Our herd of dairy goats and Bostons are nestled in scenic Perry County, Pennsylvania where we have lived since 1978. Our two legged children are grown now, but enjoyed growing up with dairy goats as 4-H projects throughout their childhood. We are on the next generation now, with our grandson Hazen who is very into his goats. He especially loved his "beautiful Chablis" and was walking in the show ring holding his goat and pap's hand at 10 months! For now Kale is more content carrying his Beanie Baby goat around. Brylie and Brysn just love grandma's "stinkin goats", something our son taught them from the first time they laid eyes on them!
Our herd is CAE and CL free. Although we have not had any CAE positive milking animals here in many years, we continue to heat treat the colostrum and pasteurize the milk for our kids. We have been on a pasteurization program since 1984 and have not had a crossover in all those years. Our animals live healthy disease free lives and are rarely given antibiotics. In March of 2010 we had an outbreak of soremouth in our kids, from where, we have no idea. We had no animal in, none out and back into the herd. No shows and no contact with any other herd. It will always be a mystery. We vaccinated the entire herd and will continue to do so as kids are born. Because of this, we have hidden cameras around the farm to make sure our girls are secure.
We have been on DHIA test since 1986 and have Classified/Linear Appraised since 1982. Two tools we strongly believe in for genetic progress. We attended our first show in 1979 with our Grade Nubian, Marie. That was the Perry County Fair and we have continued to show throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New York and New Jersey as well as attending many National Shows across the US. As life has become more complicated, we have not attended as many shows as we have in the past and we have stayed pretty much in District II lately.
We have raised Boston Terriers for close to 25 years. We do not show our Bostons, but would someday love to do so. We will not just breed them to breed them. Just like the goats, we strive for type and more importantly, healthy family dogs. We are not your typical dog breeders. I will admit, I'm addicted to puppies, but we don't have litters very often. We have gone four or five years without a litter. The sire we select has to be just right and it is not as easy to find them as it is in the goats. Our Bostons love the goats and they, the Bostons. Our Bostons mother every kid born on the farm. They are a good combination of absolutely wonderful animals!
Visitors are always welcome! Just give us a call to make sure we are home.
Helen
Generally, I hate winter, but every once in awhile, there is some beauty in it all.......
Here are some shots of the farm in March 2011.
March 2011 Winter Wonderland