Bluestem Acres, LLC

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Towanda, KS
Bluestem Acres, LLC

Family homestead dairy breeding ADGA Nubians and offering goat milk/products and duck eggs.

We also have a herd of rescue horses and offer riding lessons for beginners.

07/02/2024

Anyone I know looking for a kitten? 8.5 weeks old, super friendly, raised in the barn but also litter box trained.
Gray/brown tabby male; solid black female... we plan to keep one but we're not picky!

06/28/2024

The cooler evening air often has the pups a bit too rambunctious to be locked in with the does. They get some free play time in the yard, often supervised by one or more of our adult LGDs. Tonight, Charley was on duty!

Note: We still have one fantastic male available and ready to go home to you next week! Unfortunately I didn't catch him in this video but you can see his post below.

06/16/2024

This pup is the last one unclaimed from our current LGD litter. (Same pup, photos taken a few weeks apart.) Equal parts Great Pyrenees, Anatolian and Akbash, he's a great mix of all traits.
Born April 8, with goats and ducks and has remained with them since then. Ready to go home to his own goat herd or sheep or fowl flock at the beginning of July. Mom & dad, and maternal grandparents on site. Paternal grandparents working in NE Oklahoma at T&E Farms.
Message for info on what it takes to bring him home!

06/08/2024

VBS at The Benton Church starts this Monday! Volunteers have been hard at work turning the church into an artic wonderland. If you have kids age 3-12, and they're not yet planning to attend, we'd love to have them join us! Use this link to register in advance so check-in on the first night is easy-peasy: https://thebentonchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2254983

06/02/2024

Super excited to congratulate the young girls from Prairie Dreams Farm on their junior Reserve Champion win today in Ring 1 at the Sunflower Doe Down in Salina, KS. Their doe, JustALuckyChrm is littermate sister to our JustALuckyDuck.
Way to go girls!

05/26/2024

We spent Friday and Saturday in Stilwell, OK at the Green Country Dairy Goat Show. We're still pretty new to this whole goat show thing and come away with more insights and knowledge after every trip! This show was fantastic for youth. There were 39 kids entered in Showmanship and even more who brought animals for the youth breed show.

Kathryn and Glitter again did really well in Showmanship, placing 4th in a huge class of 16 junior showmen (ages 8-12). She knows a few more things to work on and I'm confident she'll work her way up to the top of her classes in this division in no time. Glitter also placed second again in her breed classes. With more maturity she might make it to the top, but there are some really nice youth owned animals in Oklahoma and tough competition!

This time we brought six goats, two milking yearlings, Glitter and Phortune, a senior dry yearling, Souvenir, a dry junior yearling, Lulu, and two senior kids, Ducky and Epiphany.
Glitter was two times second (youth and Ring 2) and one time third (Ring 1). Phortune was one time fourth (Ring 1) and one time third (Ring 2). Souvenir again did well, placing fourth in both open rings. Lulu was one time fourth (Ring 1) and one time sixth (Ring 2). Epiphany was one time eighth (Ring 1) and one time fourth (Ring 2). The highlight of the day was Ducky who was one time third (Ring 1) and one time first (Ring 2) in her classes! Judges were Jay Rudolph and Marissa Shivers.

This is our last spring show for this season. We might make it to one or two fall fairs, depending on how things go.

05/21/2024

We're very excited to introduce our second AS1C N/N purebred Nubian doe. She doesn't have an official name yet, but her barn name is Friend. Friend comes from our good friend and local breeder, Heather Eby/Locust Creek Nubians. Friend has been living with us since the day she was born, while we awaited the AS1C testing results... and today we received the news that she gets to stay (had she tested not AS1C N/N she would have returned to Locust Creek).

https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002296044&DamNum=N002244031

We're excited to see her grow and have her putting milk in our "allergen friendly" milk pail in a few years.

05/20/2024

Had a great weekend showing goats in Stillwater at the Heart of Oklahoma Show!

