Countryview Family Farms | Family. Sheep. Passion.

Would you believe that we swore we would never get sheep? We enjoyed raising goats, but were very adverse to sheep.Over a decade ago, we had around 50 goats and 2 sheep.

Now, the tables have completely turned. We have over 50 sheep and 3 goats. I guess you can blame it on me. I’m the reason we ever brought sheep onto the farm. After getting interested in wool as a fiber through the Make It With Wool contest, I became really interested in the sheep industry. Over the years, our sheep numbers grew, and the rest of the family fell in love with these wooly guys.

We are now an award-winning sheep breeder producing unique crossbreds with competitive fleeces. Raising sheep is a family affair. Feeding, caring, and showing the sheep are all done as a family and with a ton of passion.

We are excited to show off our 2021 lamb crop. Our largest yet at 26 lambs. We think there are some really special ones in this group. I was so excited to take photos of not just the sheep, but our family doing what they love. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as we do. There isn’t a photo of everyone, but these are my favorite shots/stories.

Crystal + Opal

Silver has never given us a ewe lamb in all the years she has lambed. This year, she decided to give us twin girls. I’m really excited with these two. They are going to have some gorgeous curls and have the sweetest faces.

Stormy + Barry

Stormy’s lamb was highly anticipated. She didn’t breed last year, and we just knew her lambs would be standouts! She didn’t disappoint this year. Barry is a beefy guy with the handsomest face. In fact, he’s such a standout, he was sold within 10 minutes of a farm visitor. He’s going to a great home in a few weeks.

Onyx

Onyx is the oldest lamb of the group. She was also the product of a teenage trist (those following on social media will be familiar with her parents oops). This was my first time seeing everyone in person, so I was shocked to see a crown of horns on her head! They are a gift from her dad, Odin. They aren’t really horns. They are called scurs, which are impartial horns that are not connected to the skull. I think it makes her look errr… unique, but it is nice to be able to distinguish her from Norma (next pic).

Hollywood + “Halle” Berry

Forever fancy, Hollywood passed on her sass and good looks to little Halle, the youngest of the flock. I mean, would you look at those headshots.

Dahlia

Oh, sweet Dahlia. Our little alpaca—not really, but doesn’t she look like one? Dahlia is Momma’s special bottle baby. I wrote about her story earlier. She is still sweet and still very much Mom’s special girl. Even though, Sybil doesn’t have any milk, Dahl is still very much her special girl too.

Thistle + Heather

Skye is one of my special girls. Her momma, Paisley, was my favorite, but is no longer with us. So, I always look forward to Skye’s lambs. Skye is named after the Isle of Skye and all her lambs receive a Scottish name. Last year was Nessie. This year, she tickled me pink with twin girls, one who looks very similar to Paisley. I named them Thistle and Heather. I’m so excited to see these girls grow, but for the duration of my visit, they got some cuddles.

Lykah

Our long awaited badger-faced girl. She’s a fancy one, and Isaac is so very smitten with her. And, can you imagine her fleece?! All the heart eyes.

B Boys

Astrid’s triplets. They are their own little posse. Bach, Beethoven, and Brahm are a fun lot. Although they are triplets, they each are unique, with very different wool from one another. It amazes me to see the variety of genetics. Astrid especially never ceases to surprise us with her lambs. Which B Boy is your favorite?

Juliette

Folks always ask how we tell everyone apart. The truth is, I can’t always. I do look for little differences. Onyx’s scurs. Heather’s white teardrops. Slight color differences. For Juliette, it’s her face. I don’t know if it is obvious to others, but to me she is obviously different, with pink eyes and a tuff of wool on her head and something I can’t quite describe. Juliette stands out, at least to me, from the others. And, when you get a hold of her wool, well, that stands out too.

Colette+ Suzette+Rosette

All you need to know, is Collette was once green. The sun has faded that from her, an her babes are white.

Fifi+ Duke + Prince

She’s a pistol and teaches all her babies to escape pastures; however, you cannot say she is a poor mother.

Passion

Enough of the sheep, now for the passion part. It takes heart and passion to raise these guys. It isn’t easy. Currently, trenches are being dug in the pastures because they are flooded from rain. While I was down, we vaccinated all the babies and ewes. The boys are excellent sheep wranglers. bit we’ve worked out a system where working the sheep goes smoothly. It did my heart good to be able to work the sheep. I miss it.

Family

None of it would be possible without family. We each have our strengths that help things work. We don’t always agree, but we work together to raise and show these wooly guys. Over the years, we have made some wonderful memories. At Countryview Farms it is all about sheep, family. passion.