The first Photo Friday of every month in 2026 is a calendar week; this week we’re highlighting August 2026 from our Shalom Farms Calendar.

The Photo

Crawford, the Friendly Buck

On Cinco de Mayo 2025 - Crunch had a baby boy.

Now I’m not saying that I EVER pick favorites 🫣 but let’s just assume that Crawford was my favorite buckling of all time.

He had such a sweet and calm demeanor and never ever became prone to aggression or wanted to rub his horns on us like some of the other bucklings.

Plus, he was GORGEOUS 🤩

In this photo, we had recently been gifted this old playhouse from our neighbor (shoutout to Doug!) and put it in the buck pen for the boys to enjoy.

A few weeks later we measured the top to get a custom 90% shade tarp on so that the boys could have a break from the heat in the summer time and still get to enjoy being up top.

Crawford eventually went on to be sold to a nice family in Kansas so that he could be a herdsire for their does.

We bragged about how he was such a sweet guy and that’s exactly what they were looking for - so it was a match made in goat heaven.

Miss you Crawfy! You keep being a good boy ❤️

P.S. Have you ever tried Goat Milk Soap?

It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals and truly soothes your skin.

Throughout the year we make small batches of a few recipes and generally have some on hand at all times (unless we get some big orders!).

Let us know if you’d like to give some a try!

Shop the Soap

Here’s a look back at what happened at Shalom Farms in July.

It was a terribly hot month without too many updates, so this one will be short!

On the Farm

We wrote up a post about how we use our Bogg Bags for the farm.

Jeff used the skid steer to scoop out the cattle shelter and area so they had a clean, dry area for the July storms.

It got so hot and humid that in one week we lost 3 chickens 💔

The Animals

Need Something?

• Raw Goat Milk // a few spots open at the end of each week

• Grass Fed Beef // get on the waitlist for late fall 2026 or 2027

• American Blackbelly Lambs // rams weaned and ready for their new homes!

• Farm Fresh Eggs // available weekly, spots are limited

Check out everything for sale →

In the Shop

Our goat milk soaps are handcrafted in small batches — available while supplies last. If your favorite is out, a fresh batch is never too far away.

• The Simple Stuff — fragrance free, just the basics // $5

• G-Oats & Honey — our most popular, oatmeal & local raw honey // $6

• Orange Spearmint [SEASONAL] — bright and fresh // $7

Shop all soaps →

Thanks for following along. We don’t hide the farm from you.

For real time updates, check out the Farm Feed — our quiet, algorithm-free window into the seasonality of our daily life.

Here’s a look back at what happened at the farm in June.

The month was a whirlwind of babies and hay 🐄 🚜 🐐 and not much else!

On the Farm

After a VERY dry and somewhat concerning spring, late May and June arrived with a lot of rain and we were finally able to get a cutting on our alfalfa field the first week of June.

The Animals

Need Something?

• Raw Goat Milk // a couple spots are open each week

• Grass Fed Beef // get on the waitlist for late fall 2026 or 2027

• Farm Fresh Eggs // a few dozen available weekly; spots are limited

Check out everything for sale →

In the Shop

Our goat milk soaps are handcrafted in small batches — available while supplies last. If your favorite is out, a fresh batch is never far away.

• The Simple Stuff — fragrance free, just the basics // $5

• G-Oats & Honey — our most popular, oatmeal & local raw honey // $6

• Orange Spearmint — bright and fresh // $7

Shop all soaps →

Thanks for following along. We don’t hide the farm from you.

For real time updates, check out The Farm Feed — our quiet, algorithm-free window into the seasonality of our daily life.

This week we are highlighting July 2026 from our Shalom Farms Calendar.

The Photo

Annabelle

On May 13, 2025 - Bluebelle had a heifer.

Annabelle was the best and fastest growing calf of 2025, so at this point we are deciding to keep her on as a future momma for 2027.

Since June, she has been living it up in a lush pasture with 3 of our other calves about 10 minutes away from the farm with our friend Randy.

Her personality could be described as: calm, sweet, and curious.

EXACTLY the type of girl that fits right in at Shalom Farms.

P.S. Curious about our Grass Fed Beef?

Annabelle’s sticking around as a future momma for 2027.

Our other calves are growing up to become our Grass Fed, Grass Finished beef; real food raised by farmers you actually know.

