Coming back and watching an older video has shown me how far you have come. You have really gained so much confidence and knowledge since this video. You are an amazing woman.
I’m not a farmer however I love your channel. I started watching you about a week ago or so. After watching several videos I decided to go all the way back to the beginning to see how this all started. I love your transparency as you learned and shared your successes and failures. I cried when you cried and I laughed when you laughed. My favorite part is to see these babies being born and growing, I can’t get enough. Thank you so much for sharing.
WOW!! Just giving you a "thumbs up" isn't near enough... You're smart... you know to think things through... and at the same time... think on your feet! You are very good at explaining things and talking about what you've learned... You seem to have an instinct about this work... and I'm sure that's feed by your accumulated knowledge of the finer points of how to make it all work... And you have a heart... a heart that knows how to nurture... how your sheep aren't just "things", but an important part of your life... Your caring... your concern... is visible in your videos... I applaud you... and I wish for you a life of continued success... but more importantly... I wish you joy...
I had a 350 head flock of assorted ewes in high school for my FFA project for 4 years ending in 78 . Believe me nothing is more aggravating thank doing chores in the morning and having 20 newborn lamb's before school. I have found your video very true that along with the enjoyment comes misery. Forchanetly all my lamb's were spoken for by Easter to customers in Chicago. Thanks for the video and hard work and dedication pays off
I just want to come live on your farm, and help with your sheep each day! I’m old, and disabled, but since finding your channel I’ve discovered I just want to listen to ‘Maaaaa’ all day long! You could even put me up in a wee corner of the Golden Girls’ barn, as I am a Golden (well, silver haired) Girl too! 🐑👵🏻❣️
What an excellent video! People think going into business is easy peazy. I got forever disabled and had to stop teaching. In order to support myself and daughter I thought I would start a retail candy store where my employees do the physical and I do the mental things I can. It is 10 years later for you and you explain how you learn and change and adjust every year. I'm at year 16 in candy store life and we do the same. God bless you on your journey
Youth teaching is very eloquent. You have the ability to teach through compassion, patience and pain. Every word of truth shows in your eyes and for one I think you make a hell of a teacher. You and Mark could teach just by people being around You two on the farm. You've paid your dues and are not afraid to tell us about it. Thank you and you guys take care.
Hi ,This is Dr. Mahmoud Ismail ,Veterinarian , I live in Ontario, I liked so much what you have already done and presented ,keep up the good work ,all the best
And what a journey it’s been! I finally learned today about you starting your sheep farm and all the trials that came with it. No one should doubt your love and dedication for what you do. Just amazing the time it took to learn and implement everything. Jack and Jess were young when you started. Where there’s a will, there’s a way❤️
I'm a retired dairy farmer that loves your and Marks channel. Your management program, i.e., nutrition, reproduction, nutrition, crop production will never be complete. It will constantly evolve and improve with technology and with your added skills. Keep up the good work. Thanks.
My daughter watched this video with me. She said thank you for making it so informative. She has goals,plan,the will power. Now to get it in motion. You are a great roll model to the younger generation. You tell how it is. Not say this could happen. You show us. Thank you
I am not a farmer or sheep person but find your videos to be wonderful. I love this summary video in which you go through a soul searching, self reflection journey through the years of your sheep farming endeavor. You have all the right stuff. You are a very humane and compassionate sheep farmer and I think you represent the very best in farming and animal husbandry and I wish you and your wonderful family all the best.
Wow, just wow!!! I stumbled across your channel at the start of COVID and have been faithfully watching you ever since. You give hope to ALL business owners that struggle with viability. I didn’t know your back story until now. Thank you for making this video 5 years ago, I needed this today. I’m not a sheep farmer but struggles are struggles. This is what I’ve learned today….simple, but so transferable: find your issue, work on yourself, and keep going! 💜💜💜
This was so incredibly interesting! My biggest takeaway: continue to learn! The more you invest in your own learning, the better shepherd you become - which really translates into everything in life!
I love this one, it gives me an overview of your history. I’ll never be a farmer, but watching you and family is better than any cable tv show out there. You are doing great, keep up the great work.
2 years later I second the above opinion. Things look even better for you in 2022 because of this approach. You are a good teacher (one who can organize hard learned lessons and express them in a way another can understand). TY
I have come back in time to see this video. You have explained very well what your thinking was on setting up your flock. Also, you showed us the things that didn't work for you, but also the better ways of working the barn system. You've come a long way. Going on courses to learn more, shows how dedicated you are. This is your business, and in the end you have to operate as a viable venture. You may not consider yourself as an expert, but you now have the experience and can use your common sense.
