MY $225K FARM BUSINESS EXPERIMENT (2 years later) Farming Dorper Sheep Cows RANCHING FOR PROFIT

[@theShepherdess]

‼Please Join my Newsletter so we don't lose touch: www.shepherdess.com/newsletter/

[@bayilomoto]

"establishing your market before expanding production" - she hit it right on the nail

[@nicholasmacinnis1486]

I was just about to make a video on that exact point

[@jeffery19677]

Thanks for giving a follow-up. I started out with 50 bred goats and I fell on my face. I was new to the region and I didn't realize that parasites were WORSE here in a cooler climate. I had never had more than 6 goats and I did not have the "eye" to watch that many animals. I got CL in my herd, too. A Dr. at Texas A&M advised me to have no goats or sheep on the property for a year. I got 6 cows. 2 mamas, 2 yearlings, and two calves. They are set-stocked on my 30 acres. Just to utilize the grass and have SOMETING on the land so I don't have to mow all summer. I will start with 10-15 sheep next fall. Meanwhile, I am building more fence to give me 10 acre permanent pastures with ponds. Eventually I will fence everything out of the ponds once I have gravity fed waterers around the pond. (It looks good on paper. lol) I will probably keep the cattle as I am fencing another 30 acres this winter. They will probably move there..

[@eveadame1059]

Thank you Jeffrey, for your comment. I am interested in getting goats for milk, and sheep for wool and another source of milk. Sorry you had to go through such a tough learning experience. Though hopefully in your sharing it, you have helped make others like myself more aware of what to take caution about. 😊 May your efforts be blessed exceedingly, from this point forward

[@Richard-f4b4r]

Thank you for sharing the wisdom you gained from experience!

[@Matthew77x77]

Thanks for sharing all you're learning on your journey so clearly and simply. LOTS of good advice! Really enjoy learning along with you.

[@breesechick]

Thanks grace! We were talking about yourself it felt like you were talking to me too. He is a pep talk in the scripture at the end of your video. Sleep well my friend! It's 9:24 in Georgia

[@mikeofthewoods]

You are the fastest writer I've ever seen. Great info too. Thanks for sharing and teaching all this.

[@jamesharris9725]

Absolutely enjoy watching your videos. Love your passion and drive for this life and I always pick up some good insights. Keep up the good work, never give it up. Thank you for sharing.

[@famarabadjie217]

This is very educational and I learn something I never put in to consider, market before product. I take that from you

[@SoybeanAK]

Finding those niche markets is, I think, the only way really small farmers can be highly profitable today. My dad thought he'd switch to beef when he "retired" from dairying, and it left Mom down at the small local markets competing against multiple other established beef ranchers.

[@erikkkkkkk914]

So what happened?

[@SoybeanAK]

@@erikkkkkkk914 Mostly just that they've failed to capture a significant market share- haven't even hung on to a lot of the buyers on the client list that came with the herd he bought. He did great on regenerative soil practices, but 99.99%of consumers don't care about that- you've got to distinguish your business by something they do.

[@erikkkkkkk914]

@@SoybeanAK Interesting thanks for sharing. Will help me in the future. I close on my farm next week.

[@SoybeanAK]

@@erikkkkkkk914 Well good luck and God bless!

[@lamplighterfarm]

Thank you so much for this valuable information! I really appreciate the specifics you shared on market research.

[@harveypenner2386]

Another interesting video! I like the way you process ideas!

[@Alaska_Engineer]

Hopefully with the upcoming administration, small farmers like us and the Amish will have an easier time selling directly to the consumers

[@gedwardnelson]

I just heard that Joel Salatin has been asked to join the Transition team working with the fda.

[@jean-louisdorget170]

Quite right!

[@edroesler2923]

Really appreciate the candor and sharing of this experience. I will be joining the news letter for sure. My question for you would be, as I get closer to retiring from my career as a teacher, is something like this venture of yours doable as an older person with no experience whatsoever? Secondly, based on your circumstances, would you limit yourself to Texas only? Praying for your success.

[@dmkaeding]

A renewable and consumed product with an excellent shelf life is often overlooked. Goat milk could be both used for yourself or sold as a raw material for cheese, soap, etc. We did soap as self funding hobby until COVID shut down festivals and farmers markets. We saw plenty of artists selling great items, but many didn't get the important repeat second and third purchases because their customers "already had one". Best of luck to you.

[@nicholasmacinnis1486]

Two great book recommendations, I’ve read both a few times.

[@growingrootsfarm1]

Thanks for sharing! That was insightful information!

[@amydixoncox5000]

Love your channel! Great insights!

[@rickwarner516]

This is good information for all businesses thanks for sharing

[@TTa-cb2rq]

Great content. Can you recommend any books on marketing?

