How We Started Our Sheep Farm FROM SCRATCH!! (& Tips For Beginners):Vlog 161
HOW WE STARTED OUR SHEEP FARM.
A video long overdue, but a hard one to put into a 20 minute video.
Farming isn’t easy. Everyone has a story… A journey.
This is a video talking about the challenges of starting our sheep farm from scratch.
No experience, no knowledge… just a willingness to try.
The first part of the video is recapping my first few years into sheep farming, and if you can hold out until the last part, its my tips for new producers looking to perhaps start their own sheep farm.
Are you thinking of getting into sheep?
Do you have sheep?
Lets have a conversation…What are your biggest lessons or tips you can share?
COMMENT BELOW!
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#sheep #farming #beginner
Thanks so much for watching!!
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/ @sandibrock
MY HUSBAND NOW HAS A KZhead CHANNEL!
You can follow our grain farming operation over there!
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/ @markbrock
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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 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! 🐑👵🏻❣️
Sandi, I love the way KZhead keeps sending me these old videos. Way back time!
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.
I will never own a sheep farm, but I found this video fascinating. Thank you for being willing to share your missteps, so that others can learn
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 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! 💜💜💜
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...
WOW! That means so much Herb... Thank you for watching and following along!!!
Herb, none of us could have said it better. Thank you.
Yes what Herb said X 2 thank you Sandi
she like many thousands are farmers
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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❤️
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
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
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 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
Very true! Thanks for sharing Scott!
That would provide some unique excuses for being late. Sorry Mrs teacher I had to deliver multiple lambs this morning.
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.
Wow! Thanks so much for those kind words Todd!!!
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.
Oh Wow!! Thanks so much!!
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
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!
Thank you Sandi for sharing your adventure in sheep farming and I really admire you 😊
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
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.
Sandi is the "Go Ask Alice" of sheep farming. Love her channel. Informative and interesting with a little fun in the mix.
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.
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.
Very true!! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch our channels!
Been ill for few weeks and your channel from the beginning has been my go to to destress… thank you for all your content…xxx
Just now seeing this video after watching for several years... congrats on your long journey
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 KZhead. Thank You My Friend.
You are so very right Steven! And editing my face for hours is torture!! So thanks for sticking it out and watching!!!
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.
Thanks so much for watching and sharing!
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 🇦🇺 ❤
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!
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.
Where are y’all located?
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.
I come back and rewatch this video every so often. I can’t believe how long I’ve been watching 😊. You are so refreshing and interesting!
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!
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.
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!
Watching In January 2023…..the story and your path to successful growth is impressive!
I love how humble you are ma’am and how truly honest you are.
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.
Love the sincerity and purity of heart shared through a journey to harsh experiences, thank you
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! ✨🥰
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.
You are smart and you are willing to say hey I messed up which is what people need to hear.
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.
Thanks so much for this!
Started watching 6 months ago and just now seeing this one. What a path and passion! Congratulations
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.
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 :)
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.
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
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! 😘👏🏻🤠🌵😎🫶🏼💐
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!
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 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!❤❤
Glad I found this video of your sheep story! I’ve often wondered. Love your channel Sandi. Love learning about Sheep and Rams and Lambing! Also, the farming ones too!
Thank you for shearing! 😁 😉
My pleasure!
Literally just found this channel and I’m obsessed
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!
Thank you for sharing your story. I love the realness you put in all your video's, especialy this one.
This is in the top 3 of my all time favorite vids I have enjoyed from your farm. Thank you so much for sharing.
Oh wow! Thanks so much Theresa!
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
Thanks so much Tony!!
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
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!
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.
Thanks so much Fiona!!
Did you say Ontario? Canada? Finally a local farmer with KZhead
How many days after sire will lambing come ?
@@merlindaposadas8182 9
@@merlindaposadas8182 Five months.
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.
Thank you for taking the time to share your ups and downs. I am just starting to do research of what is to come, and every little bit of knowledge helps us out immensely!
You are an incredible hard working woman with such a story to tell. I just adore you🐑
Just dropping by to say your doing an awesome job... I'm jealous because I love sheep...
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!
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Your humility and recognition of the learning process each day. You have also listened to feedback and implemented it. You are a great you tuber! I love your videos and always look forward to you videos❤.
Amazing story of your startup into sheep farming. Yous have come a long way since then. Big ups 👍
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.
Thanks so much for sharing that Jesse! I'm sure lots of us can relate. Some years it feels like a constant challenge.
Ceck out Joel Salatin May your family and lambs be blessed! Thanks for the video !
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.
I have been following you for 2 + years & I love watching your videos. I love that you are passionate as well as business. You also have a heart & with all that & your family,you are awesome ! Putting yourself into what you do has made an awesome combination. Thank you sharing parts of your life with us. I hope you make a handsome profit from adding KZhead to your life & your business. You got my vote,not that you needed it !
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
Thanks so much James!
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 so much Halka!! It can be so darn hard!!
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!
Totally amazing journey Sandi. Your passion shows in everything you do 💜🐑
Great Video! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for watching!
to me you sound fearless whitch makes you limitless you have done and doing an awesome job
Awe... thanks so much Russell!
*I am so glad that I came a crossed this video!!! I literally just commented yesterday on one of your videos saying that you are the most organized out of the sheep farmers that I have seen on yt!!! It's pretty cool how you have a video explaining how you got to where you are today or actually 4 years ago!!! Lol*
H. Houston comments are exactly how I feel about you! This has been one of the best videos ! Thank you Sandi for all you do!!
Thanks so much Tammy!
Very interesting project You deserve to enjoy your results Thanks for sharing this
Thanks so much!
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
Thanks Magan!
Me too, I agree!!
I love 💘 watch all the new baby's be born . I knew nothing when I started watching you . Thank you 😊 I enjoy your shows sooo much.
Thanks for sharing your experience and your knowledge.
I definitely enjoy your videos but I absolutely love this one.
Oh Miranda! I'm so glad!!
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
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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.
That was so sweet! Thanks so much!
This is probably one of the best videos I have seen for people thinking of getting into the business be it sheep or any other livestock. Very informative, thank you very much. Thumbs up and subscribed.
Great video thank you. My end goal is to one day have a smallholding/homestead farm and it's difficult to know where to start. Videos such as these are so useful to people like me who are not born into a farming family and are having to start fresh.
I love watching the sheep interacting with the dog in the background
Its pretty funny! She's a bit of a brat behind my back!
Another great video. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!!
Going back 3 yrs this is excellent!
This is totally your gift!!!! You are so smart/gifted/ wise!!!!!
I've thought about buying 2 or 4 to graze a fenced patch on our 10 acre farm, but this setup is the whole 9 yards!
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!
Thanks Kevin!!!
Sandi Brock do you want to comment on my videos
You are an example of women bravery in managing herself.
Great informational video! You’re a natural teacher.
You continue to be such an inspiration if you ever come through the 1000 islands come say hi!
I will!!! Thanks so much!!
Funny at the beginning when you said "sheep farm from scratch" then the sheep came up behind and went baah,,like he was agrreeing with you...
LOL
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.
Thanks so much Susan!!!
Bless you for making this video. It's exactly what I needed today!!!
Yayy!!