Hi Friends, It’s time for my monthly farm update! The pasture is still growing here in Texas, but with dormancy approaching I wanted to share the 4 things I’ll feed my sheep this winter (along with what each one costs me). In fact, “What to Feed Sheep” is the topic of my FREE LIVESTREAM tomorrow (Thurs. Oct. 22 at 7pm CST)! If you have questions about winter feeding (or tips of your own to share), just hit “reply” to this email. I’ll plan include them in tomorrow’s discussion! #1: Stockpile Forage
If you’re new to the concept of stockpiled forage, I explain it in THIS VIDEO. In short, instead of cutting and baling the grass on my land, I let it accumulate in the pasture – then I graze it over the winter. The biggest benefit is cost savings. By allowing my sheep to harvest (graze) the grass themselves, I eliminate the expense of cutting, baling, and storing hay. It also saves me the daily labor of hauling bales out to the flock! There is one trade-off: Unlike hay, which is typically cut when its nutritional value is highest, stockpiled forage remains exposed to the elements and gradually loses nutritional value (especially protein). To make up for the decline in protein, I provide my sheep with a small protein supplement while they’re grazing stockpile. I typically have enough stockpiled forage to last through January, at which point I begin feeding hay. COST: FREE (Okay, technically there’s the cost of owning or leasing the land… but we’ll keep it simple!) #2: Protein Supplement
This year, I’m using Hudson Livestock Forage Extender 20 lick tubs to supplement my stockpiled forage. The “20” means the tub contains 20% protein. (Not sponsored, paid full price for my tubs —haha!) Lick tubs are not the only way to provide protein when grazing stockpiled forage. Some farmers use dried distillers grains (DDGs), others use pelleted feed, and I use cottonseed cubes for larger cattle (cows), as shown in this video. For my sheep, however, I chose lick tubs as this years protein supplement – for two reasons: 1. Convenience: I leave the tubs in the pasture 24/7, so there’s no need to add feeding sheep to my daily routine. These tubs keep my fall management simple! 2. Self-regulated consumption: When a paddock contains higher-quality forage, my sheep tend to eat very little from the tubs. As forage quality declines, they generally consume more supplement. This way I avoid feeding (and wasting) protein supplement when the pasture doesn’t need it. COST: $0.10–$0.20 per head, per day (Each 125lb tub cost me $94 this year and one sheep consumes around .25lb/day.) #3: Alfalfa Hay
I do feed premium alfalfa square bales instead of grass hay in round bales. It is more expensive, but there are a couple factors that make it worth it for me: 1. I lamb in February. (Here’s why I chose that timing.) Because my ewes are nursing lambs before spring pasture begins growing, they need extra nutrition to support milk production. Alfalfa provides 14-17% protein and is naturally rich in calcium, both of which are especially important during lactation. Grass hay typically contains less protein (often 9–12%) and provides very little calcium. 2. It’s an all-in-one feed. Alfalfa provides enough protein and calcium that I don’t need to purchase additional protein tubs or pellets while feeding it to my flock. This simplifies my feeding routine and helps offset the higher cost of premium hay. COST: $0.55–$1.10 per head, per day (I pay $23 for a 100 lb bale or $265 for 1200lb. My sheep typically consume the equivalent of 2–4% of their body weight in dry matter each day.) #4: Loose Mineral
Minerals are a year-round staple for my flock, not just something I provide during the winter. I use Redmond minerals for my sheep and have had excellent results with two options: Redmond Selenium 90 (which I dilute 50/50 with plain stock salt) and Redmond’s sheep-specific mineral. 😁 Necessary disclaimer: My winter feeding plan is pretty simple, but keep in mind I am sharing this info from Texas. Shepherds with sub-zero temps and long winters may need to feed a heavier ration. Ok, it’s your turn! What are you feeding this winter? Hit “reply” and let me know. -the Shepherdess p.s. Be sure to register for my FREE LIVESTREAM tomorrow, where I will be talking on the topic of “what to Feed Sheep” even more! “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.” Isaiah 40:11 |
September Farm Update
Hello friends, It is time for my monthly farm update! This one includes a failure story and a happy new beginning :). Some of you have followed the 6 year saga, but here is a recap for those who are new…
6 years ago I bought my flock and began my journey on pasture. I was rotating and leaving my sheep in the field 24/7. Predators were a concern, so I bought the first Great Pyrenees puppy I came across.
He arrived at my farm, he loved me, he loved chasing sheep, he loved chewing on lambs, and he loved plucking chicken feathers… not a very good start.
Over the next 6 mos I read books, I spanked him with the dead chickens, I made him a special necklace, and more. Until, one night his love for chasing put him under the wheels of a truck. And that was the (very, very sad) end of his story. 5 years passed and I honestly could not approach the idea of starting the puppy training process all over again. Mercifully, predator pressure wasn’t much of an issue in the years that followed. My fencing was tight, I avoided high risk areas when lambs were tiny, and we had a large pet dog (GP/German Shepherd mix) that roamed our 30 acres.
Predator losses were negligible… until this year – when our pet dog died. At that point I realized I had undervalued her surveillance. Lambs began quietly vanishing and losses became overwhelming. So I prayed. I simply asked the Lord for the right dog if I needed one. Then I waited and watched for the right dog (note, I did not say “puppy”😄).
And she showed up last month. She is 5 year old Great Pyrenees with a great track-record. Her former owners had just sold their sheep and she needed a new flock.
She doesn’t like chicken feathers, and she doesn’t chase sheep, and she’s indifferent toward me (the perfect inversion of my last pup😂). I knew that half the work with a new dog would be acclimating my sheep to it… and I was right. The flock was super flighty upon her arrival; but she was never triggered to chase. Within a few days the sheep had quit running and were sharing shade with her. I will need to introduce a younger dog at some point, but at that point the flock should be much more at ease with a dog present. While I can’t give you a five-step process for turning a puppy into the perfect flock guardian, I hope to encourage you with this testimony: the Lord is able to supply everything you need. Sometimes it’s just a matter of realizing you can’t, then asking if He will. Until next month, -the Shepherdess p.s. If you are new, check out my book: the Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19 |
August Farm Update
“If you make it through July without giving up, you know you really love it.” 🐑 I can’t remember where I heard this (or if these were the exact words), but I think of it every year. June and July are always exhausting (way beyond any other month of the year for me). Then August rolls around and things suddenly break. Lambs are weaned and on their feet, it’s easier to breath, and I find myself making plans for the next season That’s where I’m at this month and it feels so good. Here’s a look at what is happening behind the scenes!
