Bluestem Acres, LLC

07/05/2025

Nothing is ever wasted on the farmstead...

Sixteen years ago, Alex and I brought home a free puppy... super smart, bringing a puppy home on the Fourth of July in a college town 🙃. This was long before Bluestem Acres was even an idea in our minds. She was a German Shepherd and Lab mix... while she was a great dog for suburban life, she was the worst farm dog, but that wasn't helped by being seven years old when we moved out here and started the goat herd. That dog, Bristol, passed away three years ago, at twelve years old, and we never took her doghouse down.

Today, we repurposed/recycled her dog house into a buck shelter. Nothing goes to waste... I even reused as many of the random screws as possible (of different lengths and drive types) as we pieced and parted things to get to Pig's new shelter. Reused barn tin will be added tomorrow. I think he likes it!

07/03/2025

June milk test- ✔️
22 does in milk this month... two of whom are hunting for new milk maids (Phortune and Sunrise) and one (Elektra) who will depart for her new home soon, now that the June test is complete. For the first time in several months, our June test string looked exactly the same as our previous test string. This month was our VT test, and it was a joy to have Alex Elliott in the barn with me for three milkings in a row!

Despite the 90+ degree heat and the miserable humidity on test day (and the week leading up to it), Phortune, Briar, Jasmine, Glitter, Epiphany and Flame all produced the same or more milk than they did for our May test, which was on a day of beautiful, cool spring weather. Maple and Eden, did this too, despite being approximately 30 days bred (we hope) and being over 230 days into lactation. These are the kinds of does we love, and something we want to breed for in our herd... more milk with summer grass (regardless of heat), and continued strong milk production well into lactation!

The spring kids are slowing down on milk consumption and starting to go browse with the milking does during the day. That means more milk for cheese, yogurt and ice cream for us... and room on the milk pickup schedule for more customers like you!

Spring Fresheners: (DIM= days in milk, DPB = days post breeding)
Ethel- 146 DIM- 5F- 7.3lbs
Cinder- 119 DIM- 3F- 8.2lbs
Lucky- 116 DIM- 2F- 5.6lbs
Ducky- 113 DIM- YrlgFF- 5.6lbs
Zobafet- 113 DIM- YrlgFF- 3.1lbs
Glitter- 111 DIM- 2F- 8.1lbs
Stella- 108 DIM- 3F- 6.9lbs
Epiphany- 107 DIM- YrlgFF- 5.0lbs
Karisma- 98 DIM- 2yrFF- 4.0lbs
Briar- 97 DIM- 2yrFF- 5.6lbs
Elektra- 67 DIM- 2F- 8.3lbs
Sunrise- 67 DIM- YrlgFF- 5.3lbs
Coffee- 66 DIM- 2yrFF- 5.5lbs
Smoothie- 60 DIM- YrlgFF- 4.4lbs
Phortune- 50 DIM- 2F- 7.8lbs
Flame- 49 DIM- YrlgFF- 4.7lbs

Fall fresheners: The group of Oct/Nov fresheners are still milking really nicely and all of them have hit their milk star requirements in butterfat and protein. Maple has met her star requirements in volume as well, and we expect that Souvenir, Eden and Empanada will be able to say that after our mid-August test. We draw blood in less than a week to see if they settled for their fall freshening! [Full lactation to date info given in brackets]

Maple- 262 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 6.3lbs [1608lbs, 84lbs BF(5.2%), 50lbs Pr(3.1%)]
Empanada- 259 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 4.8lbs [1353, 66lbs BF(4.9%), 46lbs Pr(3.4%)]
Eden- 238 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 5.6lbs [1302lbs, 80 BF(6.1%), 47lbs Pr(3.6%)]
Souvenir- 238 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 5.7lbs [1388lbs, 91lbs BF(6.6%), 59lbs Pr(4.3%)]
💖🤩look at that butterfat percentage on Souvenir!!💖🤩

Photo this month is just proof of why dairy goats are so good at causing trouble- 140+ gallons of clean, cool fresh water available less than 50' away, and Ducky chooses to drink from a muddy puddle. 🤦🏻‍♀️

07/02/2025

We took a short field trip yesterday to visit friends and their herd down in Douglass, KS. The purpose was to pick out a substitute showmanship goat for Kathryn to use in the ADGA National Show in Grand Island, NE on July 13. It was a successful visit and Kathryn is looking forward to showing Frenchie in the Junior Showmanship division. Thanks Brandy Rigg and Misty Rigg for loaning her a goat. And a special thanks to Brandy for her willingness to mentor Kathryn. It's so wonderful to have someone investing time and knowledge with Kathryn and encouraging her endeavors.

