| Back Forty Baa(ers) Purebred Shetland Sheep and (a) Cross Bred Border Leicester Sheep |
| I must remember to be careful what I wish for! In the spring of 2004, our daughter was the senior division winner of the Indiana Shetland Sheep Association Ewe-Lamb-Give-Away-Contest. We were pleased to obtain her winning lamb from Gail Former of Underhill Farm located in Spencer, IN. Knowing that small hoof stock always does better with company, we purchased the second ewe lamb for a companion; or at least that's what we told my husband! Glenna named them UNDERHILL JUBILEE and UNDERHILL PERSEPHONE respectively, and we were soon "in the sheep business!" With her success in the 4-H show ring with them as lambs and as yearlings --it wasn't long until we were beating a path back to Gail's door leasing a ram--we wanted more Shetlands! |
And then there is "JASPER!"
In the spring of 2005, Opal and Jasper (white ewe and black ram) came to us due to the more than
adequate supply of goat's milk on our premises. Beth and I had traded fiber for goat's milk for a few
years--but she still had the hassle of bottle lambs. We were already hassling with bottles due to the
goat kids--so it was "easier for us to take care of them." They WERE to be returned. Too ingrained in
our heart's to let them go back--this time fiber for sheep was exchanged and Opal and Jasper got to stay
with us!
Opal has since moved on to greener pastures, but Jasper is here to stay! Not only large enough to hold up
against the smaller but horned Shetland rams' tirades,this big ram companion has a 12 pound fleece to
contribute to the wool bag!
In the spring of 2005, Opal and Jasper (white ewe and black ram) came to us due to the more than
adequate supply of goat's milk on our premises. Beth and I had traded fiber for goat's milk for a few
years--but she still had the hassle of bottle lambs. We were already hassling with bottles due to the
goat kids--so it was "easier for us to take care of them." They WERE to be returned. Too ingrained in
our heart's to let them go back--this time fiber for sheep was exchanged and Opal and Jasper got to stay
with us!
Opal has since moved on to greener pastures, but Jasper is here to stay! Not only large enough to hold up
against the smaller but horned Shetland rams' tirades,this big ram companion has a 12 pound fleece to
contribute to the wool bag!
| SHEARING will be early in 2011! We are absolutely delighted with the density, color, fineness, and texture of our 2010 lambs' fleeces after leasing one of Jeff and Theresa Gygi's moorit rams... UNDERTHESON APACHE I'm really looking forward to shearing these lambs and seeing what APACHE has done to our fleece quality! As always--roving and yarns are available on our etsy site www.spiderwebspecialties.etsy.com or catch a glimpse of what we offer on our Spiderweb Specialties page (follow the link at the bottom of this page) |
WINTER SKY JAMISION was returned a few months later, when we brought home more of Underhill Farms'
ewe lambs--no sense in wasting trailer space!
Then (finally) in April of 2006 we had lambs of our own!!!
Since then, we have been able to purchase several quality animals--and have leased some marvelous rams who
have helped increase our fleece density while reducing the micron count!!! We love fine-fleeced Shetlands!
I keep saying our flock of Shetlands is complete--time to let nature take it's course! But there are so many
quality animals out there--and so little time! :-) However, this year--due to time constraints and other
mitigating circumstances I made the decision to not breed for a 2011 lamb crop. I did, however, lease my
top 5 ewes to a friend (Beth Caddell of Shepherd's Haven Farm) and she is using one of our 2010 grey
katmoget ram lambs B40B UTSA FBV KIOWA (pending.) KIOWA is sired by UNDERTHESON APACHE (moorit)
and out of FANTASIA BLUE VELVET (grey katmoget.) Beth should have extra lambs available for purchase
next spring! There will probably be 1 or 2 that I'll just "HAVE" to bring to the B40B flock!!!
ewe lambs--no sense in wasting trailer space!
Then (finally) in April of 2006 we had lambs of our own!!!
Since then, we have been able to purchase several quality animals--and have leased some marvelous rams who
have helped increase our fleece density while reducing the micron count!!! We love fine-fleeced Shetlands!
I keep saying our flock of Shetlands is complete--time to let nature take it's course! But there are so many
quality animals out there--and so little time! :-) However, this year--due to time constraints and other
mitigating circumstances I made the decision to not breed for a 2011 lamb crop. I did, however, lease my
top 5 ewes to a friend (Beth Caddell of Shepherd's Haven Farm) and she is using one of our 2010 grey
katmoget ram lambs B40B UTSA FBV KIOWA (pending.) KIOWA is sired by UNDERTHESON APACHE (moorit)
and out of FANTASIA BLUE VELVET (grey katmoget.) Beth should have extra lambs available for purchase
next spring! There will probably be 1 or 2 that I'll just "HAVE" to bring to the B40B flock!!!
| The Jolliff Family Phillip and Sara Jolliff 7325 E 1500 N - Elnora, Indiana 47529 Phone: (812) 692-5725 Email the Jolliff Family Jolliff Diesel Service, LLC Spiderweb Specialties Dairy and Boer Goats French Angora Rabbits Home |
| last updated 11/29/2010 |
| SALAD FORK SELA Anatolian Shepherd female @ 10 weeks... soon she'll be guarding... instead of napping!!! |