One of the great rewards of working closely with our livestock is how readily they respond when we call them. This trust not only makes handling easier, but also lets us keep a close eye on their well-being. Each day, a team member checks on the pigs, donkeys, and sheep at 7, 11, 2, 5, and just before sunset, making sure they always have water and shade. We believe this attentive approach best safeguards our animals during stretches of extreme heat.
During our morning rounds, Jon and I stopped by the feeder pig paddock. The video captures their enthusiastic response the moment he called out. Born in May, these feeder pigs, like the rest of our livestock, have learned to associate our voices with food, safety, and care.
-Leo
4
Last Friday morning, our gilt Tiana delivered seven healthy piglets and quickly proved herself a devoted mother. These piglets are the first sired by our young boar, Buzz Lightyear. Yesterday evening, we weighed, ear-notched, and castrated the litter. This morning, Tiana proudly guided her piglets on a walk around the paddock, keeping a watchful eye on their every move. There’s something endlessly delightful about watching piglets explore and root around in the dirt.
-Leo
128
2
Jon and I hit the road for Mineral Wells, Texas, at 2:00 am to pick up our new registered Dorper ram. Breeders Gary and Stephanie Payne have built a reputation for pasture-raised sheep renowned for their resilience and outstanding muscle conformation. Although we haven't had a chance to weigh our new ram yet, we estimate he's already over 150 pounds. Not bad when you consider a typical hair sheep born on January 2, 2026, weighs between 90 and 115 pounds. We're eager to see the impact his genetics has on our flock in the coming seasons.
Much like our Berkshire pigs, Dorper Hair Sheep are prized for their exceptional meat quality. Often called the "Angus of the Sheep World," Dorpers are celebrated for their intermuscular marbling, fine texture, and remarkable tenderness. We're excited to watch how his offspring perform and contribute to the quality of our flock.
-Leo
11
With daytime temperatures over 100 degrees, much of our work on the farm focuses on guaranteeing the animals have ample water and shade. Between these tasks, we’re also preparing for the arrival of a new litter of pigs and welcoming our new ram.
This afternoon, we moved the sheep into a 3-acre greenbelt that collects runoff from the neighboring properties to our west. In the past, we mowed this area several times each year. Now, with the help of our Nofence virtual fencing system, we’ve successfully launched an Adaptive Multi-Paddock (AMP) grazing program. The sheep graze a small section at a time and are rotated daily, allowing the land to rest and regenerate. Forage that isn’t eaten is trampled, creating a protective mulch layer for the soil. We’re anxious to observe the benefits of AMP grazing on soil health, weed control, and forage growth.
-Leo
12
1
An update on our baby donkey and what has been going on at the farm.
42
2