A passion for livestock on pasture.
Megan and Don both grew up showing livestock in 4-H. Megan had market goats and sheep and Don had rabbits and market lambs. They met at The Ohio State University and got married during graduate school. Don majored in horticulture and crop science as an undergrad, and soil science as a graduate. Megan majored in animal science as an undergrad, and horticulture and crop science (pasture ecology) as a graduate.
After graduation and obtaining employment outside of the University, they bought a house on an acre in northwest Ohio, and began saving money and looking for a farm. After a few years, they got tired of not having any livestock, so they decided to raise a dozen laying hens and rotated them around the yard. The hen house that Don and Megan built is on skids so that the lawn tractor could move it around the yard on a regular basis.
In 2012, Don and Megan found farm property for sale that matched their needs, just north of Ada, OH; it was already 100% pasture-based. Since taking possession in December 2012, they have switched exclusively to sheep and hay as their farm operation. The original hen house is now used to feed and shelter the livestock guardian dogs that protect the sheep.
Ewes are kept on pasture throughout the year, until just prior to lambing, when they are brought into the barn for supplemental feed, shearing, and lambing. After weaning, the ewes once again go out on pasture. The lambs are grown out in the barn.
After graduation and obtaining employment outside of the University, they bought a house on an acre in northwest Ohio, and began saving money and looking for a farm. After a few years, they got tired of not having any livestock, so they decided to raise a dozen laying hens and rotated them around the yard. The hen house that Don and Megan built is on skids so that the lawn tractor could move it around the yard on a regular basis.
In 2012, Don and Megan found farm property for sale that matched their needs, just north of Ada, OH; it was already 100% pasture-based. Since taking possession in December 2012, they have switched exclusively to sheep and hay as their farm operation. The original hen house is now used to feed and shelter the livestock guardian dogs that protect the sheep.
Ewes are kept on pasture throughout the year, until just prior to lambing, when they are brought into the barn for supplemental feed, shearing, and lambing. After weaning, the ewes once again go out on pasture. The lambs are grown out in the barn.
Our first hen house that we rotated around the yard.
