Happy Goat Lucky Ewe Fiber Farm
Established in 1987, as a hobby farm, supplies the wool for many of the products sold by Michigan Merinos. We are MAEAP-certified, and committed to creating our fine Merino wool using environmentally safe and climate-conscious practices.
Established in 1987, Happy Goat Lucky Ewe Fiber Farm is owned and operated by Bridget Kavanagh.
Happy Goat Lucky Ewe Fiber Farm and Michigan Merinos are located north of Mason, Michigan. We are home to 50+ Merino sheep, as well as a small herd of Angora goats, which supply us with the eco-friendly fiber in our home-grown products. Our farm is also home to a pollinator sanctuary. In the spring of 2018, we prepped our soil and planted 5.8 acres of wildflowers and seed grasses for pollinators (thanks to Environmental Quality Incentives Program [EQIP] incentives from USDA). The buffer strips of flowers surround the pastures. We did this mostly for the fact that mono-culture farming is great for pollinators for two weeks, when the crops are flowering, but where do bees, dragonflies, butterflies and hummingbirds find food after the crops have been pollinated? They need to eat, and we have the land to feed them. We have always had a garden for our farm visitors, the buffer strips were a natural extension. So, read on about our history. But think about making an appointment to visit, there's so much more to see in person!
We have been an operating hobby farm since 1987 and got serious about farming (as in making a living) in 2017.
Our property is the original Dobie Farm, which was settled in 1836. In 1991 Grandpa Doc gave the kids an ewe lamb to bottle feed. My son was four at the time, my daughter was three. We named the ewe, Meryl Sheep (Sesame Street gets the credit) and she was the beginning of a love affair with fleece.
From that point forward we began to collect fiber animals - I bought a small herd of Angora goats from a friend, and picked up additional does; then I picked up more sheep and found myself obsessed with spinning and felting and knitting - so much for the horses. We rescued a few sheep, took in a bunch more when a friend moved to California, adopted a bottle lamb (again) - and the next thing you know we have a flock/herd of over 30 animals with spring kids and lambs adding to the mix. Today, the farm is home to a flock of 50 Merino sheep, as well as our flagship Angora goats. We utilize the wool they grow for us in a variety of ways: roving for spinners, handspun yarns, millspun: yarn, hats, headbands, cowls and socks, dryerballs, and so much more. We are thankful that so many people are interested in our ecologically-conscious practices and continue to support us. We are always trying to use our wool in new and exciting ways, so please stop in to see what we’re currently up to!
Want to visit the farm?
To learn more, check out these articles about our farm.
City Pulse Article, May 2019
Lansing Journal Article, March 2019
Great Lakes Fiber Shed Directory
Merinos are often heavily wrinkled. Our shearer takes his time to avoid nicking the sheep.