Interested in reserving Fall/Winter 2026 beef? Check out the waitlist below 👇🏻

I'm interested!

P.S. It’s officially Raw Goat Milk Season!

If you want to secure a spot for fresh, creamy milk at your family table, hop on the 2026 Milk Waitlist.

Go(a)t Milk?

Today I’m sending out our first “monthly Farm Report” to keep you updated!

Here’s a look back at what happened at Shalom Farms in May.

It was full of newness and life.

On the Farm

We finally upgraded from an old small stock trailer to a 16 ft with a middle gate. This will help immensely when we are hauling our calves to/from our summer pasture and/or to Pickrell or Wahoo for processing. Big win for us!

The Animals

Need Something?

• Raw Goat Milk // a few spots open each week

• Grass Fed Beef // get on the waitlist for late fall 2026 or 2027

• ABB Lambs // we’ve got a few weaned and ready to come home

• Baby Goats // Padme will have the last goat kids for 2026 in mid-June

• Farm Fresh Eggs // available weekly, spots are limited

Check out everything for sale →

In the Shop

Our goat milk soaps are handcrafted in small batches — available while supplies last. If your favorite is out, a fresh batch is never far away.

• The Simple Stuff — fragrance free, just the basics // $5

• G-Oats & Honey — our most popular, oatmeal & local raw honey // $6

• Orange Spearmint — bright and fresh // $7

• Mango Explosion — rich and tropical // $7

Shop all soaps →

Thanks for following along. We don’t hide the farm from you.

For real time updates and the full story, check out the Farm Feed — our quiet, algorithm-free window into the seasonality of our daily life.

This week we are highlighting June 2026 from our Shalom Farms Calendar.

The Photo

Thoughts on Hay Season

Every roll of hay on our farm brings mixed feelings.

On one hand, we love hay season!

It brings us so much joy in growing, cutting, and baling our own hay. Knowing exactly what we are feeding our goats and sheep is immeasurable.

On the other hand, hay season brings some of the hottest, longest, and most exhausting work of the whole year.

Almost every summer, we have to race against sudden rainstorms or struggle with high Nebraska humidity, which makes it difficult to bale rounds without trapping too much moisture inside.

It takes hard work, patience, and a lot of effort.

Hay season is tough and wonderful all at once, but seeing those finished bales in the field makes all the blood, sweat and tears well worth it.

P.S. It’s officially Raw Goat Milk Season!

If you want to secure a spot for fresh, creamy milk at your family table, join the list below 👇🏻

Go(a)t Milk?

This week we are highlighting May 2026 from our Shalom Farms Calendar.

The Photo

Pearl and Eugene

We had a delightful goat kid season in 2025, and little Pearl and Eugene were some of our flashiest (and sweetest!) kids.

Baby goats don’t last very long after weaning, so these 2 were the first to be snatched up. We’re so glad that we got to enjoy them as they were growing into sweet, happy and healthy baby goats 🥰

P.S. It’s officially Raw Goat Milk Season!

If you want to secure a spot for fresh, creamy milk at your family table, hop on the 2026 Milk Waitlist below.

Go(a)t Milk?

When God shows up and does something special, it is what is called a "Thin Place," a glimpse into the true reality of life with God. A thin place is a place where God breaks through; it is where his voice breaks through the darkness, the desperation, and the hopelessness and brings forth hope and a miracle.

This last week was a “Thin Place” moment for us at Shalom Farms.

On Friday morning, March 27th, we had twin lambs born. I arrived to check on Ohana, our momma ewe, just shortly after the lambs were born, and I noticed that one of the lambs was not getting up and walking.

I picked up both lambs and momma followed. I got them shut into the shelter where Ohana, whom we often call Hana, could be alone with her babies so they could have time to bond, and so Hana could not get too far away from the little one that was struggling. I decided I would check back in a couple of hours to see how they were all doing.

When I came back a couple of hours later, my heart just sank within me.

The little one was still not able to get up and walk. Actually, he was not able to use his rear legs at all. He would try to "army crawl" to Hana with his front legs, and his rear legs would just drag behind him.

I could tell the little guy was a fighter because he was really trying to get to her so he could get his first meal.

