With strict Raw Milk laws in NC, Sabrina decided she needed a dairy cow. She researched and Guernsey cows were the best marketed for A2/A2 with yellow colored milk from high beta carotene. She had never owned a cow, or milked, but got her first Guernsey on Mother’s Day. She was the sweetest old cow and let Sabrina learn to milk without any fuss.
Sabrina was selling raw pet milk. In a few years, she wanted to expand but was held back by her acreage. She happened onto Mini Jerseys and learned she could have twice as many calves each year with the same amount of acreage. And, they convert to grass-based much better than larger dairy cows. Plus, their size made them easier to work with. She was sold! |
Miranda Johnson knows homesteaders! In her Executive Staff volunteer position for the not-for-profit, National Ladies Homestead Gathering, she’s tasked with establishing chapters. Miranda talks to women across the United States about their journey that led to the desire to connect with other homesteaders. She’s mastered building community and many of the tech resources available for that purpose. She’s the force behind our monthly newsletter.
She spent countless hours on her grandparents’ homestead where they raised beef and chickens along-side a Jersey family cow. Now, Miranda lives with her husband and son in the original log cabin on a historical homestead in North Idaho. |
Tracy Howe is the oldest of three children and grew up in Saskatchewan on a mixed farming operation. Of all the family farm endeavors, cattle were always her passion. She worked in the cattle industry in many capacities, including commercial livestock hauling, on feedlots, in auction barns, and as a veterinarian assistant while raising her children. In 2010 Tracy and her husband, Wally, returned to cattle ownership. He runs a small beef herd. The dairy and Miniature cattle are “her thing” and she operates Mother Howe’s Little Cows. She’s been instrumental in starting the Canadian Miniature Jersey Association.
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Terri Kluppel and her husband, Troy, have resided in Colorado for over 20 years. In 2016 they decided to escape the “burbs” and moved to a little patch of land with an 800 sq ft house, no fencing, and a single Morton building on the eastern plains of Colorado. They jumped right into homesteading, learning along the way.
Terri's passion for animals led her to focus on genetics while earning her BS in Biology. She has enjoyed a rewarding career teaching science to young people. Her knowledge of animal husbandry and genetics led Terri and her husband to see the importance of livestock that worked better for homesteading. They wanted animals that were less expensive to maintain due to better feed conversion rates and disease resistance. With intentionality, their homestead livestock began to reflect this focus. Terri still enjoys pouring over agricultural science journals looking for ways to improve husbandry and livestock breeding. |