Right now I am prepping the flock for breeding. I join my flock in September for lambs in Feb/Mar. (Click here for a 17min video on my breeding prep) Prep involves shoring up body condition and mineral deficiencies, in addition to making sure worms are under control. Again, check out this video for a deeper dive on breeding prep!
I keep a handful of goats for personal use (dairy). This month I made them do yard-work for me. I was pretty impressed (and glad to retire the weed-eater for a few weeks)!
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-the Shepherdess “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, Psalm 145:18-19 |
Recession.
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The word strikes fear in many, but I actually started my first home-business during the Great Recession of 2008.
I was in 9th grade. I used a $14 allowance and supplies from around my house to get started. By the time I graduated high school, that side-hustle had become (by God’s grace) a full time income for me. I outline the planning process for a side-hustle in my $30k Side-Hustle Planner (+Video Class) — which is my GIFT with every order for the Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture, while supplies last!
I am including the $30k Side Hustle Planner (+Video Class) with each copy of the Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture (while supplies last).
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Thanks for helping me celebrate Birthday Week for my book!! 🥳
I so appreciate you all,
-the Shepherdess
“Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” Isaiah 48:18
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-the Shepherdess
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” 1 Cor. 3:7
Sheep vs. Goats (LIVE tonight)!!!! 🌱🐑
Hey Friends! My monthly LIVESTREAM is TONIGHT (7pm CST)!! The theme is SHEEP vs. GOATS. Based on my own experience I am going to walk you through:
If you are in the “decision making” phase, tonight’s livestream will help you determine whether sheep or goats (or maybe a few of each) will be the best fit for your land! DO NOT MISS THIS (register for the replay if you can’t join live)!
Hope to see you tonight! -the Shepherdess p.s. There will be LIVE Q+A at the end for any sheep and goat questions you have! “The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.” Proverbs 27:26 |
BALDING? try sheep. 😂 (not kidding)
Time for the monthly farm update! And it starts with a story… but first: I need your help!I have a new project I want to build out for you. But before starting I’d like to get your opinion/thoughts directly… would you provide your input through a survey? ↓↓
Back to the story:About a year ago I started eating one lamb liver per month (each liver weighs about 1lb each). I wanted a natural boost of iron and vitamins… and I had a lot of lamb liver in the freezer. 6 mos into this new habit I went to my hairdresser for a cut. She started combing my hair and said: “WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING??”. I was confused – she sounded like my mom when she found a piece of chewed up gum at the base of my scalp.😂 She then parted my hair from the middle, revealing a forest of new hair growth. She said: “This is probably THE MOST new growth than I’ve seen on anyone at once!!” “What have you been doing?”
Then I remembered: 6 mos of lamb liver. I started sharing the lamb liver capsules with brothers and friends; one of whom received the same response from his barber after just a month of eating them.
Anyway: I have maintained my daily lamb-liver consumption; but I became sick of eating pan-fried liver for breakfast 😬. So I started freeze drying the lamb liver, filling my own capsules with the powder. I’ll take 4-6 capsules every morning with my coffee. Here is a link to the capsule filler I use.
My new Sunday afternoon hobby: spending time in my “pharmacy”😂. Grass fed and finished lamb liver capsules are $77 per jar when you can find them. I am able to fill between $300-500 worth* of homemade lamb liver capsules on a single Sunday afternoon. *To be clear, I do not sell the capsules (thanks to a host of regulatory bodies), but I do share with family.
Beef liver is common (and cheaper), but I was surprised to find that LAMB LIVER IS HIGHER (and we are talking significantly) in:
One more reason to love sheep, -the Shepherdess p.s. Don’t forget I need your help! Take my survey to give your input on my next project. PPS. Disclaimer: Consult with your healthcare provider before adding lamb liver to your daily routine. 😉 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds… Proverbs 27:23 |
Join me LIVE tonight!!!! 🌱🐑
Hey Friends! I have a special-edition (FREE) LIVESTREAM TONIGHT!! I will be walking you through GRAZING; my rotational grazing system for sheep, specifically. I’ll be discussing everything from hard fencing to tips for rotation! Implementing this grazing system is what turned sheep farming from painful to profitable for my farm!!! DO NOT MISS THIS (register for the replay if you can’t join live)!
This is a small section of one of my best paid courses: Grazing SHEEP 101… which walks you through installation of the grazing system on whole! AS A BONUS: If you join me tonight I will be offering about 50% off the full course if you want to dive ALL-IN! Hope to see you tonight! -the Shepherdess p.s. There will be LIVE Q+A at the end for any sheep questions you have! “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Psalm 37:3 |
“they’re dying.”😵 🐑
Hi Friends, I often receive “SOS” emails from beginner shepherds. They go something like: “My sheep are dying, what do I do?” 🪱Usually it’s a parasite (worm) problem – especially when the emails come through in June or July. So in honor of June, I am going to share my 3-step RESCUE TREATMENT. This is a process I use to revive a sheep that is down with parasites – specifically the Barber’s Pole worm. BUT FIRST: diagnose.There are 3 ways to (visually) know you are dealing with a Barber’s Pole worm infection:
Pale eyelids indicate anemia. Anemia is a primary symptom of the Barber’s Pole Worm. You need to act quick if your sheep have pale pink or white eyelids.
Bottle jaw (a swollen chin) is another symptom of the Barber’s Pole Worm. Bottle jaw indicates a severe infection. Bottle jaw is typically “final stages” (aka, the last stop before death) of infection. If your sheep develops bottle jaw you need to act quickly if you want to save it! MY 3-STEP RESCUE TREATMENT:The following steps are in the context of the Barber’s Pole worm (which is prevalent in pastured flocks from May-July). Disclaimer: this is what I do, not what I recommend you do… consult your vet as an authority on this topic.😉 1. Get rid of the infection.
First up, I get rid of the infection – which means deworming. Prohibit (Levamisol) and Cydectin are widely effective dewormers for sheep and available at most farm stores. If you do not want to use chemical dewormers, check out my video on experimenting with LYE AS A DEWORMER. Just be aware that Lye can kill your sheep (necessary disclaimer 😅). 2. Supplement with Iron
Severe anemia warrants an iron supplement. I keep 3 options handy for my flock. Keep in mind, I pick one… I do not use all 3 together.
**Redglo and ANEM-X are not FDA approved for sheep; however I use them “off-label” for my flock. These off-label options are very potent, so I use them when a sheep is severely anemic (“at death’s door”). Vitamin B-12 is also helpful to provide in tandem with the iron. It speeds up the process of rebuilding the red blood cell count. Here is a short video on how I administer the rescue treatment.