[@chokmah3926]

great video as always

[@KPVFarmer]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I know you research everything you do very well. Do you have any recommendations for the best breed sheep for meat in a colder northern MN/WI/MI climate that thrives on pasture?

[@theShepherdess]

@@KPVFarmer there are people up as far as Canada raising Dorpers. If you don’t mind wool, Rambouillet is a well-developed breed. But again, a lot of those wool flocks are shifting to hair!

[@KPVFarmer]

@ , thanks for the info and your advice. It’s greatly appreciated!

[@danw6014]

I have settled on Romneys. They are a dual purpose breed. They are prolific and good mommas plus have resistance to foot rot and parasites bred into them. I'm in southeast Michigan. We have the best commercial market in the country. My lambs finish out nice to hit around $2.00 a pound.

[@hurdleguy8014]

Hello! I just found your channel and am looking to sheep farming myself. I have possibly a silly question.. but.. how do you set up breeding groups to avoid inbreeding? I saw one of your videos where you said you want pure bred dorper sheep, and this got me wondering how you manage that. God bless you and thanks for taking the time to read this!

[@theShepherdess]

This video is what you are looking for!: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZuqfpmenKdggqMsi=WsyQgBzJOF5g-Pa5

[@philipmcmanigal4896]

Hi Shepherdess, I was wondering if you have a listing of places where I can buy natural fiber clothing. Thanks for all you do. Phil

[@theShepherdess]

Try RidgeMerino.com! I haven't bought from them yet, but heard they are great.

[@superiorsteelsales]

Great video and insights!

[@Nicole-un5on]

I have no interest in farming or buying high quality meat (lol). I watch you for the godly business advice 🥰 and I love your brand and how you leave a bible verse in every video. Although I do love seeing the sheepays 😍

[@ev560]

Thank you

[@bluegrasstransport5266]

How many sheep can you raise on 5 acres half pasture very good grass and half woods.

[@kenman200]

You’re an amazing young lady

[@motoole3200]

Good. Seedtime and Harvest is a law guaranteed in Genesis 8:22. Knowing and managing the market share is a key factor in business. What is marketing nowadays? Where s my customers and what do they want and need? Hanks

[@calebfast8088]

Great stuff! :)

[@imagelush5146]

I feel like there is more story telling in this video than there is talk of business.

[@ShadrachHowie]

very well done video. I have always started innovatively with product and tried to create market.......sigh. lesson learned

[@JohnMarsing]

Thanks for sharing your success and failures.

[@عبدالرحمن-س6ط9ض]

Beautiful

[@jimcarlson2252]

Interesting video, farming for customers. Back in the 1700’s you had to use a third of the farm just to feed the laborers, their families and beasts of burden (horses mostly), now electricity and fuels to run farm machinery replaces most laborers and horses unless still Amish. All these farm advances since the 1890’s reinvent farming but farming for customers, though not a third living on the farm as laborers and their families as in the 1700’s, is the key to success. Know your customers needs, the customer needs meet, they will find you in time.

[@breesechick]

I'm so early 🎉

[@Awandering]

Excellent

[@Richie2011Mr]

How many employees do you have? Are you a real farmer or you are selling book?

[@DuncanInthesticks-df6dc]

Cool!!!

[@PaulJWong-yk8uw]

lots of wisdom there. forcing doors open usually means walking into rooms that we arent ready to go into. running the actual numbers rather than projections is always a sobering process. we ran double the amount of hogs last year and made a whopping 300 dollars more. in southern ontario, lamb continues to be the higher value animal, less input and to be honest less work!!!

[@rezayaseri2790]

❤❤❤

[@beaustorey2906]

Intensive grazing should be called intensive labor

[@onesilentarrow]

One question that nobody is asking and will probably get this comment deleted. How much time are you spending on the production of your videos versus time you’re spending on the farm work. Are you trying to make money with the farm or are you trying to be a merch store book selling KZbinr?

[@theShepherdess]

@@onesilentarrow it’s all tied together. My videos are a marketing tool that allow me to accumulate newsletter subscribers through which I sell my sheep at premium pricing. Thanks for the question!

[@Resist.Tyranny]

Dear shepherdess, your pretty blue eyes, from an iridological standpoint, suggest an overly acidic body chemistry. This usually leads to aches and pains showing up somewhere or everywhere. It also increases risk of disease. I would suggest adding dried figs and dried apricots in large amounts for a few days to alkalinize. Even better if you drop other foods for those days. Then on a continuing basis eat many more vegetables. Good luck with your health and the farm.

[@spencerfarnik2838]

LOL

[@Andrew2024aviary]

2500 FOR 30 ACRES BARGAIN 😅

[@jasonbare3472]

You are explaining what the true American dream is not some corporation led by Trump, but artisans who are nothing without landownership.