Old Mountain Farm

In 1979, Cheryle brought her first goat home; a pygmy wether that quickly became a family member.

In 1985 after Wyl and Cheryle married, they decided to start building a herd of show quality Pygmies and raise sheep for fleece and meat. Wyl also mastered the age old art of hand blade sheep shearing and developed quite a clientele of handspinners.

In September of 1989 Cheryle and Wyl moved their menagerie to the Old Mountain Farm property with Norman (Cheryle's father) following two years later.

Shortly thereafter their focus settled on goat breeding so they found other homes for their sheep, ducks, rabbits and chickens.

As Cheryle and Wyl's goat breeding adventure evolved they became more involved with showing their goats but found the closer their goat herd came to the NPGA breed standard, the more difficulties their goats had with kid bearing.

It was Wyl who initially wanted to branch out into Nigerians but it took Cheryle a couple more years to make the leap. Once they did, in 1994, they never looked back! They both immediately felt like they had found "their" breed of goat and dispersed their pygmy herd.

Wyl; a woodworker and carpenter by trade has found a way to combine his woodworking talents with goat farming by designing and building milking / taskstands for miniature goats and efficent low waste hayfeeders.

Cheryle has also found a creative outlet involving the goats. She spends alot of time in the pasture with her camera, capturing, the goats limitless humor and beauty. The goats never complain about having their photos taken because they never seem to have a bad day.

Norm's great parenting skills made him a natural for goat kid care. Throughout the eleven years he lived at Old Mountain Farm he had the very important job of "holding down the fort". He monitored does for signs of parturation while Wyl and Cheryle were away from the farm. He was the daytime bottle feeder and so much more. His helpfulness with chores such as landscaping, woodchopping etc. were a big contribution to the farm which allowed Wyl and Cheryle, more time to spend with the goats.

Wyl, Cheryle and Norm have always viewed raising Nigerian Miniature Dairy Goats as a joint venture that enhance the quality of life and can't imagine Old Mountain farm without goats.

Norm passed away in February of 2003 (click on the "in memory" link below to view his Memorial). Cheryle and Wyl miss him everyday and miss all the help he provided them by being a father, friend, mentor, cheerleader, errand runner and much more!