3. Long-term Solution
Copper deficiency causes anemia in sheep – making them more susceptible to parasite infections. Black sheep (or black-headed sheep) need more copper than the average woolly-white sheep. In 2023 I became suspicious of a copper deficiency in my flock. I began giving each ewe a copper bolus once per year. After launching this protocol, my flock’s natural immunity to the Barber’s Pole worm skyrocketed! Here is a short video on the topic of sheep and copper. Stay the course, June and July can be rough… but I hope this helps you through! -the Shepherdess P.S. This is advice from my 252 page book: “the Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture”. Buy it with free shipping at Shepherdess.com!
Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. Psalm 85:13 |
if you missed it (replay inside) 🐑🐑
Hey Friends! Here is a link to a replay from last night (it was a packed livestream – thank you!!). I taught LAMBING BASICS: from prepping the ewe to assisting during lambing process (as a beginner).
In tandem with this free class, I am offering my complete 12-video BUNDLE on raising a sheep from birth to 8 mos at (about) 50% off!! Here is the link to BUY:👇👇
What I shared in this class was a small section of my best paid course: RAISING SHEEP 101… which walks you through raising a lamb from 0-8 months! If you want the complete course definitely jump on this offer! Enjoy! -the Shepherdess “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Psalm 37:3 |
sheep college 😄🐑
Hi Friends, It’s time for the monthly Farm update. First up, an ANNOUNCEMENT: I launched a Podcast Channel!! This new Channel features long videos that go in depth on very specific topics… I am calling it my SHEEP COLLEGE 😄:
In other news, lambs have been weaned! I will be taking reservations for ewe lambs soon (groups of 5-10 available this year!) Click this button to be added to the waitlist:
The first lambs of the season were weaned while the last lambs of the season were born! A beautiful set of twins!! It has been such a great, uneventful lambing season.
I wrote a 252 page book on the Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture! Buy it today with FREE SHIPPING:
An Ebook version is also available – a great option to avoid international shipping charges! -the Shepherdess “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:5-6 |
I left Texas.
Hi Friends, This farm update is coming to you from AFRICA. It was an honor to be hosted by the Afrikaner farming community in Southern Namibia. Below is a brief recap of the trip! Episode 1 of 4 is live NOW:
Namibia is the driest country in sub-saharan Africa. During a good year rainfall rarely exceeds 8” annually. However, my visit to Namibia came on the heels of a 12 year drought. Rainfall during this time period dropped to as little as 1 inch per calendar year for 12 years straight.
This decade-long drought ended in early 2025, restoring forage to the landscape and hope to the farming population of Namibia.
We (my brother and I) were hosted by the Afrikaner farming community in Namibia. Afrikaners are southern Africans, descendants of the Dutch, German, and Huguenots settlers who settled southern Africa in the 1600’s.
The word “Afrikaner” is simply Dutch for African. The Afrikaner population is estimated at 2.8 million as of 2025 and makes up .2% of the entire population of Africa.
The Afrikaner farmers I visited raise meat sheep as well as cattle for the food supply chain of Southern Africa. These stockmen offer their best breeding stock (referred to as “stud” animals) to other farmers in the region in order to help those neighboring farms to improve productivity and profitability.
Be watching the channel for the remaining 3 episodes! -the Shepherdess “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” Isaiah 45:3 |
$100K HOMESTEAD (free livestream tonight)
Hi Friends, Questions are pouring in about my annual $100k Homestead Coaching program. Tonight’s livestream (at 7pm CST) will be dedicated to answering your questions. I will be giving you a “1000 ft view” of my personal marketing system… This is the marketing system I use to generate $100k+ from my farm. If you are considering the coaching opportunity, this livestream will give you more info … If you just want a free business class, c’mon in!😁 ↓↓Register through this link ↓↓
If you cannot attend live, register for the replay! Application for my coaching group opens tomorrow and I am only accepting 50 students this year -so you don’t want to miss out! -the Shepherdess *I will be sharing about my sheep farm business, but the business strategy works for any home-made/home-grown product. Think: meat, livestock, leatherwork, homemade skincare, cottage bakery, etc. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Cor. 3:7 |
not for everyone.
Hi friends, Once per year I coach a small group through the exact business and marketing strategy I used to grow my farm* business to $100k+ annual revenue. I meet with this group personally (via weekly LIVESTREAM) for 6 months; teaching marketing and sharing the best tools for (home-based) business growth. This opportunity is not for everyone… Only those ready to take actionable steps toward $100k+ from their farm or homestead. Tap the button below for more info!
-the Shepherdess p.s. I am limiting my $100k Homestead coaching group to 50 individuals this year. Tap the button above for the best chance at securing a spot! *I will be sharing about my sheep farm business, but the business strategy works for any home-made/home-grown product. Think: meat, livestock, leatherwork, homemade skincare, cottage bakery, etc. Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. Isaiah 48:17 |
February Farm Update
Hi friends, Here is the monthly update from my farm! Lambing finished with a 40% increase in twinning rate. I traced the increase back to one simple adjustment. Scroll for details! By the way, if you requested my $100k Farm Business plan today and had trouble with the download, click the button below and you’ll be taken directly to the Business Plan Video at my blog:
I shared about my massive canning project in MY LATEST VIDEO. I have had questions about the tools, recipe books, and supplies I used, so I created a spreadsheet with all the resources. Click the button below to access it:
(feel free to hit “reply” to let me know if the list is missing anything!)
Spring grazing is about to kick off! For about 2-3 weeks prior to launching my spring grazing program, I park my flock in one spot. This gives the tender spring pasture a head start before my sheep start to graze it intesively. I try to choose a low quality area of pasture to “park” the flock. This allows all of the nutrients from the hay I feed to fertilize areas that need it most.
My twinning rate increased by 40% this year, which was amazing (no grain or feed inputs at all)! I traced the increase back to the fact that I mowed my pastures in June. This put over-mature forage back into it’s growth-stage and dramatically improved the flock’s performance.
If you are a beginner interested in Raising Meat Sheep (on 30 acres or less), I wrote the Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture for you!
-the Shepherdess Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. |
Livestream with Karl Ebel!
Heads up! We will be discussing low-input systems for beef cattle (as well as meat goats) and answering your questions live!
