IDEAL FARM

Our Goals:

          As stated on our home page, our goal is quality! Wool quality, structural quality, and all the other qualities that create a strong, productive, long lived individual. In general we strive to produce an animal that can, because of its strong constitution and preferable traits, be kept for years to come because it still adds genetics that won't quickly become obosolete.

          Specific conformational traits that I tend to stress are: strait legs with good pasterns, strait strong backs, and good teeth. I will not breed animals with traits that will compromise their longevity or health. Wool traits that I prefer are: a slightly longer staple length (between 4-7in.), good crimp, no kemp, very dense, soft wearable wool. By 2007 we should have enough pasture to graze year round, reducing vegetable matter in the fleeces, and eventually all the sheep will be coated. Cosmetic traits that I prefer in my program are: large eye patches with black noses, white legs, black feet, black horns, and large even round spots with no freckeling in the fleece.

The Idea for IDEAL and the Founding Four

          It all started with the child hood dream of showing sheep, seeing the kids at the fair with there market projects. I have always loved sheep, and animals in general, but my parents where dead set against sheep "sheep are STUPID!" I showed Dairy cattle for seven years, and finally decided on purchasing my first breeding sheep with my project money.

          After long thought of which breed I wanted to raise, weighing the benefieghts and drawbacks of each I chose the majestic and noble Jacob. Their unique looks and charming personalities drew me in. In October 2005 I purchased my first Jacob sheep from Gary and Dianne Anderson of the Hillside flock, one of my largest and best descisions yet.

          My family's outlook on sheep has sense changed, and the sheep have become very well accepted members of our livestock family. We have found that sheep aren't stupid,that when people call sheep stupid something has usually happened where the situation didn't go their way, they where outsmarted and don't want to admit it, although I do have to credit the Jacobs with being more intelligent than the market sheep. The founding four, which have a permanant home here, are Luna, Samantha, Norma, and Little Lamb which all have something unique to add to the flock. This year we decided to show market lambs. They can be veiwed on the Market Sheep page. After just this short time owning sheep my directives have changed to the point that sheep are now permanent part of my life plans.

Whats With the Name?

Well not only does it symbolize my program goals, in my opinion, it actually came about one morning when I was feeding. The sheep, eating, where as content as possible, the blue morning mountains behind them and there, right on the feeder was the word IDEAL. Just like a caption on the perfect photo, it put into words that moment in time. It truely is ideal to see the creatures you care for so happy, and healthy. One of the real gifts of owning livestock.