We owned goats for five years before ever stepping foot in the show ring. We go because Kathryn wants to go and show goats! Every time we go out, we learn more, and we're enjoying getting our feet wet. We couldn't do it without help at home from Alex and Knox, since they get left behind with all the other farm chores to accomplish. Thank you both for being willing to let us go have some fun!

This show was amazing and organized and so much fun. Christy and Amanda, and the rest of the show committee did great. The facility was fantastic! It's one we plan to go back to in the future for sure.

Kathryn placed 5th of 10 in junior showmanship and part of that position was our still learning the ropes on fitting. Her goat Glitter placed 2nd in all three breed rings and was our top performer of the weekend from the other goats we brought down with us. The other highlights as far as goats go were Souvenir placing 6th (both rings) in a huge senior yearling class of 20 (thank you Rachel for handling her so nicely!), and her maternal sister, Epiphany, placing 4th (both rings) in a nice sized senior kid class of 10. The judges were April Hitch and Sarah Hazeltine.

One of Kathryn's favorite parts was finding some of the kids she met at ADGA Convention last October. She even helped show some nice Toggenburg goats for her friend Annabelle and really enjoyed listening to youth rep Kenzie Burton give some tips on fitting and showmanship.

Just a few photos from the weekend... next stop... Green Country Dairy Goat Show in Stilwell, OK this weekend.

05/11/2024

Milkmaid in training.
Now that we've reduced numbers a little and chores aren't quite so chaotic because we sent in some of the ones either challenging behaviors, Kathryn gets to actually milk her goat with me on the weekends.
Glitter is a really well behaved girl!

05/09/2024

The last week has brought a lot of changes to our dairy herd.

We sent Evangeline and Clover off to a new adventure as homestead milkers. Thank you Knowles for giving them (and two bucklings) a great place to be! While we didn't intend to let go of Clover this year, other circumstances came up and at the last minute needed to substitute a different doe for Mandisa... Clover drew the short straw b/c we already have two beautiful daughters from her... but I know where she lives and might bring another daughter home one day!

We sent Fantasy and Memory, along with leased milkers Demeter and Midnight and dry yearling Fireheart, off to a new adventure with Udderly Divine Creamery in south central Missouri. They are building a great foundation herd and a grade A dairy facility near Springfield, and we know these five will be wonderful additions to them.

Finally, we added new junior herdsire Cozy Meadow Maximum Chrome (pictured) from Cozy Meadow Nubians in Reece, KS. Chrome is a great combination of genetics that should continue to help us in the direction of breeding true dual purpose Nubians. Plus, thanks to Gene with ADGA Genetics, Chrome's pedigree is already available in the database, so I am already working hard on breeding plans for this fall!

Just a couple more weeks to more new babies (from Sphinx and Elektra), but for now we're going to enjoy a short break from the chaos of Spring on a dairy farm and settle into a routine while we have the chance!

05/08/2024

The puppies are growing so fast! They are four weeks old now and personalities are coming out. There are a few really independent boys and a couple who crave company!

05/04/2024

May milk test- ✔️
Numbers are down from what I wanted to see this month. Our coop ran out of the locally grown alfalfa pellets last month and started stocking from a new supplier. The girls don't like them as much, and it is showing in numbers. It's not a huge amount, less than a pound on my extra heavy producers, and we still have more milk than we need, but I do have a slight disappointment in these totals.

Fantasy- 127 DIM- 5F- 7.5lbs
Clover- 121 DIM- 3F- 8.6lbs
Memory- 119 DIM- 4F- 7.3lbs
Ethel- 70 DIM- 4F- 10.4lbs
Glitter- 70 DIM- FF- 6.1lbs
Cinder- 67 DIM- 2F- 10.1lbs
Mimi- 42 DIM- 6F- 8.2lbs
Evie- 41 DIM- 2F- 8.5lbs
Midnight- 35 DIM- 3F- 9.4lbs
Stella- 29 DIM- 2F- 3.8lbs
Jasmine- 22 DIM- 2F- 7.9lbs
Evangeline- 21 DIM- 2F- 7.9lbs
Demeter- 19 DIM- 5F(?)- 12.9lbs
Phortune- 16DIM- FF- 5.2lbs
Mandisa- 13DIM- 2F- 8.4lbs
Lucky- 12DIM- FF- 4.2lbs

We had a really busy April, adding six does to the milk line since our last test. That puts us at a personal high record of 16 does in milk right now. Our spring cuts have been made and does will get picked up this week, so by the June test, numbers will be back down a bit.

