck away
Filled the troughs the best he could and fed his last ten bales of hay.
Then he strode towards the homestead, shoulders back and head held high,
He still knew the road was tough but there was purpose in his eye.
He called his wife and children, who’d lived through all his pain,
Hugs said more than words – he’d come back to them again,
They talked of silver linings, how good times always follow bad,
Then he walked towards the phone, picked it up and rang his Dad.
And while the kids set up the Squatter, he hugged his wife again,
Then they heard the roll of thunder and they smelt the smell of rain.

Author : Murray Hartin

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.
A lot of us have.
Contact a reputable service, your hospital or local GP.

Come to a 4BP clinic but just don’t give up

Watch the links, stay strong

https://www.facebook.com/356360681799254/posts/439153973519924?s=100000925421648&sfns=mo

https://www.facebook.com/BelarabonStation/videos/491751997998638/

https://www.facebook.com/BelarabonStation/videos/1256668647784640/

https://www.4bphorses.com/

09/11/2024

Truly heartbreaking!

10 years ago, in their native Switzerland, there were @ 14k Valais Blacknose Sheep. This year, they are down to @ 9k.

We feel blessed and honored to be participating in both the breed up and pure Valais breeding programs of these amazing sheep in the USA.

09/03/2024

September isn’t an “awareness month” that I thought I’d be able to personally relate to or be affected by.

Su***de Awareness Month.

coming up on 6 months without my closest friend
6 months since I hung up the phone with my brother that night, knowing something wasn’t right
6 months since I made the call to have a welfare check
6 months of constant thoughts about what rocked him so hard to the core that he decided to give up
6 months, and a whole life time to go of anger, grief, wishing things were different, and knowing he’s never coming back

It’s not worth it, really. I know everyone loves to square up and ask the question if their life is really worth it.

That’s not your soul talking, that’s not God talking. It’s the evils, the human nature, and the pain of the world creeping into the spiritual existence that we are all so blessed to have.

You can knock this take all you want, but at the end of the day, you’re a spiritual being having a human experience, and the human experience is not going to be sunshine and roses. It’s going to suck, it’s going to feel like a constant uphill battle sometimes. there might be more highs than lows. That’s why we’re here.

I miss Sam every single day. It’s what I think about when my brain isn’t occupied enough, when there’s beams in the sky, when I’m doing something that reminds me of him, whenever I hear about something similar happening to someone else, it never really stops.

Please make the choice to stay. You are loved beyond measure. You have so much more joy ahead than the pain you feel now. Make the choice to bring your mindset to a better place. Pull yourself out of the dark or ask someone for help, you can do it.

08/03/2024

By FAR... the cutest thing I have seen since our lambs were born! Sophia, the 5 year old, immediately says, "Awww...so cute. We need one!"

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/PAXeeZFKy9FMsqVN/?mibextid=WC7FNe

07/28/2024

No wonder why we chose to have sunflowers in our logo.

Thanks for ALL the L🥰VE and Support!

I used to love sunflowers because I thought they faced towards the sun. This seemed simple and lovely, a reminder to be positive. The truth is even better. According to a article on NPR by Merrit Kennedy, “A young flower faces east at dawn and greets the sun, then slowly turns west as the sun moves across the sky. During the night, it slowly turns back east to begin the cycle again...The researchers found that the plant’s turning is actually a result of different sides of the stem elongating at different times of day.” It is the growth of the stem that turns the flower. When scientists tied up the flowers so they could not move throughout the day, they found they actually had decreased biomass. This is so much more realistic a metaphor and parallel for life. In times of growth, we are strongest if we can embrace both the light and the dark, more powerfully alive if we can move fluidly between all the emotions that make us human. Sometimes it takes great courage to keep moving when faced with the pitch dark of reality in ourselves and the world around us, but the reward is we can more fully appreciate the brilliance of sun on our face when it occurs.
When sunflowers reach maturity, they stop moving and face east where they can collect the most warmth and sun. We all know what times like this feel like, times when we feel centered, calm, in no rush to go anywhere. This is the prize for the work of moving even when growth is tiring. Unlike sunflowers, humans live long lives. Times of stillness and contentment are fleeting. Perhaps the universal draw of the sunflower is not so much about blind positivity as it is about moving to face both the good and the bad with equal grace, so that we are always growing.
Be the sunflower. Soak up the radiant beauty of all emotions. Move between darkness and light each day trusting a time will come when the light will win.

07/26/2024

This makes me so happy! Animals and kids! Just the best!

07/06/2024

HUGE Prayer Request:

28 Years ago today, I said I do to my best friend and love of my life...

He has been admitted to the hospital for 8 times since he woke me on February 2 thinking he was having a heart attack.

He has been in the hospital for 3+ weeks for his 2nd infection in his blood.

I just received the call they are moving him to ICU.

05/17/2024

Update! All are home!

We have the full sibling from last year's litter. I have been to her farm. It is in the middle of nowhere. These babies were stolen.

This breed, Karachachan, is extremely loyal and will not wander.

Please share far and wide!

Thanks!

05/11/2024

Introducing Jewelette!

We have been waiting YEARS for her arrival!

It all started that HOT August, 2021, day when her Grandma, Jewel and sister, NoName, arrived from South Dakota!

The girls and I were S😍 excited to meet the new arrivals at Sissom Ranch.

We immediately fell in love with the Mommas and lambs. Little did we know that we would be blessed with adding them to our ranch.

In the Fall of 2021, Jewel was bred to their pure ram, Bohdan! The 1st pure Valais we had ever seen! He is AMAZING!

In the Spring of 2022, Jewel had a ewe lamb. We were SMITTEN! Later that Spring, both Jewel and Jewelee came on over!

Since we always try to follow best practices for our sheep, we patiently waited to breed Jewelee until she was 18 months!

She is now 2 years old and has blessed us with our beautiful girl, Jewelette!

04/27/2024

Our 2nd 81% Valais is a 2nd BIG BOY!

Update: He weighed in at 11.4 and our 5 year old daughter, Sophia, named him Lovie!

04/27/2024

Katie's baby girl who is now TWO is in labor for the 1st time! Our 2nd 81% F2 should be on the ground! S😍 excited and nervous!