I've watched your stuff on and off and just want to say thank you for being one of those kind hearted farmers. We need more. They ate blessed to b in your care.
Kind hearted?? She raises them for 'lamb'! Helping them to be slaughtered is hardly 'kind' 🤦 and no, there's no humane way of killing them. If slaughterhouses had glass walls .. Well, most people still wouldn't care but anyway .. These animals would be 'blessed' to be cared for and NOT murdered so people that don't need to, can EAT them! People blow my mind, they really do.
Trying to get through your channel one or two vlogs at a time but got a late start. I am one of those little, 8 sheep hobby/micro farms that thanks you for helping us little guys out by sharing the experiences you have had- I've learned lots already.
Thank you very much for this video. I was really curious how you got into sheep in the first place. I don't think I've ever seen a sheep farm. I come from cow land. Wisconsin. Thanks so very much for the effort you put into doing these videos. I don't think people are aware of the amount of time it takes to get a 20 minute video put together and uploaded to RU-vid. Thank You My Friend.
Thank you! My husband and I are talking about making the jump and becoming sheep farmers. I been doing online research but it is limited. Really thankful for your videos and how you just talk about things that need said. And I don't know why it never occurred to me to take a master class. I am going to look for one now.
Sandi, Another great video. Farming is a continuous learning process, it doesn't matter what the crop or livestock is. Livestock is more challenging , you can't leave them alone. They need constant care. More importantly this is an excellent video to show people how the food gets to the table. That is the one thing that I learned quickly growing up on the family farm. I love the videos and wish you and your family all the best.
After finding your channel a month or so ago and absolutely loving and admiring the hard work you do. Im so glad I went back and found this video. It was so interesting to hear the back story and know u didnt get to the point you are at now over night.. You SURE worked hard for it! Love your content.
We got our first sheep a year and a day ago. We are a fiber farm but everything you have said is relevant to us and had been useful to hear, thank you for sharing your experiences, both good and when things went wrong.
Im so glad YT suggested this video to me! Ive been watching you a couple years but haven't seen a video on your beginning. Might I suggest another video like this on what youve learned since 2019? Another point: to those of uswho know nothing about sheep you ARE an expert. All "experts" continue to learn ...if they're truly experts. Also, the points you share here are invaluable! We live in East Texas where cattle are the main livestock industry. We just sold our tiny herd of 5 due to the drought this summer. I can see, from your ending suggestions, where we went wrong. A year ago we moved to 29 acres...that had been previously, heavily timbered, then clear cut and allowed to grow up in brush. The cows initially did well in clearing the brush. We depended in sufficient rain to then hring in natural grasses. ...which didn't happen with 3 mths of no rain. ....so now there's nothing on our land. Im going to spend the winter mths doing some deep thinking, researching and planning to see just what we can do with this acreage, in our early Sr. Years, with limited financial resources. This video is what i didn't know I needed. Thank you, Sandy!
Hey Sandy. You sure had my attention on this one. You are doing a great job with your business. I am so glad to see you reap the benefits of hard work on your part.
It’s 12-31-2022 and I’ve never seen this one, I’m 2 1/2 yrs + closer to 3 and what you’re talking about Sandi you have come so far. Wow, this has just brought it to another level.
I love your videos. You are so honest and down to earth. It is wonderful to watch you and your flock. I will never be a sheep farmer or any kind of farmer at my age, 76, but I love watching how you handle all of the tasks that you have to do to keep your sheep well and happy. Thank you, Sandi, and thanks to your husband, Mark, for sharing your lives with us.
Sandy, even the experts have more to learn. My opinion is, when you quit learning, you are dead. I learn something new everyday, even if it something trivial. Yesturday, I learned that I CAN do more than I thought I could. That was a big accomplishment for me because I had sort of given up. I turned 73 in September and have COPD, which limits me on some things, but I realized I just need to take a few more breaks and I do ok. I also need to learn that being 73 is not the end of the world. I still have a lot of life in me!
Спасибо за подробную дорожную карту) К сожалению, мы шаг за шагом повторили все Ваши промахи) Жаль, что мы начали интересоваться овцеводством за границей слишком поздно. Привет Вам из далёкой Сибири! И успехов в труде!