(If you cannot join us live, register anyway for a link to the replay) Hope to see you there! -the Shepherdess p.s. Get to know Mr. Karl by watching my previous livestream with him HERE. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9 |
January Farm Update
Hi friends, Time for the monthly farm update! The winter storm rolled through and everyone stayed pretty cozy. Meanwhile, I completed a unique project (scroll for more). 🥩 Quick note: For those waiting for breeding stock, I plan to have 2 breeding-ready rams for sale tomorrow night. Click the button below to be notified about availability:
This month I took on a unique project. I converted roughly 500lb of meat into shelf stable, meals ready to eat. This meat was the accumulation of a couple of years: meat that is amazing quality but not marketable (eg. a grass-fed sheep that is too old to market as lamb or home-butchered meat that can’t be sold to the public). I am excited to share a video of this process with you, including recipes (hoping to publish on the channel by the end of the month).
This was my first time canning and preserving food. I enjoyed the learning process. I might not recommend making 500lb of meat your first pressure-canning project, but rest assured you can do it if you have to 😅.
I ended up with 220 jars (or 617 meals worth) of finished product. I lost about 8 jars due to rookie mistakes, but those still remained edible – just not shelf stable. I now have Lamb Stew, Taco Filling, BBQ Sandwich Meat, Teriyaki, Stroganoff, and MORE stashed on the shelf. My version of fast food and a great backup for the grocery store the next time the world shuts down.😅
I emptied my freezer just in time to fill it again with a new round of market lambs! January’s lambs finished out nicely. Average finish weight for this group was 95lb with a carcass yield of around 50% – super pleased with these numbers! (reminder: click here if you are looking for a breeding ram from these genetics) Due to low quality winter pasture I supplemented this group at a rate of 1.5-2lb per head per day during December and January. The supplement was a 50-50 mix of whole oats and alfalfa pellets.
If you are interested in raising your own meat sheep, buy my book for beginners: the Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture
Stay the course, -the Shepherdess “…yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.” Psalm 52:1-2 |
December Farm Update
Hi friends, Better late than never: MERRY CHRISTMAS and a Happy New Year :). I am on my annual 7 week social-media fast…. but I always leave leeway for email updates during the break 😉. Here is what’s happening behind the scenes (with 2 books I am loving right now at 30% off).
This month I learned how to use my meat saw. This one is on sale for $80 off right now. (nope, I’m not earning commissions on that link, but if sharing about the discount helped you you can buy me a coffee with some of your savings.😉)
BUTCHERING (the lamb and goat version) has been my go-to as I slowly learn butchering side of shepherding. Buy the book for 30% off (and free shipping) HERE.
Lambing season kicked off (yep, winter lambing is a Texas advantage). Twinning rate is way up and ewe lambs are leading on a 9-1 ratio! This is good news for those on my waitlist for ewe lambs!I plan to open reservations for breeding stock in February. Prayers for Lazarus (the little guy not standing) would be appreciated. I found him 1/2 frozen and the verdict is still out as to whether or not he will “come forth”.
It takes 12-18 gallons of quality milk to raise one lamb. (which translates to about $250 per lamb when I buy goat milk at retail) Instead of buying milk, I use 2 dairy goats to build up a milk bank over summer. These girls definitely earn their keep!
Raising Goats Naturally has been my favorite book for Dairy Goats. Buy the book for 30% off (and free shipping) HERE.
Keep at it, everyone. ❤️ -the Shepherdess “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19 |
Surprise 😍
If you are like me, you are… ahem… a bit last minute. 🎁 So in honor of you (and me 😉) I am hosting a FLASH SALE on select homestead books, children’s books, and STOCKING STUFFERS: $2 and $7 with $10 FLAT RATE PRIORITY SHIPPING! HURRY, order deadline is THURSDAY at 12pm! I plan to ship everything on Thursday afternoon via PRIORITY MAIL. While I cannot guarantee USPS service standards, I will be packing and shipping for best chance for delivery by Christmas!!!
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 |
How I Keep Records on My Small Sheep Flock
How to Breed a Low-Maintenance Sheep Flock (My Simple Record-Keeping System)
In this post, I’m going to walk you through the simple record-keeping system I use to manage and improve my small flock of sheep. This system is designed for flock sizes anywhere between 6 and 100 — small by industry standards, but large enough that organization truly matters.
I’ll cover:
- My ear-tagging guidelines
- What information I track
- How I organize those records
- And how this system helps me breed a low-maintenance, resilient flock year after year
If you raise sheep or goats, I want to encourage you to download my FREE Beginner Shepherd Resource Bundle. It’s an ebook that covers the three pillars of success with small ruminants:
- Raising sheep
- Rotational grazing
- Marketing sheep for a profit
Click the first link in the video description, and I’ll email it to you for free.
A Quick Disclaimer
This is my system, and it works extremely well for my style of grazing and flock size. If you have variations, additions, or ways to improve upon it, share them in the comments — your insight might help someone else refine their own system.
Context: Why My Record Keeping Is Simple
My flock is still under 100 sheep, and after five years of culling hard for low-maintenance genetics, I simply don’t have many health issues to track anymore.
In the early days, I kept more detailed notes because… well, there were more problems.
But today, my sheep are extremely low-input, so my record keeping is:
- Simple
- Cheap
- Effective
All I use are three tools:
- Ear tags
- A daily planner
- Google Sheets
That’s it.
1. Ear Tags: The Foundation of My System
Everything starts with tagging lambs at weaning. I use simple Allflex ear tags (orange is my favorite color for visibility).
My numbering system always begins with:
- The year, followed by
- A sequential number starting with 01
Example:
If I have 70 lambs born in 2025, the tags will run from 2501 to 2570.
Tagging by year is incredibly helpful because I can look at any ewe and instantly know her age. That matters when evaluating health issues — an eight-year-old ewe with minor ailments is not the same concern as a two-year-old with recurring problems.
2. The Daily Planner: Where Raw Notes Live
My daily planner is where I jot down everything as it happens. The types of details I track include:
- Births
- Deaths
- Ailments (hooves, worms, limping, etc.)
- Treatments or supplements of any kind
- Breeding details:
- Ram joining dates
- Removal dates
- First lambing date
- Last lambing date
Whenever possible, I reference tag numbers. For example:
- 1909 had twins on the 5th
- 2304 was limping and needed Hoof & Heel
These quick daily notes become the raw material for my long-term tracking.
3. Google Sheets: The Master Record
Once per month (or sometimes once per quarter), I take all those daily planner notes and enter them into my Google Sheet.
My setup is simple:
- One tab per sheep
- Notes added line-by-line throughout the year
This sheet becomes my end-of-year evaluation tool. Each winter, I cull the bottom 10–20% of the flock based on the data in this spreadsheet. The “bottom” sheep are the ones who:
- Required the most deworming
- Needed frequent treatments
- Struggled with feet or condition
- Needed supplementation that others didn’t
By reviewing each sheep’s tab, the top performers rise to the front, and the bottom performers become obvious.