Highlights of the month are yearling first fresheners Phortune and Lucky. Both freshened with singles are are coming into milk really nicely. Phortune's little udder is at capacity right now, but Lucky still has some space to grow. We're really liking what we see in them.

Photos are of the two buck kids we have available as herdsires and the third is of our lone available doe kid (out of Stella). Both the bucklings are from our junior herdsire, PNP-Legacy Ralph Lauren. The spotted buckling is from Phortune. The other is from Jasmine. Two fantastic options to choose from! I know that looking at Stella's production that her doe kid doesn't look super enticing, but I promise she's worth it. There are some factors, including moving two days before partuition, that are affecting Stella's numbers this year, and this doeling is sired by a grandson of Linn Farm's Magi's Maxim... multi-time top ELITE buck!

05/02/2024

ADGA Registrable buck kid available from our yearling FF, Kansas Bluestem PhortuneCookie.
Born April 18, 2024
Clean, tested here for CAE & Johnes
Purchase includes reg/transfer fees and DNA.

Phortune has come into milk really nicely and is easy to milk, despite a wide teat placement. We do believe her teats will come down some as she matures and gains the rest of her width. She's showing herself to be a milking powerhouse, like her dam, Over the Moon KUL Fantasy. Fantasy peaks at and holds about 12lbs a day for the first four months of a lactation. Phortune's first official milk test is this Saturday (May 4), but unofficial numbers have her between 5 & 6 lbs a day at just a week fresh.

This "little" guy was a beast, with a birthweight of 8.3lbs. He is sired by PNP-Legacy Ralph Lauren (Camelot Cattle Co Louis Vuitton x Blissberry New Jersey). We're confident that cross will provide the upstanding dairy frame, without compromising his dam's line strength and power. Louis Vuitton is son of Camelot Cattle Co Amara, full sister to the multi-time top ten/breed leader Camelot Cattle Co Mischief.

Planned pedigree: https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002285675&DamNum=N002276806

Ready now for a new bottle holder! Don't let the advertising make you think he's beyond your budget.

04/24/2024

Pupdate time!

Charlotte is a fantastic momma. All these boys weigh between 2.7-3.7lbs and are happy little wiggly sausages! Eyes and ears are open and we're seeing plenty of army crawling activity around the stall. Our young goats are allowed in/out of the stall through a "creep hole" so the pups are getting used to the sounds and smells of goats, without getting in the way of any 150lb mommas. Today was front nail trim and first round of dewormer day... there are two "alarmists" and two who were noticeably calmer than the rest... but I really struggle to tell them all apart (except for two who are a noticeable lighter color) so I can't be certain which was which.

5 boys still hunting for homes in July!

04/18/2024

Kansas Bluestem PhortuneCookie delivered a big flashy buckling today!

This is a PNP-Legacy Ralph Lauren kid. We like what we see on Phortune so far, but we're going to evaluate her as a milker before deciding whether this guy will go as a herdsire or a wether. If you're interested in being on the contact list for him as we make our decision make sure you let us know!

Planned pedigree: https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002285675&DamNum=N002276806

04/16/2024

We had a small pregnant doe explosion over the weekend... three mommas giving us six kids and we're kid-sitting a 7th. This is the most we've ever had this close in age to one another (within 72 hours), and definitely making me rethink intentions of having groups of eight all go at the same time next year. 😅

Twin bucklings for Camelot Cattle Co Jasmine x PNP-Legacy Ralph Lauren
https://genetics.adga.org//PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002285675&DamNum=N002224929

Mixed twins for Kansas Bluestem Evangeline x Kansas Bluestem Phrench Toast
https://genetics.adga.org//PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002289013&DamNum=N002250168

Twin doelings for Hawkeye Farm PBF Demeter x Over the Moon KUL Apollo
(These will be the first kids with our daughters chosen herdname, "KitKats")
https://genetics.adga.org//PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002237090&DamNum=N001951773

And kid-sitting a very special little girl, aka Friend, from Locust Creek Nubians since she was a single and needed some friends. This little doe kid might stick around for good if she tests AS1C N/N!

