Austin - his dream lives on
Our oldest son and very talented. Austin has done may things in his short life. In 2012 he meet his role model when it came to sheep, Ruth Tabor at the Meat Sheep Alliance Sheep and Wool Festival that is held in April every year in Ocala, Florida He was inspired by her work and the development of the St. Augustine Sheep breed. He started on his research binge and he decided that he would not make his own breed but make a difference with a breed that touched his heart during his research. Austin started in 4H at the age of 11 and he was drawn to cattle like his mom but things and people pushed him away from showing cattle so he went looking for livestock that he was passionate about. He has shown cattle, swine, goats chickens and sheep trying to find that one. So he is the child who started us with Florida Cracker Sheep because the traditional sheep for showing, the black face did not touch his heart. In 2013 when Rusty step foot on our farm him and Austin had an instant bond. With the many shows those two have done together it is very apparent also. Austin took the knowledge he gained from his research and took it to the public using the shows as his forum. When he first started showing them we could hear the snickers from the audience making fun of his sheep. We even heard it from the judges and show sponsors but that did not stop him. Austin has attended Deland High School with plans of college after he graduated majoring in Psychology. That was suppose to have happened in 2016 but health issues have put those plans on hold. Austin besides being very active in 4-H he is a member of the high school chorus and he was in several of the groups that they have. He has performed at the Candlelight Processional at Disney World in 2015 and 2014 and performed in New York City at Carnegie Hall during his 2015 Spring Break in March. July 2016 he was diagnosed with a brain stem tumor, Grade 4 Glioblastoma. Since his diagnosis he has continued to perform in chorus and compete in the show ring with sheep and chickens. Austin has set his goals for the Florida Cracker Sheep. He wants to build his herd of Florida Cracker Sheep to help bring them off the critical list. Most of all Austin wants to develop his own genetic line of Florida Cracker Sheep and he is working very hard on that. Austin lost his battle August 2016.
Our oldest son and very talented. Austin has done may things in his short life. In 2012 he meet his role model when it came to sheep, Ruth Tabor at the Meat Sheep Alliance Sheep and Wool Festival that is held in April every year in Ocala, Florida He was inspired by her work and the development of the St. Augustine Sheep breed. He started on his research binge and he decided that he would not make his own breed but make a difference with a breed that touched his heart during his research. Austin started in 4H at the age of 11 and he was drawn to cattle like his mom but things and people pushed him away from showing cattle so he went looking for livestock that he was passionate about. He has shown cattle, swine, goats chickens and sheep trying to find that one. So he is the child who started us with Florida Cracker Sheep because the traditional sheep for showing, the black face did not touch his heart. In 2013 when Rusty step foot on our farm him and Austin had an instant bond. With the many shows those two have done together it is very apparent also. Austin took the knowledge he gained from his research and took it to the public using the shows as his forum. When he first started showing them we could hear the snickers from the audience making fun of his sheep. We even heard it from the judges and show sponsors but that did not stop him. Austin has attended Deland High School with plans of college after he graduated majoring in Psychology. That was suppose to have happened in 2016 but health issues have put those plans on hold. Austin besides being very active in 4-H he is a member of the high school chorus and he was in several of the groups that they have. He has performed at the Candlelight Processional at Disney World in 2015 and 2014 and performed in New York City at Carnegie Hall during his 2015 Spring Break in March. July 2016 he was diagnosed with a brain stem tumor, Grade 4 Glioblastoma. Since his diagnosis he has continued to perform in chorus and compete in the show ring with sheep and chickens. Austin has set his goals for the Florida Cracker Sheep. He wants to build his herd of Florida Cracker Sheep to help bring them off the critical list. Most of all Austin wants to develop his own genetic line of Florida Cracker Sheep and he is working very hard on that. Austin lost his battle August 2016.
Diana
Mom, manager, and 4H leader. Doing everything to keep Austin and Trysten's legacy alive.
Mom, manager, and 4H leader. Doing everything to keep Austin and Trysten's legacy alive.
Dakota
Our middle child and very much loves to try anything that gives one an adrenaline rush. He enjoys skateboarding, dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, and anything else that is a physical challenge. This is the child who started us into sheep. He has a love for animals that is very great. He was given the opportunity to bottle feed a lamb and was hooked from that moment on. He has excelled at showmanship. His first year at state fair he was in the top four for his age group. Dakota wanted to only show black face sheep. Dakota has been a great help with the work we are doing he has done some mentoring but mostly he has just been a support for us to move forward. Dakota is a father now. He has a son named Kaesonn and is expecting his daughter, Nevaeh in December.
Our middle child and very much loves to try anything that gives one an adrenaline rush. He enjoys skateboarding, dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, and anything else that is a physical challenge. This is the child who started us into sheep. He has a love for animals that is very great. He was given the opportunity to bottle feed a lamb and was hooked from that moment on. He has excelled at showmanship. His first year at state fair he was in the top four for his age group. Dakota wanted to only show black face sheep. Dakota has been a great help with the work we are doing he has done some mentoring but mostly he has just been a support for us to move forward. Dakota is a father now. He has a son named Kaesonn and is expecting his daughter, Nevaeh in December.
Trysten- Our Inspiration
Our youngest and most extraordinary child. He was very active in 4-H at the age of 6. He did everything he could and what he was not allowed to compete in he just learned more about it. So when he turned 8 and could compete seriously he did. He showed pigs, cattle, chickens, rabbits, goats and sheep. He put his heart into learning to be a better showman and also to teach other kids to be better showman. He started with chickens and did very well. He always had a bird on champion row at state fair, He was raising Sumatras because they were rare and flashy. Sumatras are also on the critical list with the American Livestock Conservatory. He is my inspiration, Trysten past away due to some unknown heart condition on New Years Eve 2013.
Our youngest and most extraordinary child. He was very active in 4-H at the age of 6. He did everything he could and what he was not allowed to compete in he just learned more about it. So when he turned 8 and could compete seriously he did. He showed pigs, cattle, chickens, rabbits, goats and sheep. He put his heart into learning to be a better showman and also to teach other kids to be better showman. He started with chickens and did very well. He always had a bird on champion row at state fair, He was raising Sumatras because they were rare and flashy. Sumatras are also on the critical list with the American Livestock Conservatory. He is my inspiration, Trysten past away due to some unknown heart condition on New Years Eve 2013.
Kaesonn
Dakota's son |