This is the best video! Thank you! Our 1st lamb arrived yesterday and I am so nervous, hoping I can get this little girl past her 1st week when they are the most fragile. I started watching your videos to figure out when I should expect the baby to arrive and now I am watching to figure out what to do now that she is here! This is so helpful!
Awwww WOW Sandi! You’re just the best. 😊 I’ve only been watching since 2021 and seeing this is amazing. You come so far and we all have fallen in love with you, your beautiful family and these lovely sheep…Your Golden Girls are an added bonus! God bless you and thank you tremendously for all the videos! ✨🥰
Literally cried at this video. I bought small flock of pregnant ewes in November 2013..and every word you said is absolute true. My husband had also take care of lambing, when I was giving birth (bad management, i know, with third baby we postponed lambing after my delivery, lol). I wish you only luck and excelent lambing. Really enjoy your videos and IG.
Thanks for posting this! I don’t farm at all nor will I, but I am fascinated by it and so finding your channel has brought me so much joy and satisfaction. Witnessing your journey and now hearing about it just rounds out all the reasons why I talk about you and your farm. Keep on truckin Sandi :)
Wow! You have come a longggg way! I love how you are so kind and loving to your flock. You have such a awesome soul. Thank you for keeping this channel going. I know it’s hard work but some of us need the happiness you bring into our world. Thank you! 😘👏🏻🤠🌵😎🫶🏼💐
Sandi, you read my mind! I’m fairly new to your Vlog & I’m in L❤VE!! I have been wondering a lot lately about how you started; with the sheep but also your background as a Farmer. Were you raised on a farm? Was Mark raised on a farm? Those kinds of questions. I live in Australia, a very sheep farming dominant country. My family have a very old sheep farm that has been family owned & run for well over 100 years & is still in the family. I wish I’d discovered your channel so much earlier but that gives me the joy of going back to the start & watching your journey. I love your attitude & outlook on life. You are such a good soul. Thank you so much for sharing your daily life with us. Much love from Australia 🇦🇺 ❤
This was a terrific video. You have come a very long way. Researching any new endeavor is the key. Add talking to other people in that endeavor is critical. Education and determination. Thank you. I look forward to following you along your journey.
Hi warrior.. may be this is the first time i react with a comment for someone's video, i had watch tons of vids..but you Deserve this comment, i high the hat for you... you're so beatifull person, may allah (god) bless you and your family... mark and your children should be proud to have woman like you beside them....thank you.
Just watched this video! Wow Wow Wow!!! What a lot to learn. I have never lived on a farm but I enjoy watching your videos because I learn so much! You do a terrific job with your sheep and with the video editing etc that you do! Thank you!
Your videos are very informative. I’ve been raising sheep for 40 yrs and your videos are the best. Most sheep people don’t plan ahead I being one of them(I don’t have good handling system). There isn’t hardly any good videos on utube that have any other then yours
You're my new hero. Thank you for sharing. I heard you on the rural woman's podcast. My family has a farm in Alabama. I'm wanting to eventually start a sheep farm. Really love your videos. Thanks again.
You may not have expert advice but sometimes experts are wrong. In corporate world mistakes are brushed under the rug. In agriculture we tend to talk about them to help out fellow farmers (competitors?!). I don't ever see myself with sheep, I'm a beef guy, and I've been doing beef since teenage years but I still watch your videos to see what I can learn from and adopt to beef. Keep up the good work!
Hi Sandi, I am writing from Argentina. I've been watching your videos from the beggining. I could only say thank you!!! I started a little sheep farm with my family and your videos have been very useful to us, with a lot of advices and experiencies you shared. It was helpful to improve my listening too, so that was great! You should be very proud of your work and I wish the best for you and your family. Thank you very much!
You are the most rewarding lady I know of. You are such a hard worker. I love how you and Mark work together. I’m sure like any couple, you have your ups and downs but in the end you are together and that is the most important. You have such a beautiful family in the home and in the barns. Take care and continue your beautiful vlogs. Sincerely your friend from Minnesota!❤❤
Great video. I have commented before I am in the goat business. Couple years ago I got started, went and bought some doe’s and came home with health issues. We had quite a bit go wrong this year from my engine in my tractor throwing a rod to a high dollar full blooded buck I bought semen being no good. Two nights ago we lost a young doe and are not sure why had Necropsy done and waiting on lab results. I thought it was parasites and had wormed with different dewormer. Vet does not believe it is worms. So now we are waiting to see if we have a problem. This video was encouraging to me. Thanks for video. God bless.
