Sammbalina

Hey I'm Samantha, most people call me Sam, Mom calls me Sammbalina (I was obsessed with Thumbalina when I was little). I have always been fascinated with the Idea of living on a farm, and it is my dream to start a goat farm. I am about to start Quail, because as of right now we live in a neighborhood with a Homeowners association and can't have anything else. We are working on getting our house on the market so we can find some land so I can get other livestock. I have 3 goals for my farm, 1- goat milk products, 2- Work with local schools to promote 4-H and FFA programs, and 3-Work on the preservation of endangered livestock breeds.

I want to work with schools in my county, particularly the school I went to, because when I was in school they didn't do anything with FFA or 4-H. I didn't even know they existed until long after I graduated. Maybe if I had known about these programs I could have had an earlier start into farming, and it possibly could have influenced my parents decision in purchasing our current home.

My mom was my inspiration to start a goat farm. Actually, it was all her idea. She is actually allergic to cows milk, and one day jokingly said,"We should start a goat farm," and I'm running with it. My stepdad actually got into the farming mood, and started talking about getting cows and pigs. When I was looking into different cattle and pig breeds, I came across the Livestock Conservancy's website, and have had my eyes opened to the fact that there are several breeds out there that we are at risk of losing. I have decided that all of my livestock (except the goats because I fell in love with LaManchas a long time ago) will be from their lists. I am hoping to eventually work with Pineywoods cattle, Choctaw Hogs(if they are ever available to the public), Ossabaw Island Hogs, American Mammoth Jackstock, American Chinchilla and Silver Fox rabbits; Cayuga, Ancona and Magpie ducks; Cotton Patch and Roman Geese, Royal Palm Turkeys. I have yet to narrow down my chicken selection, but will probably also work with several breeds. My mom also wants to get sheep, so I will let her decide on that breed.

I always had a hard time in school, struggling with a misdiagnosis of ADD, which when in High School, we figured out it is actually a sleeping disorder. The ADD was basically a symptom of the sleeping disorder. I have what is called Idiopathic Hypersomnia. This roughly translates to unexplained, excessive sleepiness. No matter how much I sleep, I am always tired. This is why I work a manual labor job, if I am at a desk, I will be asleep (unless I am doing something that actually holds my interest, and sometimes not even then).

Raising Silver Fox Rabbits, Brahma Chickens, Cayuga Ducks and Royal Palm Turkeys
ISO Houdan and Faverolle Chickens, Magpie and Aylesbury Ducks, Cotton Patch Geese