Voting is now closed. Please keep checking the blog for the winner’s announcement!
I have been keeping a secret since May, which may be a new record for me. A very big secret. That I have kept [almost] completely to myself for four months now. And now that the day for revealing my big news has arrived, I find it difficult to begin.
I guess I should start by saying that the past three years have been a complete whirlwind for me. My flock, my farm, my CSA have been embraced by so many kind, thoughtful, wonderful people and, because of all that support, I have never been in the position of having to sell any of my animals for meat or send any of them to an uncertain (but really certain) fate at the auction. I will never be able to express what that means to me. Not if I live to be a million. Not ever.
Now that I find myself in the position of having more angora goats than I need to supply us with Mohair, I want to pass along the kindness you all have shown to me to another would-be shepherd. So, with the help of my good friend Lauria and the wonderful people at Sand Creek Post and Beam, we are giving away a small hand-spinner’s flock of our award-winning Angora goats and a custom-made Sand Creek run-in shed to house them in.
Obviously, this is going to be a bit more complicated than our regular giveaways.
Here’s how it works:
Anyone interested in entering this giveaway will need to send me an essay telling me why you’d like to have a small herd of Angora goats. Your essay can contain photos, video, whatever, but mostly I want to hear why you’d like to be a shepherd. Have you always wanted sheep or goats of your own? Do you yearn to set up your spinning wheel in the pasture amongst the goats? Tell me all about it.
All essays will be screened by me and Erin. If I think you have the acreage, dedication and heart to care for these animals, I will post your essay here on the blog. Then all of our readers will have the chance to vote of which essay they like best. Once y’all have narrowed the field to the top three, the folks at Sand Creek and I will select a winner.
The fine print: You don’t need to be a shareholder to enter. You don’t necessarily need experience with fiber animals to enter- everyone has to start somewhere- but you do need to understand the work involved in raising livestock. Do a little research into Angora goats before entering. Once we have chosen a winner, he/she and I will work together to put together a small flock that makes sense for the winner’s level of expertise. Beginning farmers should probably start with five wethered males; a shepherd with a working knowledge of Angoras might rather have five bred nanny goats. We’ll figure out what works best together and won’t let you leave with more than I know you can handle. I will also be available by email and phone while you learn the ropes.
Sand Creek Post and Beam will be shipping the custom-made run-in directly to the winner. [It comes unassembled with great instructions! Have I mentioned how much I love, love, love this company? As a matter of fact I have.] The livestock will need to be picked up at our New York farm by the winner within a month of the giveaway’s end. (I can recommend a reputable livestock shipper if necessary, but the cost of shipping will be incurred by the winner.)
All essays must be received by Wednesday, September 16th. I reserve the right not to award the flock to anyone if I don’t think there is a suitable candidate. These animals are my responsibility, and I won’t let them leave my care if I am not completely confident that they will have a have happy, healthy life in their new home.
Good luck!
UPDATE: Help us spread the word about the giveaway and win a fabulous prize package.
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Bless you for your kind and loving guardianship of these precious animals. And blessings also to all the wonderful people who have supported you and thereby prevented you from having to ever sell them to a slaughterhouse. May the wind always be at your back!
This is an amazing generous gift you will be doing for someone. I called my spinning teacher last night because she’s making efforts to get a herd of her own. I know whoever wins will be very grateful!
That’s very kind of you. I think there’ll be so many essays to eliminate and so hard selection. I’m living in Ankara, Turkiye (motherland of Angora cats, goats and rabbits
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angora_cat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angora_goat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angora_rabbit ) and I’m familiar with these fluffy creatures. So good luck for all who will try!
OMG!! They are beautiful!! My dream is to go back home( maine), so i can start my spinning business!! I would live in the shed with them, just to be able to home!! beautiful babies!!!
Can you tell me if Angora goats would do well in the desert? I live in Arizona! Also how much space would they need and approx. what would it cost to have them shipped! I can,t even begin to tell you how much I would love to have goats. I just finished some mohair yarn and YES I do yearn to set up my wheel in the pasture amongst the goats!!!!!!! It honestly brings tears to my eyes thinking about it! Could you possibly e-mail me back? Thank you!
I am a shepard want to be… I live on 8 and a half acres, in Wisconsin. I have chickens and turkeys geese and swans. Of course a dog and couple of cats. My husband is a dairy farmer. I have developed a love for goats and sheep over the years. I love the fibers from them to use for knitting and crocheting.
they are such beautiful goats breed and is dream to have some along with some sheep.