This little guy was giving it all he had to try and get to his momma’s teat so he could eat, but he just couldn’t do it on his own strength.

As a shepherd, I quickly realized that I needed to do something or this little one would have no chance at life. Isn’t that exactly what Jesus did for me, and for us? I didn’t know what to do so I prayed. That is what I do anytime I don’t know what to do, and on our farm we are in prayer a lot.

I didn’t have any colostrum replacer because we never need any, and I didn’t have time to drive to the store to get some. The only one with colostrum was his mother, and that little boy sure needed it. So I decided I had to milk her, then feed it to him from a bottle.

Lorraine was at work so I was all alone and didn’t have my best helper; however, I remembered that God is also my helper and he is always available. I knew that I would need his help to accomplish this task. Hana had never been milked before, so I knew she would put up a fight.

I hurried and got our portable milk stand, a big bowl of oats to keep Hana temporarily distracted, our hand milker, a bottle and nipple, and some Karo Syrup water mix for a quick boost of energy for the little one.

I caught Hana and got her on the milk stand, gave her oats, and all seemed good. Then as I started to milk her, the fight broke out. She was not going to do this the easy way and opted for the 15 minute wrestle instead.

At one point, she landed a good blow and sent the milk bottle flying 5 feet across the shelter. But in the end, God gave me the victory and I had a full 6 ounce bottle of colostrum. Praise the Lord!

I quickly got the nipple on the bottle and waited to see if the little one would take it. To my surprise, he took it immediately and downed the whole bottle in seconds. I also gave him the Karo Syrup water mix for a quick boost of energy. The immediate task was accomplished. Now, I would leave him with his mom and pray that God would heal him, give him strength, and help him walk.

When Lorraine got home from work, we went to check on him, and sadly there was no difference. He still could not use his rear legs and was still army crawling to try and get to his momma. We knew that he would not survive living with his mom and the rest of the sheep if he could not walk, so we made the hard decision to pull him from Hana and move him to the bottle kid pan so that we could care for him better.

Lorraine and I spent Friday night, Saturday and Sunday working with him to help him stand, trying to strengthen his legs and his hips. He did great; he could stand, but as soon as he tried to move, he would collapse back to the ground. Every time we saw him down, we would pick him back up and have him stand. We fed him plenty of bottles and made sure he was eating well.

Then last Sunday, March 29th, he started walking.

He started following Lorraine and me wherever we would go; shakily at first but when he would fall, he would get back up all by himself.

By Sunday evening, he was running and bouncing.

Lorraine named him Hezekiah. Hezekiah means “God strengthens” or “The LORD has strengthened.” It is the perfect name because that is exactly what God did for this little lamb.

It is so beautiful to see little Hezekiah running around now with all of our baby goats in our bottle baby pen. When we let him out of the pen, he follows me wherever I go; he does not leave my side and he never takes his eyes off of me when I am with him.

Since I am a shepherd to all of our animals, I give of myself for them and do all that I can to ensure they have the best life possible every single day they are on this farm. Even if it means wrestling a momma sheep for colostrum or taking the time to help a weak little one stand, I can only do so much.

As a shepherd, I have to rely on Jesus, my Shepherd.

We could never heal Hezekiah or give him strength; only Jesus can do that. When we faithfully steward all that Jesus has given us and partner with him, it is a beautiful thing to see his grace and the miracles he is doing all around us.

Because of sin, all of us are broken and desperate. We are all like little Hezekiah, trying in our own strength to satisfy our desires and make a good life for ourselves, but we are just army crawling in the dirt, never able to reach what we truly need.

But God, in Ephesians 2:1-10, did not leave us in this condition, dead in our trespasses and sin. Instead, he has made us alive together in Jesus, our Good Shepherd and our Messiah.

Jesus is my Shepherd, and he would not leave me in my desperation; he did everything to restore me and bring me back into a right relationship with God.

That “everything” took place on another Friday many years ago, when Jesus laid down his life for his sheep. John 10:11 says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Jesus died on Good Friday and rose again on Easter Sunday so that we may walk in newness of life with him now and forever.

My prayer is that I can be like little Hezekiah. He is no longer army crawling; he is walking in life and following his shepherd.

May I faithfully keep my eyes on Jesus and follow my Shepherd everywhere he goes.

This week we are highlighting April 2026 from our Shalom Farms Calendar.