This is the backbone of how I improve my flock every single year.
Why This System Works
This method is:
- Low cost
- Beginner-friendly
- Highly effective
- Scalable up to around 100 ewes
Most importantly, it keeps me focused on breeding a flock of sheep that thrives with minimal intervention. My system doesn’t reward the sheep that need the most help — it highlights the ones that do well naturally.
That’s how you build a low-maintenance flock.
And if you’re curious about the real costs of raising sheep, be sure to watch the next video — The 15 Costs of Raising Sheep.
HOW TO MAKE A BUSINESS OUT OF FARMING (3 Tips)
This video shares 3 business tips for new farmers from Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farms model!
1 HOUR INTERVIEW WITH Joel Salatin: https://bit.ly/2022atPolyface
Finding Lease Land using onX: • HOW TO FIND LEASE LAND FOR FARMING & RANCH…
Join my Newsletter: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessNWSLTR
SALAD BAR BEEF BOOK: https://bit.ly/SBBeefBOOK
How to Go Full Time in Farming (from the Polyface Farm Business Model)
There are three primary challenges small farms face today if they want to be profitable — not just an expensive hobby:
- Access to land
- Human resources
- Cashflow
During my visit to Polyface Farm, I saw firsthand how Joel Salatin’s unique business model tackles all three of these obstacles. In this post, I’m going to show you how the Polyface example can help beginner farmers break through these same barriers.
How Polyface Inspired My Own Farm Journey
When I first jumped into agriculture, Joel Salatin’s book Salad Bar Beef gave me the confidence that I could raise livestock profitably on just 30 acres — even as a complete beginner.
I read that book nearly six years ago. Three years later, I went full-time in agriculture on my own 30-acre enterprise. I had zero prior experience, and while my journey took a turn away from beef and toward sheep (a better fit for small acreage), I scaled my revenue and built a full-time farm by mirroring key parts of the Polyface model — not just the meat production side, but also Salatin’s value-added enterprises.
For those unfamiliar, the Polyface business model is radically different from the conventional farm model. Joel routinely catches criticism from the “farm establishment,” largely because he refuses to leave money on the table. Polyface isn’t just a meat farm — it’s also an agritourism hub, an educational platform, and a mentorship ecosystem.
Small farmers willing to follow this example quickly discover something powerful:
Inviting people to interact with your farm not only widens margins — it fulfills a deep cultural hunger for connection to land.
As you read through these three challenges and three Polyface-inspired solutions, I encourage you to identify at least one unconventional idea you can apply to your own farm. Drop a comment telling me which one resonates most with you.
1. Land Access: Getting a Foot in the Door
The price of land today makes it nearly impossible for a beginner to purchase acreage outright — at least, not with farming income alone. Thankfully, Salatin highlights three practical pathways for securing land access without shelling out hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Option 1: Steward Family Land
Landowners are aging, and many end up selling only because no one is willing to carry their vision forward. This was my route.
I don’t own my farm. I lease 30 acres of family land for my sheep enterprise.
It has been a win-win: I have access to land I could never afford to purchase, and my family has someone maintaining the property.
Option 2: Lease Land from Strangers
This option is similar to the first — just without the family connection.
I’ve secured several short-term leases this way (I’ll link the full step-by-step video below). Yes, cold-calling landowners is uncomfortable… but you get over it.
My method:
- Use OnX Hunt to find the landowner’s name
- Track down a phone number through community connections or
- Send a letter requesting a lease
Option 3: Inheritance
This is the least common path — most of us aren’t inheriting hundreds of acres.
Joel himself took over Polyface from his father, who purchased it as a worn-out, degraded piece of land. Joel chose to carry forward his father’s vision and build upon it. That willingness to steward legacy is often lacking today, which is one reason many landowners choose to sell rather than leave property to their children.
2. Human Resources: Solving the Labor Crunch
New farmers often start with enthusiasm, juggle every role themselves, and burn out within a few years. The Polyface model solves this through a self-feeding labor pipeline built around two components:
- Seasonal mentorship programs (“Stewards”)
- A small core of year-round staff
The Steward program brings in young people to live and work on the farm during the busiest season: late spring through early fall. These individuals gain hands-on experience and contribute enormous labor value exactly when the farm needs it most.
Stewards work for room, board, food, and mentorship rather than cash — and the very best are sometimes invited to join the full-time paid staff.
This model is ingenious, sustainable, and absolutely repeatable — even for tiny farms.
3. Cashflow: The Polyface Superpower
Cashflow is my favorite topic — and the one I studied most closely while building my own enterprise.
Polyface is not a commodity farm. They don’t sell grain to elevators or livestock at auction. Instead, they operate a direct-to-consumer meat business, selling:
- Pork
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Lamb
- Turkeys
- Rabbits
These are sold through online ordering and local buying clubs, with scheduled delivery drops in affluent, health-conscious communities in Virginia.
But what really widens their margins is the value-added enterprise stack layered on top:
- A farm store with merch and local goods
- “Lunatic Tours” at $25 per person
- Multi-day on-farm seminars
- Self-published books (over 100k copies sold)
- Paid speaking engagements
Not all of us are Joel Salatin–level personalities, so some of these opportunities may not translate directly.
But after interviewing Joel in 2021, I challenged myself to see how many I could adapt as a complete nobody — a brand-new farmer with no credentials.
Here’s what that looked like for me:
- Instead of a physical farm store → I built an online store with handcrafted merch
- Instead of weekly on-farm tours → I publish weekly YouTube videos (digital agritourism)
- Instead of hosting on-farm seminars → I host live online workshops
- And I self-published a book on sheep farming
All of these became meaningful revenue streams that buffer my farm income through the ups and downs of startup life.
If you can find even one unique income stream outside raw food sales — a value-added product, an educational angle, or a digital version of agritourism — your farm’s cashflow becomes far more resilient.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you want to see exactly how I scaled from $0 to $100k on a 30-acre beginner farm, watch the next video where I break down the entire process step-by-step.
Meat (sheep) Stats 🐑🥩 | How Much Meat do Dorper Sheep Produce?
Hi Friends,
October was pretty low-key on pasture, but I sent a few lambs to processing. I will share meat stats and recipes below! 🐑🥩 Thank you to everyone who purchased during my Autumn livestock sale. Breeding stock is sold out for 2025. Next availability is looking like February 2026!
| Grass fed lamb: 110lb at roughly 10 months old. |
I sent a group of meat wethers off to processing in October. I aim for 100lb live weight before sending to the butcher, but 90 lb is also a good average.