Someday……
First off, let me say, my heart leaped when I read about the Angora contest! I am an aspiring Angora Goat shepherdess. I live on a 6 acre mini-farm called the “Sweet Kids Farm”, as all the animals are named after candies. I moved here a year a go and realized I had been given the opportunity to re-engage my love for animals which has been a constant nurturing and healing resource in my life. I spent the past several years very engaged in my career with the City of Sacramento, and have been feeling a serious lack of connection and purpose in my life. Therefore I moved back to a rural setting where things are alive. It has been here where my soul has been able to experience a renewed sense of beauty that inspires me.
In April 2009, I purchased two angora goats, Scarlet and Bodhi. They are absolutely gentle creatures, Beautiful! I spent several months researching various goat breeds trying to decide which breed I would want to raise. Once I discovered the Angora breed, I read books that provided me with information on other people that have taken on this adventure, and have continued to explore on what it would mean me for me to raise the angoras in the area I live. Since I have had Scarlet and Bodhi I have learned a lot about them and continuously am learning more. Last week they had their first shearing experience. I found that there are a couple of spinning guilds in this area. I am now in the process of taking a spinning class and learning the ins and out of managing the mohair.
It would be a dream in my life to be able to quit my job and make this hobby a life sustainable one. I haven’t quite figured that out how long it would take to do it or if it is possible but I am hoping that someday it will come true. I have been working diligently on creatively crafting some designs for a kids clothing line that would be a niche market to get into. I love the relationship that animals and people can have and the bond and affection that can be shared. Being a new grandma, as of two months a go, I am greatly interested in this new endeavor as I consider the experiences my granddaughter can potentially share on this farm and how these precious angoras can warm the hearts of others as well.
My neighbors, landlords, have Nigerian Dwarf goats. We all delight in these animals. I would be so blessed if I was considered for an angora starter herd. I have researched purchasing starter herds, but one of the drawbacks I have, is I find myself wanting to go visit the farms to see how the animals are raised to ensure the health of the herd. Most farms are a significant distance from where I live and can be costly to travel to do so. I was fortunate to find the two babies I have. I know you have an excellent program, and was absolutely thrilled when I heard of the opportunity you offered and the possibility of being chosen.
I would love it if you called to discuss the farm facility or any of the logistics of the responsibilities of raising of the goats, please feel free to contact me at 916 808-1172 or 916 698-7169. I would love to discuss all of the idiosyncrasies of goat life and mohair artistry with you!!!!
Here are some photos on Sweet Kids Farm:
This is Scarlet. She is so beautiful and sweet, the epitome of gentle!
Here are my two teachers. They are educating me on Angora’ness.
They follow me around the farm..so adorable!
Newbie Nigerian with grandma! Precious pair.
New momma enjoying a treat!
Marshmallow and I enjoying her first days into the world.
Oh, I guess the photos didn’t paste to the blog..is this the right place to submit the essay?
Oh how I wish I could take on this task. We have the room (we live on an acre), but I work full time and am a single parent to a wonderful little girl (and two corgis to boot). How blessed with this person be to win this!
What a wonderful giveaway! I certainly wish I was worthy of the goats. Before I became a spinner (4 years now) I wanted to own Angora goats. I just love the curls! I’m not set up for livestock so I’m not in the running but if we had the fencing I would be begging! LOL I have years of experience with horses and know the hard work they take. Good luck to all who apply and to you in finding a great home for them!
Wowza! I am not interested in this giveaway, other than to stand amazed at your generosity. Good for you! Best of luck to whomever you choose…
I’d absolutely LOVE goats. But we are currently in transit from Australia to NZ and have not even a home of our own at present. Good luck on the competition. I hope you find a perfect home
Hi! I think this is an amazing opportunity! I am interested but I admit I know nothing about goats, except they are great natural lawnmowers, and have neat personalities. How mush acreage per animal is optimal?
Wow!! This my dream !! I would even fix one half of the barn to live with them my self, just to have my dream come would be heaven in it’s self!!
amazing. this spirit of sharing and growing for everyone’s good is (one thing) love about the CSA movement. I wish I were in a position to enter! Best wishes to whoever IS! So exciting…
Altho I have no room or access to room for a flock
, I have to say those are the cutest lambs, they make you just want to run over and love on them. Good luck in finding wonderful homes where they will be loved, cared for and their beautiful fleeces put to good use.