The Photo

Meet Sweet Skeet

On a sunny day in March 2025, Lani had our first set of American Blackbelly lambs for the season (twins!). The ewe lamb we named Jasmine and the ram lamb we named Skeeter.

From day 1 he was the sweetest little guy, so we decided to wether him so that he would be our permanent pet/companion.

He would let us cuddle him and play with him and when he felt like he wasn’t getting enough attention (when there were 10 lambs in the sheep pen!), he would lovingly bite us in the rear.

Skeet is now over a year old and is doing great. Still one of our favorite guys!

All 2026 Ewe Lambs Have Been Spoken For!

We do have a few ram lambs available so if that’s what you’re interested in, reach out below 👇🏼

Join the Lamb Waitlist

It’s easy to get caught up in someone else’s rules of life.

Especially when you’re starting something new, you feel the pressure to follow the pre-determined “rules” that everyone just accepts as fact.

For us, that rule was the old milking schedule:

You must milk twice a day, exactly 12 hours apart.

For our entire first season of milking our goats, we followed that rule to the letter.

But the moment that commitment became an early morning alarm to milk by 5am, and a mandatory rush to get back home from work and prepare for milking by 5pm, our low-stress farm dream started to crumble.

We quickly discovered that balancing a dairy farm while managing day jobs meant our evenings were spent in a blur.

It took a full season of exhaustion to realize something huge:

The twice-a-day rule isn’t actually a farming rule — it’s a commercial maximization template.

It’s a valid system for wholesale volume where the goal is maximum yield to satisfy a demanding market.

But at Shalom Farms, our goal is different.

Our system is built on sustainability, quality, and peace.

Our goal is a life of stewardship — serving the health of our home and the needs of our customers over the demands of the market.

That realization led to a terrifying (but necessary) switch for our second season. We dropped the evening milking entirely and transitioned to Once-a-Day (OAD) instead.

And guess what… we never looked back!

We gained back over 2 hours of critical time every single evening.

That’s over 14 hours a week now spent catching up on admin, finishing projects, or simply enjoying the last of the daylight.

It gave us the gift of rest and “Shalom” for our souls that we value so much.

The Community Corner

If you are feeling overwhelmed or chasing an invisible deadline, we want to gently challenge you:

Look critically at every “must-do” rule you inherited.

If your system is designed to maximize output at the expense of your health and sanity, you’ve likely inherited a template that simply doesn’t fit your life.

You are allowed to build a life-first system, just like we did!

At the end of the day, our metric for success isn’t just volume — it is the health of the goats, the peace of the shepherd, and the quality of the milk.

Did our total milk volume drop? Yes, slightly.

However, the yield was still more than enough for our Herdshare and our seasonal waitlist — and for us, the trade-off was invaluable.

The dairy barn is a busy place these days!

Our 7 mommas-to-be are officially in the “waddle” stage of their pregnancies, and Jeff and I are counting down the days until the first kids arrive later in March.

As we prep for the 2026 season, I wanted to pull back the curtain on how our milk gets from the barn to your table.

We’ve had a few questions about the difference between the Herdshare and the Seasonal Waitlist, so I wanted to explain the “Milk Math” we use to make sure our community is taken care of.

The Shalom Factor

We often get asked if it’s better to just wait for “extra” milk to become available on the waitlist rather than join the Herdshare.

While we love our waitlisters, choosing a Herdshare is really the smart way to go if you’re wanting milk weekly for the entire season.

If you’re using raw goat milk for health reasons—like helping with allergies, gut health, or bone strength—consistency matters.

You don't have to wonder if there will be enough left on the "extra" list this week.

When you own a share of the herd, your milk is set aside first.

You aren’t just a customer; you are technically part-owner of the herd. You’re helping us provide the best care, the best hay, and the best life for these 7 sweet mommas.

How the 2026 “Milk Math” Works

As a small farm, our “production team” consists of only Jeff, myself and our hardworking girls.

I mean, we’re all amazing but we aren’t machines!

This means our milk supply has a natural limit, especially since we only milk once a day.

(I’m finishing up a blog post to explain why we choose Once a Day milking — I’ll share that with you as soon as it's ready!)

The 1-Gallon Threshold

Our milk season officially kicks off once the girls are consistently producing 1 gallon of fresh, wonderful, delicious raw goat milk per day.

