Hello and Welcome !
SugarFace Farm is a family-run hobby farm nestled between the Columbia and Deschutes Rivers in beautiful, North Central Oregon. We raise miniature and standard dairy goats and strive to breed show quality and high producing animals with gentle temperaments.
All our goats are registered with the American Dairy Goat Association and we participate in ADGA's linear appraisal program. Once a year an ADGA judge individually evaluates our goats, and then assigns each animal an overall score, based on how closely it meets breed standards. This helps us understand our goat's unique strengths and areas that need improvement and we refine and adjust our breeding program accordingly. We are not on DHIA yet, (the ADGA milk testing program) but do keep barn records to track our does dairy production.
FARM PHILOSOPHY:
Our farm philosophy is influenced by Permaculture theory and holistic health practices. This means that we trust in the wisdom of Mother Nature, and believe that every animal plays a special part in the hobby farm ecosystem.
As stewards of these animals we take their care very seriously, and believe that human intervention should always be the least invasive, ethical and in the animal's best interest. We go to great lengths to ensure that their physical and mental needs are met.
HERD MANAGEMENT:
We feed our goats high quality hay and a custom grain mix, because dairy goats with strong immune systems make the healthiest babies, and the tastiest milk! We supplement Copper and Selenium 2-3 times a year, and offer our goats a locally made, high-quality mineral mix, available 24-7. Our goats are tested annually for the most common goat diseases (CAE/CL), and their health is closely monitored. We de-worm, vaccinate, and treat our animals with antibiotics, but as resistance to de-wormers and antibiotics is increasing, we use these medicines only when absolutely necessary. Animals who are not hardy and resilient are culled (removed) from our breeding program.
Our goats are often around children and visitors of all ages and abilities. We coordinate with local mental health therapists, child welfare staff, and foster parents to provide therapeutic, animal-assisted skill building for at-risk children when possible. Our animals have been on field trips to visit schools, and attended many a family gathering. They've been exposed to people of varying needs; those who live with physical & mental disabilities, including the wheel-chair bound, the very young and the elderly.
Worth mentioning is our commitment to our local economy- As often as we can, we buy from local farmers and ranchers because we believe that cultivating relationships with our neighbors and supporting small business is of equal importance to the health of our animals. If we cannot help you, we refer to trusted breeders in our region.
Thank you for taking the time to get to know us,
The SugarFace Family