Oh. My. Goodness. I got goosebumps reading about this wonderful giveaway. I even told my husband about it. Unfortunately our land is 900 miles away from our current residence so I don’t really have what it takes to enter right now. I can’t wait to follow along and read the essays that you do publish though.
Oh! I’m off to convince my neighbor to enter. I promise to babysit!
What a wonderful thing you are doing. I am going to get to work on my essay today!
I won’t be entering this giveaway, but I do want to say those goats are beautiful! Maybe someday I will have the room & resources to care for such lovely animals. Fantastic!
Oh, if only you were closer. New york to Georgia is a LONG trip for livestock to travel.
What a true blessing for someone. I have always wanted Angoras and none are to be found in my area!! Sad, as they are just beautiful creatures.
What a wonderful thing to do for someone. You are a treasure in itself.
We don’t fit your requirements. Yet. However, my husband and I are saving for an acreage. I had originally thought sheep, but my husband says goats. (He has experience with goats – I was an inner city welfare brat!) What I`d like to know is; can these adorable little creatures survive Manitoba (Canadian) winters, and are there any special requirements to maintaining a flock.
Oh my gosh! If we didn’t live sooo far away I would love to give the goats a home with us at Birch Hill. They are beautiful, we have been looking at the possiblility of a goat or small burrow. My boys were swooning at your lovely photos.
Have you heard of Bobs & Lolo? Awesome kiddo tunes. I am giving away a CD and DVD set that can easily ship in the mail…unlike goats unfortunately.
http://snickerdoodles.typepad.com/snickerdoodle_life/2009/09/a-bobs-lolo-giveaway.html
boy do i wish i could have those lovelys but alas thats just not to be
What a wonderful gesture! I am not in the market for any goats (I raise Shetland Sheep) but I think this is an awesome idea to help others get started (errr…eh hem..addicted) with fiber animals!
This is an awesome & humbling opportunity. We love our small flock of goats, but are thinking about expanding into fiber and so have been researching angoras. Like all farmers, we have to look at ways to offset the costs of indulging our passion for animals & fiber has appeal to us as vegetarians. If I can muster some eloquence worthy of this incredible gesture, I’ll write something up & brave entering. Could you post info on deadlines or timeframes when you get a chance? Thanks in advance, L
I posted your give away on my facebook wall. I wish I could enter the give away but I don’t have the land for them yet.
I would so love to have these beautiful babies but I’m not in the right place right now. I’ll keep reading my goat books and dreaming but best of luck to everyone (especially the goats).
oh my god those are some adorable goats. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen such cute kids. kids? see…I’m not entering the giveaway, as much as I like freebies, animals, and mohair. Hope you find the right person to love those goats.
Omigolly, omigolly! If only I had the space for those cuties right now!!!!
hi, i was just looking around for some info about fiber farms and i found your site. well it must be my day cause i saw the giveaway and had to write. my husband and i bought an 80 acre farm in upstate new york last winter. i have been wanting goats for a long time. but was not sure if i wanted to make cheese or fiber. last week i pretty much decided it would be angora goats. we have chickens and ducks now and 2 gordon setters. i grew up in the country on a small farm with horses and random animals. i really am a chef and have owned a successful restaurant for several years in alaska. i decided that i was really missing what i considered to be my roots and talked my husband into coming back to the finger lakes area to buy a farm. we have 4 really nice barns. our land has a 40 acre hay field, we just finished cutting last week, its a nice timothy, clover, alfa mix. all put up and waiting for some animals to eat. i really do not know anything about raising goats. of course i have read several books. but no hands on experience. i love animals and i think they love me too. i also knit and have been anxious to learn spinning. i have done a little weaving too. this is an amazing opportunity you are giving someone. i think your fiber csa is a great idea. i wish everyone luck who enters and thanks again fort this wonderful contest. if you want photos of our farm ,i will happily provide. kate springer
hi, i was just looking around for some info about fiber farms and i found your site. well it must be my day cause i saw the giveaway and had to write. my husband and i bought an 80 acre farm in upstate new york last winter. i have been wanting goats for a long time. but was not sure if i wanted to make cheese or fiber. last week i pretty much decided it would be angora goats. we have chickens and ducks now and 2 gordon setters. i grew up in the country on a small farm with horses and random animals. i really am a chef and have owned a successful restaurant for several years in alaska. i decided that i was really missing what i considered to be my roots and talked my husband into coming back to the finger lakes area to buy a farm. we have 4 really nice barns. our land has a 40 acre hay field, we just finished cutting last week, its a nice timothy, clover, alfa mix. all put up and waiting for some animals to eat. i really do not know anything about raising goats. of course i have read several books, but no hands on experience. i love animals and i think they love me too. i also knit and have been anxious to learn spinning. i have done a little weaving too. this is an amazing opportunity you are giving someone. i think your fiber csa is a great idea. i wish everyone luck who enters and thanks again for this wonderful contest. if you want photos of our farm,i will happily provide. kate springer
This is not for the give-a-way but I just had to say”"”
SO CUTE!!!!! They are so precious!!!!!!!