That first gallon is 100% dedicated to our Herdshare members every single day of the week. We offer a total of 14 shares (2 shares per day at 1/2 gallon each).

Because many of our families choose to purchase 2 shares to get a full gallon on their pickup day, those 14 spots fill up fast.

These share owners are guaranteed their milk from day one all the way through October 31st.

The Peak

As more mommas have their kids and they are weaned, more milk becomes available.

Once production hits 1.5 gallons per day, we start reaching out to our Seasonal Waitlist for that extra 1/2 gallon.

During the peak of summer, we often see 2+ gallons a day, which means plenty of extra for our waitlist friends to enjoy!

The Natural Dip

As we get into August and September, the girls naturally start slowing down.

Because we always protect that first gallon for our Herdshare members, we usually have to start offboarding waitlist members during this time.

The Bottom Line

If you want the peace of mind (Shalom) of knowing your milk is waiting for you —even when the end of season starts to slow the girls down — the Herdshare is the way to go.

We still have 2 final spots open for the 2026 season!

Whichever path you choose, Jeff and I are so honored to be your local farmers.

Here’s to a season of health and wholeness at your family’s table.

If you’d like to claim a daily spot and guarantee your weekly pickup, you can sign up for the Herdshare Priority Waitlist here:

2026 Herdshare Waitlist

If you’re not quite ready for a full commitment and don’t mind the seasonal fluctuations, you can join the Seasonal Waitlist here:

Raw Goat Milk Waitlist

The first Photo Friday of every month in 2026 is a calendar week; this week we are highlighting March 2026 from our Shalom Farms Calendar.

The Photo

Following the Hoofprints

There is a lot of talk about “finding your own way” in the world, but on the farm, I’m often reminded that the safest way is usually just following the feet in front of you.

This is Walter, one of Daisy’s Mini Mancha triplets from 2025.

As a cross between a standard LaMancha and a Nigerian Dwarf, these “minis” are known for being hardy and productive, but in a much smaller package.

In this photo, Walter is only a few days old. He’s still figuring out how to coordinate all four of those white-socked legs, and his best strategy is simply to stay as close to Daisy’s “tree trunk” legs as possible.

He doesn’t have a map or a plan yet; he just knows that where she goes, there is milk, warmth, and safety.

There is a lot of peace in just staying close.

The Power of Three

Walter wasn’t alone in following those hoofprints; he had his sister, Dorothy, and his bro Edwin to keep him company!

These three were so special that when a visitor came to the farm to look at his sister, Dorothy, they couldn’t bear to break them up and ended up taking the whole trio home together.

It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes the “extra” isn’t a burden—it’s exactly what makes your story complete.

Spring Kids

Kidding chaos is right around the corner!

For 2026, we are selling our kids as bottle babies.

This means they’ll be ready to go to their new homes at just 1–2 weeks old, which is a wonderful way to bond with them while they are still tiny.

If you’re looking for your own “Walter” or a trio of your own, you can join the waitlist below 👇🏼

Join the Baby Goat Waitlist!

Raw Goat Milk Season

While we are still waiting for the first babies to arrive, the milk season is just around the corner. If you want to secure a spot for fresh, creamy milk at your family table, hop on the 2026 Milk Waitlist.

Go(a)t Milk?

The first Photo Friday of every month in 2026 is a calendar week; this week we are highlighting February 2026 from our Shalom Farms Calendar.

The Photo

The One Who Stayed

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to “unpack my plate” lately.

On a farm, the temptation is always more—more land, more projects, more babies in the spring.

But last year, when the dust settled on kidding season, we made an intentional choice that felt like a deep exhale.

We decided to keep just one.

This is Pauli, our very first Mini Nubian kid.

She was born on a sunny day in the middle of June 2025.

To say we adore her would be an understatement.

The Mini Nubian Charm

If you aren’t familiar with Mini Nubians, they are a cross between the standard Nubian (her mom, Padme) and the Nigerian Dwarf (her dad, Bucky).

This breed was originally designed for homesteaders who wanted a smaller, more productive dairy goat for handling and feeding purposes.

Whereas the Nubian side gives sheer volume of milk with a high percentage of butterfat, the Nigerian Dwarf side gives the sweetest milk on the planet and the highest percentage of butterfat of any dairy goat breed.