04/13/2024

Due to no fault of her own, Stella's doeling is available again.

https://genetics.adga.org//PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002226644&DamNum=N002193331

DOB 4/5/2024
(Will have Crossing-Coyote herdname)

04/12/2024

Our first PNP-Legacy Ralph Lauren daughter was born 3/30/24.

Sunrise is a tall and level little girl who already has a rump width that I'm noticing! We're excited to see her grow up here. These pictures are a couple days old but getting updated ones is hard of little kids!

Her dam, Hawkeye Farm Midnight Kahlua produced well on her first milk test of this lactation, and we love the texture and foreudder on her. Here's hoping Ralph made improvements all around.

Kansas Bluestem RubyRedSunrise (ADGA 2374669)

SS: Camelot Cattle Co Louis Vuitton
S: PNP-Legacy Ralph Lauren
SD: Blissberry New Jersey

DS: Stevens Creek Fancy Pants
D: Hawkeye Farm Midnight Kahlua
DD: J&J Livestock Fine As Velvet

04/12/2024

Milk test #4 of 2024 completed! We had another month of some really strong numbers for our mature girls, and the exciting return of Stella to the herd, and immediately onto the milking string as well.

(Milking does listed in order of freshening date for this lactation)
Fantasy- 104 DIM- 5F- 8.4lbs
Clover- 98 DIM- 3F- 11.1lbs
Memory- 96 DIM- 4F- 6.8lbs
Ethel- 47 DIM- 4F- 11.3lbs
Glitter- 47 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 6.8lbs
Cinder- 44 DIM- 2F(2yo)- 11.4lbs
Mimi- 19 DIM- 6F- 8.9lbs
Evie- 18 DIM- 2F(2yo)- 7.5lbs
Midnight- 12 DIM- 3F- 9.4lbs
Stella- 6 DIM- 2F(2yo)- 2.8lbs

Jumping onto the milk string this past month are old favorite, Rocking Goat Farms Mimi (Clover's dam), the barn crazy goat, Redwood Hills Event Mardi Gras, leased doe, Hawkeye Farm Midnight Kahlua, and Sphinx's prodigal daughter, Kansas Bluestem Katasterismoi "Stella." Everyone looks good and we're focused more on the improved udder traits/quality we see in Evie and Stella, as opposed to high production.

This month's photos are of Stella and Midnight. While Stella's udder is tiny and a bit lopsided (she dam raised her twins and wasn't milked her first lactation), it has some great components. Midnight's udder looks fantastic and at only 11 days fresh is still coming into volume for the lactation. We're really looking forward to her daughter (formal introduction to come tomorrow) sticking around in our herd.

04/10/2024

We have raw goat milk and free range duck eggs available for pickup M-Sat. By appt only. Please message for info!

04/08/2024

Sitting at 8 boys and no girls so far. I think she's about done. Everyone is healthy and all are roughly the same size, but I haven't weighed yet.
All are dark, and appear that they'll be fawn and brindle, various masking and degrees of socks/boots. None are dominantly white like Charlotte. No idea what coat lengths will be as mom & dad are opposites there.

04/08/2024

It's puppy day!

04/06/2024

We have a Sphinx granddaughter!

Kansas Bluestem Katasterismoi, barn name Stella, delivered an adorable single doeling yesterday morning, sired by Tranquility Acres Merlin. (https://genetics.adga.org//PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002001144&DamNum=N002142977)

This breeding occurred while Stella was owned by Coyote Crossing Farm, LLC so will carry the Crossing-Coyote herdname.

