Homestead 73

Homestead 73 Homestead 73 — raising longhorns & dairy sheep while growing food from the soil up.🤍

Roll call:Hetty! Hetty is FINALLY dried off. 9 months lactation from a high producing first freshener was probably the h...
09/02/2026

Roll call:

Hetty! Hetty is FINALLY dried off. 9 months lactation from a high producing first freshener was probably the highlight of my year in the dairy department. She will be leaving us for a short time next month to be covered by one of my favorite mentors rams.

Aggie! Aggie is raising her twins in a drought while they grow fast and strong and she keeps good condition throughout. Super happy with her.

Elinor! Elinor’s lamb was born with some mobility struggles. She was a big single and probably cramped before coming earth side. She straightened out after a few days and has grown into the biggest of the bunch despite being the youngest.

Margo! Margo is still holding her lamb hostage. I guessed she’d lamb by the 1st. Wronggggg. She’s unbothered by my impatience and excitement.

We welcome home our bred ewe from Green Dirt Farms in October! Loving this chapter we’re in right now. I could do without the drought, though.

I’m pretty open about liking my sheep tame and easy to handle.Might as well add that Justin likes his cows crazy, hot-he...
08/29/2026

I’m pretty open about liking my sheep tame and easy to handle.

Might as well add that Justin likes his cows crazy, hot-headed, and unaffected by fences.

Anyway, 2 longhorns for sale. Bonus if you can find them on the neighbors pasture.

I like my ewes tame. In my pocket, following me around, too interested in what I’m doing tame.I put a lot of value on te...
08/27/2026

I like my ewes tame. In my pocket, following me around, too interested in what I’m doing tame.

I put a lot of value on temperament and start working with them asap. Gaining their trust early makes a huge difference when they’re older and you’re trying to do actual sheep things with them.

Milking, trimming feet, checking udders, treating injuries, and sorting already take enough time. I don’t have any interest in chasing anything. Not even a little bit. Ever.

Basically, if I’m going to spend this much time sheeping and milking, I’d prefer them to at least cooperate.

Today’s agenda: Tags and artificial insemination Livinggg the dream
08/26/2026

Today’s agenda: Tags and artificial insemination

Livinggg the dream

“I’m pretty chill.”Also me:“Dairy sheep are severely undervalued and underrated in the dairy world. Did you know their m...
08/11/2026

“I’m pretty chill.”

Also me:

“Dairy sheep are severely undervalued and underrated in the dairy world. Did you know their milk is higher in fat, protein, calcium, and other nutrients than cow’s milk? Did you know sheep milk makes exceptional cheese? Did you know—”

My political views are whatever prioritizes small farming and business over AI and technology advancements.
08/09/2026

My political views are whatever prioritizes small farming and business over AI and technology advancements.

At one point in time our “homestead” was a little backyard garden in town and a drive to eat food as closely to the way ...
08/08/2026

At one point in time our “homestead” was a little backyard garden in town and a drive to eat food as closely to the way God intended.

The backyard garden has grown into one that’s nearly half the size of our house. We care for 30 acres, milk our dairy sheep, raise our meat, and fill our pantry with vegetables that have been planted, harvested, and preserved by our hands.

It’s been years of trial and error, failures, HARD lessons, and celebrating the little wins. Every season has taught us something.

This year, we’ve harvested enough to stock the pantry for our family of five for the coming year and have enough left to share with our community. Feels crazy to say.

If you’re local, we’d love for you to stop by the Leadmine Produce Auction and pick up some of our produce. Every purchase supports our little farm and we don’t take that for granted.

Thank you for supporting!

Don’t judge the udder on day one! This is a reminder to MYSELF as much as anyone else. I’m guilty of over analyzing a fr...
08/07/2026

Don’t judge the udder on day one!

This is a reminder to MYSELF as much as anyone else. I’m guilty of over analyzing a freshly postpartum udder too harshly and am usually humbled by the next day.

Immediately after lambing, you’re going to see a lot of post-lambing edema (swelling). Add in a full supply and increased blood flow to the tissues, it’s going to look tighter, swollen, and oddly structured. Jump scare.

Once the swelling settles, you will get a MUCH better look at the udder shape, attachments, medial division, and teat placement.

I like to wait until second lactation before I make final decisions on a ewes future. By their fourth lactation, they are in their prime and guesswork is minimal. Breeding is a long game, people!

First picture: Freshly lambed
Second picture: 24-ish hours post lambing

A fresh ewe lamb and an unassisted birth from a first freshener is always a solid way to start the day. I have high hop...
08/06/2026

A fresh ewe lamb and an unassisted birth from a first freshener is always a solid way to start the day.

I have high hopes for this girl as she is 84% dairy with just enough Katahdin influence to HOPEFULLY bring some added vigor.

She comes from a line of impressive dairy ewes that have consistently produced great yields throughout lactation. Her grand dam averaged 3–5 pounds of milk per day while raising lambs, and her great grand dam averaged around 5 pounds.

Pumped to see what Elinor (dam) brings to the stanchion and watch her little one grow into her place in our program.

Penny is an exciting part of the future of our dairy flock. She is the bigger twin weighing in at 9.25 pounds while her ...
08/01/2026

Penny is an exciting part of the future of our dairy flock.

She is the bigger twin weighing in at 9.25 pounds while her brother is 7.15 pounds. Her dams temperament and udder genetics are what I’m most excited to see play out for while. Her sire carries great udder influence as well.

Every lamb represents concentrated breeding decisions, goals, and improvements. Heavy stuff for such little faces.

Dam is EF x Merino
Sire is 75%EF x 25%Katahdin

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123
Buffalo, MO
65622

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+14175430770

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