With Pauli - we get the best of both worlds.

By keeping our herd small but intentional, we have more time to notice her specific, curious personality.

Our Growing “Long Ear” Family

Pauli isn’t lonely, though.

She has a whole crew of big sisters now!

Over the years, our herd has naturally shifted toward these floppy eared beauties; besides our three Nigerian Dwarfs, all but one of our full size does are now at least half Nubian.

Between our three purebred Nubian does (Padme, Pepper, Oreo), the twin Alpine/Nubian mixes (Star and Crunch), and little Pauli, the Dairy barn is full of these beautiful, spunky and chatty girls.

Pauli is our living reminder that “enough” is a beautiful place to be.

It’s that quiet kind of peace—the kind that comes from being faithful over a few things rather than rushing for the many.

Spring is Approaching at Shalom Farms

If you’re looking to add a little of this “enough” to your own life this year, we have a few ways to get on the list:

Spring Kids and Lambs

Kidding chaos is right around the corner!

If you’re looking for your own Pauli or big sister trio, you can join our Baby Goat Waitlist or our American Blackbelly Waitlist to have your own personal bundles of sunshine.

Join the Baby Goat Waitlist!

ABB Lamb Waitlist

Raw Goat Milk Season

While we are still waiting for the first babies to arrive, the milk season is just around the corner.

If you want to secure a spot for fresh, creamy milk at your family table, hop on the Raw Goat Milk Waitlist for 2026.

Go(a)t Milk?

The first Photo Friday of every month in 2026 is a calendar week; this week we are highlighting January 2026 from our Shalom Farms Calendar.

The Photo

The Best “Flaw” on the Farm

On March 28, 2024, our sheep Hana had twins—Whitefoot and Pua. They were some of the most striking, regal lambs we’ve ever raised.

Being American Blackbelly hair sheep, they have a beautiful uniform coat that sheds naturally, so they never need to be sheared - which is a bonus for us.

Since we are registered breeders with the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep Association International (BBSAI), we usually register every lamb that’s going to be used for breeding stock.

But as we looked closer, we saw the one thing the paperwork wouldn’t allow: a single splash of white on his back foot.

But Whitefoot said “rules, schmoolz”.

He still grew into one of the best dang rams we’ve ever raised—the biggest, strongest, and fastest-growing lamb of his season.

He went on to find a new home as an unregistered ram in North Platte, becoming exactly what he was born to be: the king of his own pasture.

What Whitefoot taught me is that we can spend our lives apologizing for our own version of a “white foot,” or we can just go out and be the best dang [_____] in the field. He is a living reminder to all of us that you truly can’t judge a book by its cover.

Whitefoot is our featured “king” for January in our 2026 Farm Calendar!

If you want a daily reminder to be striking regardless of your “flaws,” grab one of our last few calendars before they’re all gone (less than 10 left!).

Order Yours Today!

We know you’re being bombarded with other offers during this Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday week that it is.

But we just wanted to give you one more gentle reminder that our 2026 Shalom Calendars are available for pre-order at $15 through November 30th.

All orders in December 2025 will be $20 each for these beauties.

Want more fun photos like this to catch your eye every single day of the year?

If you want to add a little more ✨ joy ✨ to your every day for 2026, make sure to grab a 2026 Shalom Farms calendar for your home or office (maybe both!).

25% OFF — Pre-Order at $20 $15 now through Nov 30th.

Order Today!

Just a quick one today.

For the past few years, Jeff and I have spent some time in November curating our BEST farm photos of the year, and putting together a new calendar to have ready for January.

Here are a few of our favorite photos:

These are just a few of the photos we used last year.

If you’re looking to add a little more ✨ joy ✨ to your every day for 2026, make sure to grab a 2026 Shalom Farms calendar for your home or office (maybe both!).

25% OFF — Pre-Order at $20 $15 now through Nov 30th.

Order Today!

We’re opting for a Throwback Thursday today, where we are reaching back into the archives to share a post that perfectly captures the unique rhythm of our lives after milking season: “Before Work: A Typical Weekday.”

This isn’t just a peek; it’s a detailed, minute-by-minute look at how we manage full-time farming before we even head out to our full-time jobs.