My best bloodlines will hit this weight on mom’s milk and forage only by about 9-10 months.
A lamb at 100lb I will yield roughly 50lb worth of meat in the package.
I make my grass-fed lamb available on a local basis before shipping. Subscribe below for a chance to buy my meat once my local demand is satisfied:
A lot of people ask how I cook with lamb, so I created a video with 5 American Style Recipes!
(click the photo above to watch and download the cookbook)
If you are looking to raise your own grass-fed meat sheep, check out my book for beginners: the Basics of Raising Sheep on Pasture
I TESTED LYE AS A DEWORMER FOR LIVESTOCK (vet results)
CLICK FOR MY FREE E-BOOK “13 Things You Need to Raise Sheep”
Does lye work as a natural dewormer for livestock? In this article I am going to share vet-tested results that will give you the answer. I am going to share exactly how I administered lye to act as a dewormer, the animals I ran this test on, and the detailed results from the veterinary office which reveal how effective (or not) that lye is as a natural dewormer for livestock.
Very interesting stuff is upcoming, so let’s get to it.
Premise:
If you are like me, you’ve seen or received a message about the VIRAL “Lye as a Natural Dewormer for livestock videos”: pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, chickens… The viral video claims that Lye works as a dewormer for all classes of livestock. The man who published the video says that he has been using lye as livestock dewormer for 17 years with no negative side effects observed in his animals. He cites that lye has no meat withdrawal period, and no milk withdrawal period.
Withdrawal period is a time period in which you cannot eat the meat or drink the milk of an animal that has been dewormed with chemical dewormer. Withdrawal period is necessary because chemical residuals may present themselves in either the meat or the milk directly after using chemical dewormers. The withdrawal time period ranges from 2-8 weeks depending on what kind of chemical dewormer you are using.
In watching that video, I was intrigued but skeptical. Intrigued because the animals looked healthy, skeptical because there was no real data provided that connected the health of the animals to the lye, just sort of a “I think it works and it’s what I use”. There were no fecal egg counts done to confirm that the lye was actually (the thing) reducing parasite loads.
So I decided to perform an informal research project for myself: to gather the numbers and data that was missing.
Here is exactly how it went:
But first a quick disclaimer: this Article is in no ways encouraging you to use lye as a dewormer for your livestock. Lye is caustic and may kill your animal. This is purely a research project. I am not a veterinarian, so please contact yours before giving anything to your animal as a dewormer.
Back to it:
My Test Subjects & Conditions
I used my small goat herd to test the lye as a dewormer concept. The herd is about 7 head in total: 2 kids (6 mos old) and 5 adults.
I tested this small group of goats instead of my sheep flock because (given the previous disclaimer) I was not sure if the lye would kill my animals. I can afford to lose my goats, but if I were to kill my sheep flock through this experiment I would be out a significant amount of money.
My goats are dairy goats. One of the adult nannies was pretty badly infected with parasites at the onset of this experiment (namely the barber’s pole worm), as indicated by a very severe case of bottle jaw. She was a good test subject.
To begin this research project I removed the goats from the pasture and put them in a pen.
I controlled their feed 100%: giving them a 50-50 ration of all stock feed pellets and alfalfa pellets. I also provided bermuda hay free choice.
Now removing the goats entirely from pasture and putting them into a controlled environment for the duration of this test eliminated any external factors that would either increase or decrease their parasite counts. This gave me a crystal-clear idea of exactly what kind of impact the lye treatment did or did not have on parasite counts.
The Process (and Results):
Once I penned the goats I ran the first of 3 fecal egg counts to find out how many parasites/worms were inside these goats.
Fecal egg counts are the primary means of determining whether a deworming method is effective. You must run a fecal egg count both before and after you deworm your animal. If a given deworming method is effective, there will be a significant reduction in the egg count numbers in that second test.
To run the fecal egg count you need to take roughly 4-5 pieces of goat or sheep manure to the vet. From there, the vet will provide you with egg count on the manure samples. According to my vet, 800 eggs per gram or less is what you want to aim for in your sheep and goats. Numbers higher than this represent a pretty significant parasite infection.
I ran a fecal egg count on 2 of the 7 goats in this test group: Daisy (with the bottle jaw) and Maria.
Results from test #1 showed an egg count of:
- 5400 eggs per gram for Daisy
- 1250 eggs per gram for Maria
Which means both goats were significantly infected with the Barber’s Pole Worm – far beyond 800 epg.
After this first test I gave lye as a dewormer for the first time. I followed instructions almost exactly from that viral video for my 7 goats:
- 1 teaspoon of lye
- 2 cups water
- 2 gallons of feed
I dissolved 1 teaspoon of lye in the water, poured the water into the feed and thoroughly mixed it to where all of the feed was covered in the lye-water.
Then fed it to the goats.
Two days later I took a 2nd round of fecal samples from Daisy and Maria to the vet for the second test.
Results from test #2 showed a fecal egg count of:
- 1200 eggs per gram for Daisy (down from 5400)
- 750 eggs per gram for Maria (Down from 1250)
Now this was a significant reduction, but these numbers were still really high. As a reminder: 800 epg is about maximum in terms of healthy levels.
So at this point, I took a risk and administered a second round of lye treated feed.
The same protocol as the first time around:
- 1 teaspoon of lye
- 2 cups water
- 2 gallons of feed
2 days after that second dose I took a 3rd set of fecal samples from Daisy and Maria to the vet for a 3rd test.
The vet called with the results from that 3rd test and said: there are no worms in these samples.
I said: “What do you mean, there are always some worms, what are the numbers?”
The vet-tech said: “the numbers are so low that it’s not worth counting, but I’d say around 150epg for Daisy and 300epg for Maria”. I was floored and shocked.
Results from test #3 showed a fecal egg count of:
- 150 eggs per gram for Daisy (down from 5400)
- 300 eggs per gram for Maria (Down from 1250)
So yes, lye dewormed my goats almost completely. I observed no negative side effects despite giving the treatment twice in one week.
So what are your thoughts? Is this too risky? Have you had success using lye as a dewormer yourself? Would you use Lye to deworm your own animals? Have you encountered negative side effects in using lye as a dewormer? I am looking forward to this conversation continuing in the comments!
September Farm Update (sheep for sale)
Hi Friends, This farm update includes some long-awaited info. My Fall Lamb and Starter Flock sale kicks off this month! Click the button below to receive exclusive email updates about my Autumn Sheep Sale:
(Unless you tap the button above you will not receive any updates on sheep for sale… make sure and click!)