We are attending Nationals so Kathryn can compete in youth events and I'm volunteering for some ringside duties, but we are not brining any goats from khr herd to show this year. Our 4-H county fair overlaps the animal timeline, and we think our/Kathryn's animals are best showcased locally, still. When ADGA Nationals returns to Grand Island in a few years we hope to bring some goats to the big stage!

06/22/2025

We have one female LGD puppy hunting for her people! She'll be 12 weeks old next weekend (6/28) and ready to go continue learning her job at your farm. Raised with goats and free range ducks. See our website for additional info.

06/16/2025

We spent Friday and Saturday at the HNDGA Heartland Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association, Arbyxkle Classic show in Norman, OK. It was our first three ring show, and the first one where the judges rotated instead of the goats. Our pens were the farthest they could possibly be from the ring that Nubians showed in, and our star girl, Stella, was not pleasant to lead to and from the show ring. We had a helper from another farm (thank you C**t!- SilverFire Ranch), and he has renamed her "Mule." It just might stick!

Judges were Joe Pilotte, Kris Fraley and Rusty Repp.

Rusty Repp judged showmanship and the youth show. Kathryn stood 7th of a large showmanship class and was one of the youngest in the group. It's great experience to be against a more challenging competition, even when you don't land on top. Her does showed well on youth day, and received some nice comments.

Open show was a long day and there was some tough competition! A herd we've long admited was present and it was an honor to stand amongst their animals in the show ring They even commented "thats a pretty udder," when they saw Stella, which is incredibly humbling because I know the quality of udders they have on their animals. Stella stood second under Joe Pilotte, and the doe ahead of her went Grand. Stella stood third under Rusty Repp, commended for her mammary. We have an exciting AI breeding planned for her to hopefully correct the areas she's lacking. Epiphany received excellent comments from Joe and Rusty and we're hoping she continues to grow/mature as well as she looks now.

Thanks to everyone who hand a hand in making this weekend possible! It wraps up our spring show season and travels. We have learned so much traveling to shows this year and are looking forward to continuing this goat showing/breeding journey!

06/08/2025

It's always surprising what two weeks can do for a young doeling... she's startingng to get life as a show goat all figured out!
KitKats Parade Mochaccino
DOB April 22, 2025

First photo- 5/28/25
Second photo- 6/8/25

06/06/2025

We took some stacked photos of our junior herdsires yesterday. Inferno and Thidwick were not thrilled. Edison actually seemed to enjoy himself.

Kansas Bluestem MS Edison
Sire: Blissberry Macapuno Sunrise
Sire's Sire: Blissberry Coconut Cooler
Sire's Dam: Blissberry Rise & Shine
Dam: Kansas Bluestem Ethel
Dam's Sire: Zao Hot Fudge
Dam's Dam: The Prairieland Lilly

Kansas Bluestem MGF Inferno
Sire: Food4Thought MardiGras Flasher
Sire's Sire: Food4Thought Froth
Sire's Dam: Blissberry Mardi Gras
Dam: Camelot Cattle Co Cinder
Dam's Sire: Camelot Cattle Co Oliver Wood
Dam's Dam: Camelot Cattle Co Ember

Camelot Cattle Co Thidwick
Sire: Camelot Cattle Co Moose
Sire's Sire: Camelot Cattle Co Chrome
Sire's Dam: Nubilop-Acres Flirt's Flirty
Dam: Camelot Cattle Co Destiny
Dam's Sire: Camelot Cattle Co Oliver Wood
Dam's Dam: Camelott Cattle Co Ruby

06/05/2025

This year's litter of LGD pups followed the does to pasture today for the first time. They're being watched from a distance by Gidget (grandma) and Charlotte (mom), making sure the youngsters are behaving.

06/04/2025

Spring breeding season- ✅

We have seven does exposed for kidding between October 22-November 1 this fall. Pregnancy checks will be completed in 30 days. I'm hoping for lots of pink but several of these pairings will produce quality breeding bucks as well. Breedings and reservation information and info available on our website-

Welcome to the Farm! We're a family, doing our best to build a productive homestead in west-central Butler County, Kansas. Read a little more about us and our journey on our About Us page or use the portals below to go to the dedicated areas of our website. If you’re interested in purcahsing goat ...