So if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to run a small farm while working an off-farm job, this post shows you exactly how we get it done!

As breeding season has officially begun at the farm, I want to share an honest truth (that even I can’t believe sometimes)… at one point in the last couple of years, we had a total of 10 male goats - six intact bucks and four wethers.

Over a third of our goats were male 🫣

Now? We are happily down to just one buck and three wethers.

I wouldn’t call the change a relief, necessarily, but I can tell you that the daily workflow with the boys is now immeasurably more pleasant.

Our three wethers—Aragorn, Vision, and Stark—are, without a doubt, some of our favorite goats on the farm.

They are so incredibly socialized that they get to spend every summer at Camp Sonshine hanging out with the kids and counselors.

Literally everyone loves them (especially us)!

If you have a goal of adding goats to your home so that you can experience joy, companionship, and simplicity, then the biggest lesson we’ve learned is that a goat’s value isn’t always tied to reproduction.

A wether goat is a valuable farm staple in its own right—one that delivers peace (shalom!), companionship, and ease of handling to your homestead.

So if you’re planning to bring some baby goats home next spring, I first want to share the three biggest reasons why we think wether goats might be your perfect addition:

1. No Rut: Intact bucks go through a hormonal “rut” that brings with it intensity, aggression, and general chaos. Because a wether is castrated, they simply don’t experience this. They are consistently gentle and docile, making handling simple for everyone in the family.

2. No Stink: This is a big one. The hormonal cycle in a buck comes with an intense, musky odor (among other things…) that can be unpleasant and extremely persistent. Wethers don’t have this odor, which makes them lovely to spend time with and overall far more enjoyable to have around the farm.

3. No Chaos: Our wethers often act as the calming center of the herd, stepping in to break up little squabbles. They thrive in a social environment and contribute to a much calmer overall herd dynamic than a territorial buck would.

If a low-maintenance, affectionate wether sounds like the perfect addition to your future plans, sign up for our Baby Goat Waitlist so you can let you know when our Spring kids arrive!

Join the waitlist

Farm Photo of the Week

Community Corner

We love getting your messages and starting conversations!

Tell us: What is the biggest thing you worry about when it comes to bringing home a new goat (or any animal, really!)?

Leave us a comment or send a reply and let us know!

Interested in learning more about Wethers?

Read more 👉🏻 What are wether goats and why you should have some

Sheesh. What a journey this summer has been!

Looking at our last post, we’ve got a little explaining to do 🫣

See below for some farm highlights for the last couple of months, and don’t miss out on reserving beef from our last available steer!

Cattle

• GRASS FED BEEF: We’ve got one final steer that is ready to be processed this month so reach out if you’d be interested in a half or whole beef!

• COWS: Our 2026 momma cows get preg-checked this week so we should know in another couple weeks how many babies we can be expecting for next summer - we’re praying it’s all 4!

  • It’s exciting to reflect back on when we first got these cows and how much they are a perfect fit for our little farm. Check out our throwback to when they first arrived! 👇

Goats

• MILKING: Our 2025 milking season officially ends October 31st. If you’re interested in getting some Raw Goat Milk in 2026, make sure to sign up for our Waitlist!

  • Side Note: We’ve been kicking around the idea of testing out a Raw Goat Milk Coffee stand at the farm maybe next season. If we did, would you swing by to pick up a drink to support the farm?

• BUFORD: Welp. It wasn’t just a couple days after we posted our excitement about Big Beautiful Buford in August that Jeff got his hand sliced open by one of his horns when trying to catch him for the first time (who knew those long horns could be so sharp!). Ultimately, we decided we were not set up for such a big guy quite yet so we pivoted our plans, sold Buford to a new home, Jeff got his hand all healed up, and the silver lining is that little Thunder gets to breed all the ladies this fall 👇

Sheep

• SHEEP: One of my absolute favorite parts of chores each day is getting to the ewe pen to feed “my sheepies”, and once we feed the starving little hungries Jeff and I just take a few minutes giving them scratches and interacting with them. My heart just explodes with warmth every single time 🥰

• EWE/LAMB PAIR FOR SALE: These would make a great starter flock for anyone who wants to get started raising American Blackbelly Sheep or a great addition to your current flock if you already have some.

That’s it for today’s update.

See you next time!