Sandi. Thank You very much for taking the time to share your path ways you have traveled to get to wear you are now. It is a treat to watch you grow and to walk along each day with your determination to get it correct and squeeze a good proffet out of you labors
I have raised goats for over 40 years, but have only had a few sheep - bottle lambs years ago. I am thinking about getting a couple of ewes. Watching how you have your set up is valuable to me for all the great suggestions on how to do things. Two biggies for me are health/hardiness and temperament.
I am so impressed with your knowledge, work ethic, and compassion. You are an exceptional businesswoman! May 2020 be a great year for you and your family.
Being an older video, I suspect you will miss this comment, but after watching you operate for over a year, I see where your success comes from. And honestly, I don't want to see another comment in any of your videos that you don't care about your animals or your operation, because clearly you do.
Fantastic! I just found this video after watching your channel for about 6 months. It put so many of the things you do into the proper perspective ... current videos show the results of your learning and hard work. There's nothing easy or cheap in farming. You guys have built swear equity by the barn full. Thumbs up to your whole family.
Very interesting video, I've dealt with cattle most of my life, so sheep farming is definitely new to me, I thoroughly enjoy the sheep raising and the grain farming too, the haying, quite neat to hear your history, good and bad, thanks for bringing me up to date
Sandi thank you for sharing how you started into the business of your lambing company. I love to watch you and I learn from you. i will never be a farmer but i enjoy being taught about things... then babies are so cute... again thanks
Thanks, i have no interest in changing from beef to sheep but i am interested in what others do. You may not think of yourself as an expert but i would argue that you are quite knowledgeable and a plain speaking mentor to others. Checking your videos and your husbands videos are helpful because what you learned is useful in other family production. I retired from my town job and started beekeeping. Your tips apply even there also. Good luck.
I can run 3 ewes behind every cow because of the wide leaf forage (weeds)left behind and they don't share the same parasites.... I concur with Sandi on keeping a closed flock, herd or hive!!! Introducing a animal is a recipe for disaster unless a quarenteen is implemented after a vet check...
What I learned: 1) I will never go into sheep farming. My sanity is too fragile., 2) You don't likely have a Director of Videography position open, which is what I would want to do on your farm. Thank you!
I really need this video. I have a flock of 21 sheep. 12 ewes, 2 rams, 1 young ram, a wether and 5 young wethers being grown out for meat. I started about 5 years ago with just 3 ewes and 1 ram and his wether friend. Trouble is, I have health problems that make me tire easily. Lately, I've really been thinking about just giving up and selling everything. But you're right. It's not an easy job. Health problems or not. I just need to do what I can. I know I'll never get to your level. But I'm proud of my little flock and all the work I've put into them. Thank you for taking the time to show us all you do. I don't know how I didn't see this video earlier. I've been watching you for years.
Oh Sandi you do it so well. This recap on the past 8 years is just brilliant. Painful yes as the highs and lows of animal husbandry is not for the faint hearted. Your eloquence, detail, care and compassion in all you do is obvious to all but what I admire overall is the deep analysis, problem solving skills and commitment to learn constantly and progress. Now upwards and onwards to count the new baby lambs and enjoying them gambolling in the barn.
What breed of sheep is the one with the black face and with the white blaze going down his or her face..out of all the sheep I've seen. I absolutely love that one. I seen it in the last video..I believe you were dealing with the market lambs..I didn't realize how big the sheep market was it I moved to Ottawa..I'm so used to cattle. My grandparents have a huge beef farm in Alberta..so I grew up around the cows. I used to love going out and helping on the farm.
Miranda Stafford The Blackface she has are Suffolk which are from England originally. If there is any white and black on the face they are cross bred of some type of the different whiteface breeds. Suffolks typically are considered strictly Meat sheep but there Wool can be used for utility grade wool garments like heavy work clothes/coats etc
We all make mistakes when we start up, ask questions of the experienced shepards. Really get to know your breed's and if you have to buy in, if it's not up to standard no matter how good the price don't touch them.
The only thing I know about sheep is my daughter’s 4H project involving 2 lambs for 6 months. One was chosen as reserved grand champion. The project was very satisfying. I have been hooked on sheep ever since. I do fiber art now. What a great motif! I will never be a sheep farmer, but I sure enjoy watching one.
