2020 Year of Growth: Goat Business Expansion

As we move into the new year, I feel it important to take a look back at 2020. While this year came with many unforeseen challenges across the globe, I am grateful to say that it also brought a great amount of positive change and growth for Bar O Bar Livestock.

I am confident that the successes we have had in this year are just the beginning of many great things to come! It is important to note that we had challenges in 2020, (as well as the several years prior). However, I realize now, that the many challenges Ethan and I have faced truly happened to help propel us forward in a positive way.

Challenges, a Driving Factor in a Decision to Grow

In late May and early June, a collection of not-so-great events compiled and led Ethan and I to do some reflections on our current life situations and our goals for the future. Truthfully, we both came to a bit of a breaking point.

Our relationships, our mental health, our day jobs, and our small business were not where we wanted (and needed) them to be. We realized that the path we were on, was not leading us to where we wanted to go. So… it was time for us to take back our ownership of our lives, and our future.

This harsh realization led us to decide that it was time to buckle down, do some hard work, take some big risks, and finally start building up towards the business dreams we have talked about for years.

Dreams Don't Work, Unless you Do

In late June and early July, we started doing the tedious work needed to make our dream of growing our goat business a reality.

We did market research, we talked management tactics, and we ran budget… after budget… after budget. We asked for and implemented professional advice. We met with a life coach who is familiar with the world of agriculture, we met with an FSA advisor, and we reached out to professionals in the industry. We put together a vision board, and posted it in our bedroom where we could look at it every morning and night.

Finally, we made a well-researched, well thought out plan, and focused intentionally on completing the steps to reach our goals.

Financing… a Less Exciting (but necessary) Logistic

On August 15th we had completed a loan application with FSA, which let me tell you… is no small undertaking! We were enthused to receive notice about a week later that our first submission was accepted as fully and correctly completed (again... NO SMALL FEAT)!

September 29th came, and we received word that our loan application had been approved! Hallelujah, praise the good Lord above!!

Once the loan was approved, we were ready to finalize lease agreements, close on the loan, and make the second largest purchase of our life (second to our home) of an additional 160 mother goats!

Now, as you read about this portion of our process, it might seem like everything fell into line, simply and quickly. Which overall, things did work out greatly (I am fortunate for that). However, hear me when I say, take heed, the lease agreement and loan closing portion of this process was by far the most stressful part.

Bringing Home the Gold Goat

AH HA!! On October 30, with the help of some good friends, we brought home 160 additional mother goats, to add to our herd.

The following day, Ethan and I tagged each of our new girls, sorted them into breeding groups, and turned them out with bucks to be bred.

As I write this today, on the eve of a new year, all of our does (new and old) are here at home, in pens with shelter and feed bunks, beginning prep for kidding! This winter and spring, we will kid out roughly 200 mothers.

Thinking about how far we have come, how much we have grown, and what lies ahead of us brings tears to my eyes. Tears of gratitude, of excitement.

Gratitude, Excitement & Further Growth

The growth of 2020 has gone beyond just our goat herd. Ethan and I too have grown. We have grown as individuals and in our relationship with each other. We have become business partners.

I have so much gratitude for those who helped Ethan and I succeed in this expansion. Thank you to the family, friends, and professionals who gave us words of advice and encouragement. Thank you to Ethan’s parents, who entered into a lease agreement with us that will greatly help us get our feet under us as young small business owners.

Thank you to my husband Ethan, for being willing to take a risk, make sacrifices, and jump two feet first into this dream of ours. Thank you for investing in us and in our future.

I am so excited for what is to come; for more opportunities to learn, to make memories, and to grow. Of course, our herd will grow, but I am especially looking forward to personal growth.

This increased business venture of ours has caused me to set some personal goals for myself. Specific, tangible goals, which will help me to increase my self-confidence, and my ability to help out as a goat farmers wife.

Here is to 2021!! The best is yet to come!

Best,

Faith (Bar O Bar Farmwife)