Thank You for sharing the pic’s.
Gerry
Ah, how I wish I could enter! We had a few goats on the farm when I was in my teens, and I loved milking them. Unfortunately, I’m not currently on enough land (although my neighbor/landlord’s wife wants to claim our property as part of hers so that she can have some sheep! LOL), so I can’t justify entering. I just wanted to say how kind and generous you are to be willing to start someone else off like this. *hug*
I didn’t see my comment here but I emailed my essay to you using the contact us link. Is this how it should be submitted?
I grew up on the Navajo Reservation and was a herder from birth. In a crawal board with mom on a horse.. My mother was a weaver until we took the tools away from her at the age of 89. She passed away a week before Thanksgiving at the age of 100. My daughter call an inform me of your giveaway and that I should apply. Gave it some serious thoughts, decided why not. I have fond memory of playing and watching baby kids playing in the corral or chasing them off our hogan. Our evening, after the livestock were put away, we would card the wool while she spun the wool. When the rugs was sold at the Trading Post, we would get paid with an item of clothes or a pair of boots. Still have sisters that still weave and in need a good Angora fiber, I can supply them with wool but not Angora hair. I do have a ranch with plenty of space, plenty of feed, just don’t have any goats.
Oh, my! what an amazing offer! This would truly be a dream for me…but not ready at this point in my life.
I can’t wait to see who the winner is!!! Fantastic!
Wow… I just came upon this today. What a fantastic giveaway. I read about your farm in an older issue of…. was it “Hobby Farm”? Anyway, it was very inspiring. I have wanted to get angora goats (and a few dairy goats) for a long time now. Unfortunately, I’m not in the position to enter a contest like this (had I been on time for it!) and I won’t be for at least another year. Very cool idea, though. I will look forward to finding out who gets the goats!
What a wonderful idea… as some one who has barbados black belly sheep for pets let me extend my Kudos to you.. Who ever gets these goats is going to be so lucky.
Sending warm thoughts all around.
These are the most beautiful animals I have ever seen. They remind me of my grandaughters cockapoo dog, so cuddly. I’m hoping my friend wins these as she is so loving. My grandaughter had a goat that she bought and kept it in her bedroom until we finally said the goat needs to be outside. But with such precious babies, I can see why she wanted to coddle and cuddle the goat. What a wonderful thing to pay it forward. This is awesome. Good Luck
I had to say something about this, you goats are so
beautiful. I am too late to enter and I have no place for your beautiful goats, but I understand how you feel. I think it’s beautiful that you are making sure they are going to a good home. I
gave my horse to the girl that cared for her, I couldn’t bear the idea of him going to a stranger
so I gave him to her. It still breaks my heart and
I miss him but I know he is safe and loved.
I think it is a beautiful thing to do.
I just saw your site and I guess I am too late to submit an essay. We have a small 11 Angora Goat herd in north western Vt. As you can see from my blog we take very good care of our goats and love them to death. Is it too late to get in the give away? Thank you. Tom of Vivian Acres
That is so amazing! My husband managed a bison ranch in Montana for a while and when it sold he was so sad. I wish I would have known about this sooner. I would love to have some cute little angora goats. I go to a knitting group religiously every week and it is so much a part of my life that I told my husband there has to be good yarn shops wherever we move next. Maybe some day we can start up our own little angora family. We wanna have some bison again too. Ahhh…you got me dreamin’
This just shows me that god still has a hand in our life. You all are wonderful people god bless you.
Hi
My brother and his wife live in Tisbury and I would like to buy two goats for his birthday. They are starting a farm and have ducks, chicks, peacocks(from my aunt) and one horse. I would love to buy a male and a female for them. Is is possible? You may know them. My sister-in-law has a small edible flower business called downislandfarm but if you know them don’t tell!!
Evelyn
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