For the past 5 years I have culled hard for 4 characteristics: Parasite resistance, good maternal traits, hoof health, and meaty frames on pasture only.
This year a 5th trait is really emerging: uniformity. It is super encouraging to see such a notable consistency in frame (meatiness), lowline, and hair coat within the flock.
Fall lambing is underway! Due to a breeding-glitch that happened back in May, my fall lambing season is a bit smaller than usual… but the new additions are looking great!
If you have been waiting to buy lambs or a Complete Starter Flocks from my farm, be sure to tap the button below to be notified once the livestock sale launches!
I added the last of the inventory to the $10 tee sale!! We filled all the orders from the August rush, then added leftovers to the site. This is the end of my tee shirt collection until at least 2026, so grab yours!!
More to come :), -the Shepherdess “The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: |
September 2025 Farm Update | Raising Dorper Sheep in Texas
Hi Friends,
This farm update includes some long-awaited info. My Fall Lamb and Starter Flock sale kicks off this month! More updates to follow, so be watching.
When it comes to my flock I cull for 4 characteristics: Parasite resistance, good maternal traits, hoof health, and meaty frames on pasture only.
This year a 5th trait is really emerging within the flock: uniformity. While I don’t “cull for cosmetics” it is super encouraging to see the consistency in frame (meatiness), lowline, and hair coat in nearly every sheep.
Fall lambing is underway! Due to a breeding-glitch that happened back in May, my fall lambing season is a bit smaller than usual… but the new additions are looking great!
If you have been waiting to buy lambs or a Complete Starter Flocks from my farm, be sure to be on the lookout for further updates!
I added the last of the inventory to the $10 tee sale!! We filled all the orders from the August rush, then added leftovers to the site. This is the end of my tee shirt collection until at least 2026, so jump grab yours!!
More soon,
-the Shepherdess
“The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked:
the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.”
Nahum 1:3
HOW MUCH DO DORPER SHEEP COST?
CLICK FOR MY FREE E-BOOK “13 Things You Need to Raise Sheep”
In this article, I am going to answer a question that nobody wants to: “How much do Dorper Sheep Cost?” Now, nobody wants to answer this question because pricing for livestock fluctuates constantly. However, I am going to write this article in an effort to get you into a current price-range as well as give guidance on the various categories you’ll encounter when shopping for Dorper sheep.
I am going to give you 3 different pricing categories that purebred Dorper sheep fall into going from least to most expensive. The categories include: commercial Dorper Sheep at the Sale barn, value-added commercial sheep at private sale, and high-value registered Breeding stock.
Now something to know is that the most expensive sheep is a dead sheep, and as such I have a free EBOOK for you called “The 13 Things You Need to Raise Sheep”. It will give you a strong head start toward a healthy, profitable flock. Click this link and I’ll email it to you for free.
The first pricing category I will provide is for commercial Dorper sheep from the sale barn. A sale barn is where you will typically find sheep at the lowest cost. There are pros and cons to the sale barn: the pro is lowest cost and ability to get a large quantity of sheep. The con is that there is often not a lot of background information provided on the sheep for sale. There are no guarantees of pure bred status, it’s hard to do diligence and identify what kind of system and feed the sheep were raised on, and often Dorpers at the sale barn are mixed with other hair breeds. Unless you have a lot of experience buying from a sale barn (or help from a friend that does), you could end up with a sick sheep, mixed breed, or potentially genetics that are not suitable for your farm.
In terms of pricing, I use the San Angelo Texas livestock report and I use the “HAIR SHEEP” category of the report for an idea of current pricing for Dorper Lambs. Reports from this week show that you can purchase a 75lb “choice/prime” HAIR lamb at about $2.62 per pound. So for a 75lb lamb you can expect to pay $197 at a sale barn in Texas.
The second pricing category is purebred commercial Dorper sheep at private sale. This is the category that my sheep fall under and the category I suggest you buying from as a beginner buying sheep. Buying private sale enables you to get direct information on the type of feed the sheep receive, how much grain input, what kind of grazing system the sheep are managed under, what kind of medications the flock owner uses, and so much more. It is the best way to get a healthy sheep and the easiest way to traceback and pursue accountability and reparation should you end up with a sick sheep.
Pricing for really good quality commercial Dorper breeding stock at private sale is anywhere from $250-700/hd. That is a really wide spread that is going to be based on what kind of genetics and management the flock boasts.
I sell my breeding quality ewes and ram lambs for between $500 and $700/hd based on the really strong pasture-based genetics I have developed. My pasture raised lambs have about a 50-55% carcass yield at the butcher – meaning a hearty, meaty, low input animal. I have also bred in a lot of value-adding characteristics like parasite resistance, shedding ability, good maternal instincts, and a lot of others. This contributes to me earning top-tier for my sheep because I am breeding for a specific niche that really values those characteristics and understands that while they may pay-up for seed-stock, they are going to get paid back within their first lamb-crop (because of the quality).
But to summarize I would say that $350 per head for quality, purebred, commercial Dorper lamb at 60-80lb is not an unreasonable pricepoint at this point in time.
The third and most expensive pricing category for Dorper Sheep is registered, full-blood at private sale (or more commonly at specialty shows like the Mid-America Dorper Sheep Breeder Show). These are sheep with registration papers at the ADSBS. These papers trace the sheep’s lineage back to South Africa. Registered sheep are rarely, if ever bred for meat production. They are typically always bred for the show ring. Being show animals, they are very expensive.
Pricing will depend on the reputation of the breeder and the phenotype of the animal itself. “Typing” is done on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being the best phenotype. The price range can be anything from $800-8,000 for a breeding ewes and rams. $8k is pretty extreme but not unheard of for Dorper. This year you can expect to pay an average of $1000-1500 for a quality, registered Dorper breeding stock.
But $3,000-5,000 for a ram from one of the best breeders in the country is not uncommon. The reason is that people will pay premium for, say, a “type 5” ram so that they can breed him to a flock full of “type 3” ewes and immediately have a top-dollar, type 4-5 lamb crop that pays for the cost of the ram in the first year.
So in summary, you could be looking at pricing that is anywhere from $200-$8,000 for a quality Dorper Sheep.
If you have experience buying at a sale barn, or an experienced friend who can help you buy, you might be able to source a quality group of ewe lambs for $200 each. My preferred method is to pay around $350-500 per head at private sale to ensure I am getting good, pasture based genetics in my Dorper sheep. Finally, if you are into show animals, expect to pay a median price of $1,000 per head for Registered Dorper breeding stock.