Merlin is the son of Windsong Farm Maximum Honor, a SG Linn Farm’s Magi’s Maxim +*B (VVE 88) and SG Veteran’s Knight’s Honor 6*M (EEEE 90) son. Maximum Honor boats a pedigree full of Elite animals who also appraise well! Merlin's dam is Cozy Meadow MZ Bean, a double granddaughter of Goddard Farm Sparkin Flint (Prairie Acres Denali x Goddard Farm FSP Euphemia), and a granddaughter of SG Linn Farm’s Magi’s Maxim +*B. MZ Bean is paternal sister to our milking powerhouse doe Rocking Goat Farms LuckyClover, who has had several milk tests over 11.0lbs this year. Merlin's pedigree is packed with milk and good conformation.

Stella is a daughter of Goddard Farm Sphinx. Sphinx has a 2995lb lactation on record, and is a powerhouse of a doe. If you like large and strong appearances, Sphinx's genetics bring just that. Stella's sire is Zao Hot Fudge. He is primarily Goldthwaite breeding and he definitely added some finesse and dairyness to Stella. The accompanying udder picture doesn't do her justice as she's still coming into milk, but it shows that she has all the right parts!

This little girl is available to any great home looking for some milky genetics! She's a super spunky and friendly little thang too... a perfect starter goat for a little kid or the milky addition any homesteader is looking for! More information on purchasing a kid from us can be found on our website. https://www.bluestemacresks.com/breeding-plans

Please send us a message if you're interested in adding this little girl or any of our genetics to your herd!

04/02/2024

Sometimes you sell a doe (or pair of does) to buy another animal and you get home and the sale just nags at you... so you tell the buyer of your goats that if they're ever interested in selling them, to contact you. I sold a pair of does in October of 2022 to buy a different pair, and while I love the ones I bought, I always felt like I let something get away.

The contact to purchase them back happened for me this week and Kansas Bluestem Katasterismoi "Stella" (Goddard Farm Sphinx x Zao Hot Fudge) and Kansas Bluestem Elektra (Kansas Bluestem Ethel x Robinett's-Caprines Amadeus) came home, today.

No posed photos yet since they're still a bit anxious, but I included the ones used to sell them back in October of 2022.

Stella is due any day with kids sired by Tranquillity Acres Merlin. All kids will be available. (https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002226644&DamNum=N002193331)

Elektra is due in early June with kids sired by Zao Playin Stubborn Just4U. Kid availability to be determined after freshening. (https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002239138&DamNum=N002250169)

Welcome back ladies! We're looking forward to seeing what you bring home to our herd.

04/01/2024

I sure hope Charlotte is as tolerant of her puppies as she is of "her" kids!

03/30/2024

We're honored to have the opportunity to lease two does from a friend this breeding season.
The first of those, Hawkeye Farm Midnight Kahlua, is in the kidding pen now. Her due date is Monday, but she's not going to make it that long!
Midnight is bred to our junior herdsire PNP-Legacy Ralph Lauren. These will be his first kids to hit the ground.
First doeling is retained for now, until we can evaluate our other kids from this season. First buckling is reserved. All others will be available.
Come on pink!!

03/27/2024

Newborn pictures are always so hard to get. Thankful these two pretties stood still long enough they weren't blurry!

Kansas Bluestem SunkissedSteel (silver/dark roan, buck)
Kansas Bluestem Sunkissed Muse (tan, doe)
- Mimi x Apollo
https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002237090&DamNum=N001925397

Kansas Bluestem Sunkissed Gala (black with white & frosted ears, doe)
Kansas Bluestem Sunkissed Riot (mostly black, frosted ears, doe)
- Evie x Apollo
https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002237090&DamNum=N002200594

**** Doe Kids are deposit pending. Buckling is still available. ****

See details here: https://www.bluestemacresks.com/breeding-plans

03/24/2024

Late night on the farm!
B/D Twins for Mimi (left)- doe is light tan, buckling is silver
2D Twins for Evie (right)- one is twice the size of the other but the little one makes up for her size in cuteness!
Both litters sired by Apollo.