Thanks for all you do and share! About not being an expert, a lot of people struggle with this even though they are very knowledgeable in their field. You *are* an expert because you have expertise in a particular field or topic, not that you have all the answers or have nothing left to learn. It just means you have a greater depth of knowledge, experience, and/or education in your field than the average person. You also do not limit yourself to only your farm as you are involved with sheep farming groups and actively seek to learn from other sheep farmers thus gaining more knowledge and outside perspectives. You also present the things you do to manage your flock not as if they are the only way but the ways that work for your system of management and situation. So keep on going you expert sheep farmer!
Oh Dianne! Thanks so much for this! I still feel like such a newbie in this industry, and my biggest fear is that someone does something "because Sandi Brock said to" and it fails! Just my own personal insecurities!
Sandi Brock, you’re welcome! Sounds like a case of imposter syndrome, a common yet difficult to overcome affliction. I know brilliant people that think they are dumb and will be found out at any moment. It’s nonsense but nonetheless very real to them and they have difficulty shaking the feeling. The only way I can think to counteract it is similarly to when you receive a compliment and, instead of immediately waiving it aside because you think it unwarranted, just suppress the feeling to say, “thank you” and move on. I think one of the reasons why your channel is appealing to such a wide range of people (city dwellers, aspirational farmers/homesteaders, former sheep farmers, cattle ranchers, etc.), besides adorable wee baby lambs, is because you often talk about the reasons *why* you do things the way you do them. You often do what a good mentor does, talk through your thought processes and the logic behind your decision to take one action versus others. This is far better than a “we just do it this way” approach which teaches little to nothing. Hopefully, anybody utilizing any of your methods in their own system would do the same and think through any possible action in relation to their system. You are not responsible should they succeed or fail but just for having given them the information to consider, any decision they make or action they take is their own.
I started watching your videos when I stumbled upon your video of when you casted the little lambs legs lol. I immediately fell in love with you and your sheep. You aren’t afraid to say that you messed up. You own it and make the changes necessary changes. Keep it going. I love It!
Wow this is amazing. It gives a lot more respect to farmers. I went to an agg college and I wished I would have taken some classes. Farming is so much more interesting than I ever thought. You do a great job explaining. Thanks
I am completely fascinated by your sheep farming video. I am a retired HS school teacher doing a ton of knitting and have watched many sheep farming videos. I have such admiration for your great presence all your communication skills. My Granddaddy bought and sold cattle in the old Omaha Stockyards. Would visit him in the summer and always checked out the sheep barn and pig barn as well. He was so, so smart with so many stories! Thanks for sharing!
Great Video Sandi, this would of been so helpfull before we went down our road back in the day. Farmers spend so much time alone at there operations that it is so easy to get off the rails as to goals. Glad to see things are coming together well and all the best for the next lambing group!
well done my wife and i watch all your vids from south africa and when she feels overwhelmed she sees she is not the only one we both learned alot from your channel gr8 work
GIRL. I love watching your videos. I had to play the first clip over and over and had my husband rolling because she "can't find sheep farm from scratch" LOVE IT lol. I watch all your videos and have learned so much from you. Thank you!
So interesting. I am a fibre crafter and grew up on a dairy farm but I know nothing about sheep. Don’t want to raise sheep but feel driven to learn more about raising them. Thanks
Great job Sandi ! I love the channel and all the best to you and your family. My wife and I know how hard it is but after raising sheep and goats for the last twenty years we finally are scaling the operation so it gives a lifestyle we dreamed of. It can be done stay tough.
I'm really interested to see what has changed these last two-ish years. In this video, you were talking about improving your data collection and management, so I wanna know how you've kept up with what you said you wanted to do :)
You are so right with paying more for better breeding stock I learned the hard way and now I won't have any fall babies I got 2 sheep super cheap thay ended up costing way more than what they were worth. I got rid of them but their bugs are still here😞
I think a crucial point that needs to be added is that any partners have to be on the same goal pathway. I have found that it absolutely does NOT work to have one person who's interested in animals and another person who can barely tolerate them joined together in a venture. And, the ability to produce your own feed is absolutely crucial. The fact that Mark and yourself agree on the goals and both work together - even if separate jobs - to achieve those goals is paramount. CONGRATULATIONS on getting through all those extremely tough situations together and still going strong.
