Raising Barbados Blackbellies  

          My husband, Mike, and I moved to the country and
          started living the good life in 1996.  It didn't take long
          for my love of mowing to turn into quite a chore after
          caring for our five acre mini-farm through a hot Texas
          summer.  Yaupon was my biggest bane.  It is a noxious
          shrub that, if left to what nature intended, can barely
          be uprooted short of using a bulldozer, preferably one
          that throws fire.  We started looking for some
          livestock to raise that would help keep the mowing to
          a minimum, and please, Lord, let them eat Yaupon. 
          We found ourselves at a gentleman's farm in Grimes
          County, Texas buying what are now known as
          American Blackbelly Sheep.  Back then, the horned
          and hornless were both called Barbados Blackbelly.
          Animal husbandry is in our blood.  We have
          successfully bred champions and performance dogs of
          several different breeds, training them and showing
          them to their titles.  We've bred rare and exotic birds;
          cats; and we have been involved in raising one type
          or another of livestock for a good portion of our lives;
          cows horses, goats, the most recent being the
          American Blackbelly then the Barbados Blackbelly,
          since 1996.  Our commitment has gone as far as
                                                                                       educating ourselves about each animal and fowl we
          have been engaged with, including earning an Associates Degree in Animal Technology at Texas A&M
          University myself, and Mike serving on the Board of Directors of the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep
          Association International (BBSAI) for two years.  I also helped edit the Lamb Lovers Cookbook devoted
          entirely to lamb recipes, as well as serving on various committees of the BBSAI, including the Breed
          Standard Committee.  We feel that we have something to offer this rare breed.  We also realize that                          anytime one ventures out into new                                     
          territory, which we occasionally do in                                                                                                         
          efforts to breed the best, there is
          going to be opposition.  We believe
          that is to be expected.  It serves to
          keep us dedicated and committed to
          what we are trying to accomplish in
          our breeding program.

          Something we have enjoyed since we
          have been raising sheep is watching
          sheep behavior.  Jesus often referred
          to us as sheep in the Bible.  We
          wanted to find out firsthand, why?  We
          not only found out what He meant, we
          found out that He truly loves His sheep
          and He is a very caring shepherd.  We've
          grown in our own relationships with
          Christ learning how to be good
          shepherds.  What started out as a
          hobby, that we hoped would grow into a business, has instead become our passion.  We sincerely
          hope that you may find the same enjoyment caring for your sheep, as we have in caring for ours.

          Top Photo:  Becky  with her Belgian Tervurens, Fina and Big Rig.            
          Bottom Photo:   Mike at the barn, contemplating the days chores. 

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 Lone Star Farm | Barbados Blackbelly Sheep