Planned Pedigree for Mimi's: https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002237090&DamNum=N001925397

Planned Pedigree for Evie's: https://genetics.adga.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002237090&DamNum=N002200594

See details here: https://www.bluestemacresks.com/breeding-plans

*** Doe kids are deposit pending. Silver roan buckling out of Mimi is still searching for his new bottle holder. ***

Additional info can be found on our webpage:
https://www.bluestemacresks.com/breeding-plans

03/22/2024

Puppies are coming! Puppies are coming!

Charlotte and Charley are expecting their first litter in the beginning of April.

Charlotte is a 2.5yr old female (born Sept 30, 2021) that we kept from a litter out of our two original LGDs, Gidget & Max. Charlotte is 63% Pyrenees, 25% Anatolian & 12% Akbash. Her fur is long but not wiry and it brushes clean nicely. Charlotte stays self-groomed most of the year, but we do have to help her during spring shedding season. She last weighed about 85lbs, at 18 months old. She has been an excellent LGD from day one, and loves to serve as midwife on duty during kiddings, plus "cheese cleaner" of newborn bottle baby butts. Charlotte is a "perimeter guard" when there aren't babies to tend to, and prefers to bed down in high places where she has good visibility of far off happenings.

Charley is a 17-month old male (born mid-October 2022) that we purchased from T&E Farms in Oklahoma in December of 2022. He is 50/50 Anatolian/Akbash, with a great short coat. He currently weighs just over 110lbs (weighed early Feb 2024), and still has some growing to do. Charley has been a solid pup from the very beginning. We trust him with our tiny babes, but he doesn't do as well keeping their behinds clean, so he spends most of his time with the more mature stock. He is more of a close guard and prefers to be in the snuggle piles of Nubians until called out to duty by one of the other dogs.

This litter will end up an equal percentage of Pyrenees, Anatolian and Akbash. We hope for easily managed coats, and know they'll have great temperaments. Puppies will be raised in the barn and exposed to goats of all ages and our free range ducks, plus children and adult visitors to our farm. The expectation is people friendly LGDs who protect from the wild predators but who socialize well with human guests. They will be ready to go home sometime in July at 12 weeks old. The exact timing is pending their arrival date, and no, we will not let any of them leave prior to 12 weeks old. (Litter pictured is not the subject litter- it is a photo of an earlier litter out of Gidget & Max, Charlotte's parents.)

If you'd like more information on how we raise pups or what you get when bringing home a Bluestem Acres dog, please see our website (https://www.bluestemacresks.com/livestock-guardian-dogs) and fill out the contact request on there.

03/09/2024

Milk test #3 of 2024 in the books! All the does are milking really well this year. I'm very pleased with the numbers they're putting in the pail!

Fantasy- 71 DIM- 5F- 9.8lbs
Clover- 65 DIM- 3F- 11.8lbs
Memory- 63 DIM- 4F- 10.1lbs
Merida- 46 DIM- FF(2yo)- 6.8lbs
Ethel- 14 DIM- 4F- 11.8lbs
Glitter- 14 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 8.0lbs
Cinder- 11 DIM- 2F(2yo)- 9.1lbs

Jumping onto the milk string this past month is homebred doe, Kansas Bluestem Ethel, one of our promising 2yr olds from Camelot Cattle Co, Camelot Cattle Co Cinder, and our littlest goat milker's yearling first freshener, Hopes and Dreams Tephra Glitte (Glitter). We're very very pleased with the production and udders we're seeing on these three ladies, and all the does on the milk line right now.

Peek a look at the fantastic udders we have on Glitter and Cinder right now!!

Address

10790 SW 15th Street
Towanda, KS
67144

Website

https://www.bluestemacresks.com/

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Videos

Evening playtime!

The cooler evening air often has the pups a bit too rambunctious to be locked in with the does. They get some free play time in the yard, often supervised by one or more of our adult LGDs. Tonight, Charley was on duty! Note: We still have one fantastic male available and ready to go home to you next week! Unfortunately I didn't catch him in this video but you can see his post below.

Milkmaid in training. Now that we've reduced numbers a little and chores aren't quite so chaotic because we sent in some of the ones either challenging behaviors, Kathryn gets to actually milk her goat with me on the weekends. Glitter is a really well behaved girl!

