The Rancho

Welcome to The Rancho. We live on small farm with a whole lot of fun in Western North Carolina.  We have dogs, dairy goats, kunekune pigs, chickens, ducks, a mini donkey named Pico, . . . and who knows what else is in the works!

Our dairy goat breeds include Alpine, Oberhasli and Nigerian Dwarf as well as Miniature Dairy Goats including Miniature Alpines and Miniature Oberhasli.

Somehow the 2022 fair season came and flew by!  Out of 5 fairs we entered, we made it to only the first and the last one.  We were thankful to do that though!  Family matters were more important.  

We did start the 2023 breeding season with a few breedings in October.  When I have the time, I will update the list.  Almost all kids will be available and only one or two retained this year.

While we are not currently breeding Rough Coated Dutch Shepherds, we still have our Kobus and belong to the American Dutch Shepherd Association (ADSA).  We would love to introduce you to the breed and help answer any questions you might have.  

We have plans to breed Sky the Mini Aussie to a ACD for Texas Heeler pups in the winter.  These should make great companion and farm dogs and pups will be available to approved homes.

Farm News:

October 2022 -

We were thankful to be able to attend the last fair of the season at the SC State Fair.  It was a small but well run show that we really enjoyed.  It has been a welcome break from the chaos of life right now.  Tiffany a yearling junior Oberhasli was Reserve Grand.  In senior Alpines, Kemma won Grand, Santa Fe was Reserve Grand and Maddi won Best of Breed and best udder as well as being part of the best alpine dairy herd and 1st place dam and daughter.  It wasn't that difficult considering we were the only senior Alpines entered.  LOL!  

July 2022 -

We were thankful to be able to attend the 2022 Nationals in Harrisburg, PA.  Although we only brought two Alpines, we were happy with the placings and glad for a bit more time to visit with friends in the area.  CH Ranchocabra Kemma-Lyn placed 13th in the 4 year old class and CH Sunrising Charmer Madison placed 7th out of 8 in the aged doe class. 

February 2022 -

Now in our winter lull, we are prepping for a busy kidding season next month.  On the list of projects this time is a new set up for the kidding pens in addition to an actual, real milk room!  Construction begins in two weeks.  This should make life a whole lot easier and I will finally get the chance to use our new milk machine.  

Fall 2021 -

Fair season was a fun time as usual.  We went to two new fairs (new to us) as some of the ones we usually went to were either not happening this year or had changed their days.  Overall it was a very good season for us with a few legs earned and Maddi winning Best In Show twice.  

Breeding plans are in full swing and 7 does are bred so far.  We will do blood tests to confirm pregnancy in another week or two.  We are waiting on 3 more to breed and will make our final decisions on these last ones in December.  If there is a match up you are interested in, let us know!  Only a few does will be retained and there is a good possibility that a few milkers will be cut as well.  

July 2021 - 

We really enjoyed our second National Show experience.  Once we arrived, we realized this would be Maggie's last show as a youth exhibitor.  This made her win with Maddi all the more special.  Maddi was 11th place senior Alpine and 1st place youth entry.  She went on to win Premier Youth Senior Grand Alpine!  Maggie and Maddi also made a good team in the final senior showmanship competition.  They made the first cut of 20 although they were not placed among the top 15.  Some other highlights were Ranchocabra Amarillo, 21st place yearling Alpine milker and 1st place youth entry, Ranchocabra Miggy 12th place junior Alpine, Ranchocabra Santa Fe 15th place junior Alpine, Ranchocabra Sperry 12th place senior dry yearling and 1st place youth entry, Ranchocabra Tiffany 8th place junior Oberhasli and 1st place youth entry, Rancchocabra Thelma Lou 16th place 2 year old Oberhasli milker.  While we were thankful to even be able to make it to Nationals this year, the girls exceded our expecations and actually make the cut in all but one class and had some great placings both in the open show and among the youth entries.  Of course, we enjoyed the time spent with fellow goat breeders and we also really enjoyed seeing all the beautiful goats.  

(thanks for snapping this photo - Jennifer Stillwell!)

February 2021 -

6 Does are confirmed bred, 3 more are pending but unfortunately, we couldn't convince Chick or Nugget to go along with our planned breeding schedule and they are not going to be bred now until the summer for fall kids.

August 2020 -

We were thankful to be able to go to the Wilson County Fair this year and show.  This was the first time we had been to a show there and thought the facilities were great and the show was very well run.  With over 550 goats entered and two rings, it was a super long day that ran into the next day.  We got home just in time to settle the goats and get Maggie cleaned up and off to her first day of college classes.  We can sleep later, right?  We had some good placings against some very tough competiton and were happy to see Ranchocabra Thelma Lou with a full udder.  She earned Grand and BOB in both rings.  Unfortunately, they were one short of sanction due to a miss count on the entries and Thelma Lou didn't earn any legs out of it. However, as a yearling, first freshener, I'm confident she can do it again and finish her permanent champion title some other time.

New Oberhasli Herd Sire has arrived!  Brackett's Sunburst Kane *B is 3 months old now and already figuring himself out in the buck pen.  He is qualified for the 2020 2nd Quarter ADGA Sire Develipment Program and we are super excited to see what he produces.  He is out of SG California Special Kane +*B and SGCH Brackett's Sunburst Pollysue 11*M.  We are so thankful to Kiki and Bracktt's Sunburst Farm for trusting us with this handsome fella.

May 2020 -

A total of 17 kids were born on the farm this year.  We are keeping two Alpine kids and one Nigerian kid and let me tell you, it was difficult to decide and stay firm!  Additionally, we have found it necessary to sell a milking doe or two in order to keep our numbers at a manageable level.  Even so, we are pretty excited to see all the lovely udders and beautiful kids this spring produced.

March 2020 -

We added a new face!  How cute is this face !??!  Our new LGD arrived.  We kept his given name Sarge.  He is steady, fun, silly and sweet.  Melinda warmed up to him quickly and has been training him to be a good boy.  So happy with his stable and kind temperament.

January 2020 -

We are enjoying seeing all those baby bellies growing and can't wait until Spring when kids start arriving.  We have 12 does making reservations for the maternity ward this year.  Though we will keep a kid or two to help with milking and to see how things are turning out, there will only be one or two that we keep permanently.  In addition, we will need to evaluate our doe herd and decide which cuts will need to be made.  These are going to be extremely difficult cuts and we don't look forward to that but it is necessary in order to be able to keep a kid or two and see how our breeding program is shaping up.

June 2019 -

We basically failed in the herd reduction area this year.  Though we whittled down as much as we could, we ended up keeping a kid from each breed from this year's kid crop.  Or two . . . or three. . . Come fall, look out for the second attempt at a herd reduction.  Hahaha! 

In May 2019, we added another critter.  Sky was Maggie's graduation present surprise and she is fitting into farm life so well.  She is such a smart dog, sweet and spunky and fun to be around.  We are hoping she has some herding instincts that she can use to help us move goats around during milking season.  We shall see . . .

Rough Coated Dutch Shepherds

The dog side of the Rancho is called Ranchodutchie. The Dutch Shepherd is a rare breed and we are blessed to have two Rough Coated Dutchies as part of our family.

Dairy Goats

The dairy goat side of the Rancho is called Ranchocabra. We raise Oberhasli, Alpine and Nigerian Dwarfs. We are learning fun and tasty ways to use the goat's milk including ice cream, cheeses and caramel. What fun!