06/03/2025

May milk test- ✔️
22 does in milk this month... two of whom are hunting for new milk maids (Phortune and Sunrise) and one (Elektra) who will depart for her new home after our June milk test... I'm going to enjoy the slightly reduced number once they all depart!

We had SIX milkers (Elektra, Sunrise, Coffee, Smoothie, Phortune & Flame) join the line this month, and two others (Strawberry & Tinkerbell) depart for new farms. These six girls are all milking nicely, even if they didn't all get the memo and give me doe kids to retain/sell. We still have one cute buckling available from Phortune and one available from Smoothie... they could go as grade wethers and make great w**d eaters for the summer and then fill your freezer this fall.

The group of Oct/Nov fresheners are still milking really nicely and all of them have hit their milk star requirements in butterfat. Souvenir and Maple will likely have met star requirements in all three categories by our June test, with Eden and Empanada needing our August test to be completed before they can boast.

Spring Fresheners: (DIM= days in milk, DPB = days post breeding)
Ethel- 113 DIM- 5F- 7.4 lbs
Cinder- 85 DIM- 3F- 9.4lbs
Lucky- 82 DIM- 2F- 6.9lbs
Ducky- 79 DIM- YrlgFF- 6.8lbs
Zobafet- 79 DIM- YrlgFF- 5.6lbs
Glitter- 77 DIM- 2F- 8.1lbs
Stella- 74 DIM- 3F- 8.1lbs
Epiphany- 73 DIM- YrlgFF- 4.5lbs
Karisma- 64 DIM- 2yrFF- 4.8lbs
Briar- 63 DIM- 2yrFF- 5.1lbs
Elektra- 33 DIM- 2F- 9.9lbs
Sunrise- 33 DIM- YrlgFF- 5.2lbs
Coffee- 32 DIM- 2yrFF- 6.0lbs
Smoothie- 26 DIM- YrlgFF- 5.0lbs
Phortune- 16 DIM- 2F- 6.8lbs
Flame- 15 DIM- YrlgFF- 5.0lbs

Fall fresheners: (Full lactation to date info given as well)
Maple- 227 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 6.2lbs [1395lbs, 73lbs BF(5.2%), 43lbs Pr(3.1%)]
Empanada- 225 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 5.8lbs [1173lbs, 57lbs BF(4.9%), 40lbs Pr(3.4%)]
Eden- 204 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 5.6lbs [1112lbs, 69lbs BF(6.2%), 40lbs Pr(3.6%)]
Souvenir- 204 DIM- FF(yrlg)- 6.5lbs [1181lbs, 79lbs BF(6.7%), 50lbs Pr(4.2%)]

Photos this month are show fill pictures of Stella, Glitter, Ducky, Coffee and Epiphany.

06/01/2025

Great time at the Sunflower Doe Doe Dairy Goat Show in Salina, KS

Stella went 1x first and 1x 3rd this weekend in her class of (10) three year old milking Nubians.

Ducky went 1x first and 1x second,
And Epiphany went 1x first and 1x fourth in their class of (5) yearling milkers.

Glitter placed in the middle of her giant (17 doe) class of 2year old milkers in both the rings in the open show, and then 5th in the youth show.

Juniors all did acceptably and received nice remarks, with a few of them standing in the championship lineups in one of the two rings during the open show... ans Fairacres KitKatata Tatiana taking reserve champion junior nubian in the combined jr/sr Youth Show.

Kathryn brought home some merch by taking Reserve Champion Junior Showman. She's still vying for a Champion placing before she gets to Nationals in July. We're really grateful for TeCoa sharing all her expertise with us, and we'll be working hard over the next few weeks before we head to Norman, OK for one finally spring show.

Thank you to the Varners and friends.family for organizing and hosting this wonderful show, in Kansas. As the only ADGA show in our home state, we're very very grateful to y'all! Thanks to Christy for handling ringside and helping in the ring on juniors; to Brandy for alwaya being willing for me to just hand her a goat yo show; to Kennedy for helping Kathryn on youth day; to Rachel and Ginger and Heidi for great show day company, photos and helping keep me sane... and to Alex and Knox for holding down the fort and managing the rest of the herd while Kathryn and I go "play." Looking forward to the next!

05/30/2025

When you forget to load a senior kid but are only 20 minutes away... your amazing better half agrees to meet you in a big parking lot with noisy cargo. Thank you Alex!