Nubians kids and their LGD

I sure hope Charlotte is as tolerant of her puppies as she is of "her" kids!

Come see me (Bluestem Acres, LLC), the little crafters Kit-Kat & Knox, and the infamous Rita Kessel Butler (Ree Ree's Sew & Sews) at the Towanda Holiday Market today! 9am-2pm at the Elementary School in Towanda Peep the empty basket on my table… what am I putting in there?! You’ll have to come visit to find out!

Snack time.

Giant leaps forward in saddle training for Sir Lancelot today. We start every horse a little differently depending on their background. Lance has some trust issues and because of that, we did the lead-line method for his first ride, and probably will for several more rides to follow. I am so glad I have a great little helper who is willing to climb onto an unstarted horse. Lance did wonderfully and Knox had zero issues staying in the saddle, but that isn’t always the case. (Please ignore Knox’s “inappropriate” attire as he’d just come from doing another project and we had not planned to have him back Lance this morning.) Lance has a long way to go to becoming a lesson horse, but I think he’ll actually get there one day.

Just about 7 weeks to go before kidding season 2023 starts here! These pregnant ladies have started humming all about it. I love the sound of the barn when the ladies serenade me during chore time. Left: Over the Moon Lovin Astrid (Bred to Zao Hot Fudge) All kid reservations open; due 1/10/2023 Middle: Over the Moon KUL Fantasy (Bred to Cream O’ the Crop P-NutBrittle) 2nd Buckling reservations open; all doe kids retained for AS1C testing; due 1/15/2023 Right: Rocking Goat Farms Mimi (Bred to Cream O’ the Crop P-NutBrittle) All kid reservations open; due 1/5/2023 Not in the frame but chiming in: Sweet-B’s Karma (Bred to Cream O’ the Crop P-NutBrittle) 2nd Buckling reservation open; all doe kids retained for G6S testing; due 1/12/2023 Redwood Hills Atlas Memory (Bred to Tamris Farm DW It’s Maui Time) All kids retained; due 1/17/2023 We started breeding some Junior does today and have a few more seniors to cover. I’ll have singing ladies for several more months!

Blood tests confirmed pregnancy on our does bred for January kids this year! These four breedings are officially in the books and reservations are open. **Astrid is available to go to new pastures as a bred doe. Please PM for more information.** Buckling reservations open on Mimi, Fantasy & Karma, first doe reservation open on Mimi, second doe reservations open on Karma and Fantasy. Rocking Goat Farms Mimi x Cream O’ the Crop P-NutBrittle— due January 5, 2023 (https://adgagenetics.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002078663&DamNum=N001925397) Over the Moon Lovin Astrid x Zao Hot Fudge— due January 10, 2023 (https://adgagenetics.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002011581&DamNum=N002066466) Sweet-B’s Karma x Cream O’ the Crop P-NutBrittle— due January 13, 2023 (https://adgagenetics.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002237090&DamNum=N001943709) Over the Moon KUL Fantasy x Cream O’ the Crop P-NutBrittle— due January 17, 2023 (https://adgagenetics.org/PlannedPedigreePrint.aspx?SireNum=N002078663&DamNum=N002006656) —-> Here’s a video of Mimi’s ultrasound from Tuesday. We confirmed twins, and think possible triplets!

Bernard Loves Goat Milk

Shortcuts

The beginning

We purchased our “farm” in January 2017 and the idea of a lesson barn was just a speck on the horizon. The land has seen decades of neglect and there are years of work ahead clearing trees and rebuilding fences. In the end, we hope to have a “fun barn”- offering low-key riding lessons, and equine therapy for those that need it. We hope to work with the foster system to provide a fun place for children in foster-care to experience horses, sheep, goats, ducks and chickens. Some day we might do day and weekend summer camps... the dream is big and this is just the beginning of making it a reality. We’re also deeply involved with equine rescue- the diamonds in the rough we rescue from the slaughter pipeline or other poor conditions shine brightly after a few months of love. As we work to give these “throw away” horses a second chance, we also help others to do the same by offering quarantine and local hauling services.