Remember, that the most expensive sheep is a dead sheep, so be sure to download my free EBOOK on “The 13 Things You Need to Raise Sheep” for a good head-start toward a healthy flock.
Know your enemy 🪱🐑 (free class)
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Hi friends, There is a saying that goes: “If you know your enemy and your (yes, I updated the original saying a bit, but the principle applies regardless 😄) 🪱As you raise sheep on pasture, internal parasites (worms) to be one of your biggest enemies. In fact, worms killed half of our flock in our first 2 years as beginner farmers (yep, ouch!). Today, however, worms are no longer a major issue. To keep parasites at bay, I use a combination of:
Tomorrow I am going to share all of my practices! Come with your questions because there will be LIVE Q+A at the end! Special bonus: I vet-tested the viral “Lye as Livestock Dewormer” concept and will be sharing the results from the veterinary office at the end of the livestream (as well as the potential risks of using lye as a dewormer):
Much of this info will apply to goats as well as sheep. 🐐 If you are unable to attend live, please register anyway and you will receive a replay. There is a room size limit of 150, so please log-on early to secure one of the LIVE seats. All registrants will receive a replay! To support these free monthly meetups please consider one (or both) of the following:
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow (7pm CST)! -the Shepherdess “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Psalm 24:1
*DISCLAIMER: I am not a veterinary professional. Please do not attend this meetup in search of (or to supplement) professional veterinary advice. I will be sharing based on experience from my own farm. |
🥳LIVE NOW!! (bonus for first 10)
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🎉📚 MY BOOK’S 2nd BIRTHDAY EVENT IS LIVE!! (Shepherdess Dorpers Ceramic Mug to the first 10 book orders, and the $30k Side Hustle Planner comes WITH EVERY BOOK*!!)
Birthday week bonuses:🎉 (Bonuses start in for all orders after 8am CST on 8/15 and are granted on a first-come basis)
Keep in mind, the first 10 orders will receive all of the above in ONE MEGA BUNDLE… there are some serious perks this year!!!🎉🎉🎉
Already own the book, but want access to the $30k Side Hustle Planner?
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| LEAVE a Review |
*Offer runs while supplies last or until 8/21.
For a look at how the book came together, watch this video!
The Basics of Raising Sheep Book is 100% printed and constructed in the USA!⬇️⬇️
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-the Shepherdess
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” 1 Cor. 3:7
[Business BOOTCAMP] Monday Briefing
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Hi Friends, It is time for the Monday Briefing! I am pretty excited about this month’s 🎙️COMPLETION PRIZE, so scroll for info!! ASSIGNMENT SUMMARY: We are in week number 1 of Month 5! In our final months of Bootcamp I am going to be unpacking my entire Content Marketing Strategy for you. This week, I am addressing the importance of a Service-based Mindset in Marketing: Lesson 1 in Month 5: Marketing Mindset & Messaging
(be sure you are logged in when clicking this button or you will see “not enrolled”) Good Marketing is founded on 3 principles, primarily:
Principle #3 has been the most important for my business: serve before you sell. In my first year of marketing, I was giving my customer base a lot more than I was receiving. I “gave” in 3 primary ways:
These were ways of giving that were tied into my Lead Capture strategy (the one that I taught you in Phase 2), so it was a win-win… but the premise is the same: I had to give before I could ask… and it paid off… By the time I had products ready to sell, I had an email list of people that I had been serving (through a free resource, videos about my flock, and educational blog post)… …and these people were warmed up ready to buy. This is also why I suggest that you start marketing before your product is ready to sell. The warm-up process takes time :). 🌱 What a soil base and a customer base have in common… As regenerative farmers, we know that a soil base usually requires that we give it something before we pull a harvest out of it. The same principle applies with to a customer base. Constantly taking is never a winning strategy. The size of our harvest typically relies on the strength of our input… More on a how to establish a Service Based Mindset in Marketing in Assignment 1:
COMMUNITY UPDATES:PODCAST IS UPDATED! I have updated the member-only podcast with:
Here is how to add the Member-Only Podcast to your Podcast Library:
COMPLETION PRIZES for Month 5: All students to complete this month’s assignments will be entered into a drawing for one RODE NT-USB Mini USB PODCASTING Microphone. This connects to your laptop or tablet and is ideal for Podcasting and recording audio narration for YouTube videos. As a reminder: completion prizes are a fun incentive to stay focused, not an encouragement to rush :). Keep at it, slow and steady! -the Shepherdess “And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” Psalm 90:17 Earnings Disclaimer: Every effort is made to equip you with the tools and strategies you need to reach specific financial goals. However, there is no guarantee that you will earn money using the classes I provide for you. God alone gives the increase and will dictate whether you are profitable or not. This education comes with no warranties or guarantees. By participating you agree that you understand this earnings disclaimer. |
June Farm Update (with announcement)
Hi Friends, I have an announcement at the bottom, but first up: I have received a few emails wondering if my farm has been impacted by the flooding here in TX. The answer is no. We are several hours north of the floodzone. Please remain in prayer for the families who are facing loss and devastation this month. Until 2017 I lived in the exact area that is being affected. There was a 100-year flood in 2015 and I witnessed firsthand the speed and power with which these flood waters rise. It is hard to explain and nearly impossible to plan for.
This month I decided to clip/mow my pastures. Over the past couple of years we hit June and July and pasture growth outpaced the flock’s ability to graze through it. As a result, forage just wasn’t as palatable or nutritious over summer. So far I am pleased with the decision to mow. We have had plenty of rain, so pasture has recovered quickly. The sheep are in great condition with the better forage quality. And yes, we did intend to bale it but the rain cut the process short.
June used to be one of the most difficult months for me in terms of farming: the heat and managing/sorting/working lambs in it was overwhelming. However in 2023 I moved my entire lambing season back by 1 month (from March/April to Feb/March). This enabled me to finish all of the major lamb work for the year in May (and before the onset of scorching TX summer). I am so grateful to not be working lambs in June and July anymore. 😅
With a slower pace in June, I was able to invest in something I have had in mind for a while: launching YouTube Kids Channel. As a child, summer reading programs were my absolute favorite. The Shepherdess Book Club is a channel that features wholesome read-alouds and craft-projects for children ages 0-9 yrs. To support the channel you can purchase the Shepherdess Summer Camp Kit, which includes a hard-copy of each book and supplies to complete the various craft projects!
I hope the new content provides a respite as you and your little ones finish out your summer break!
Until next time, -the Shepherdess “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7 |
