My husband and I chose the name Magic Dreams for our herd for several reasons.  Magic was chosen because when we look at our gals and guys, we both get smiles on our faces.  With each new birth there is a new beginning.  When watching kids jump & play, we are taken away for a bit of time to a magical place.  A place that is good for the heart, mind, and soul.

We feel that dreams are the beginning of every journey.  First we dream and then we put our dreams into action.

We dream in our minds of what we feel that magnificent buck or beautiful doe will look like.  Then we set about trying to develop that dream into a reality. We choose stock and blend lines that we feel will produce that magical animal.  Beauty is after all, in the eye of the beholder and when we look out over our "Field of Dreams" we are pleased with what we have accomplished.

Over the years,  we have searched for and  selected top quality foundation breeding stock from a few select herds across the country that we feel have some of the best milkers we can find.  We have reviewed in depth production records, LA evaluation scores, consistency, blending, show records & wins,  temperament, and many other factors.

We are looking for size, smooth blending, correctness, dairy character, consistency, ease of milking, and volume of milk.  Yes, we want it all.

In 1997 we brought our first Nubian does home.  After that we were hooked on goats.

The summer of 2003 we had our first HES evaluations done by Harvey Considine on our stock.  The summer of 2004 we had our first LA's done with the ADGA and were more than pleased with our results.  

We will continue with LA assessments as we feel they are more accurate than any ribbons that can be won at the shows.  Each goat is assessed one on one in their natural state.  You are not allowed to "set them up."  We feel that LA assessment is a valuable tool as so many faults can be hidden by setting up & working goats at the shows.

We started our herd on DHIR testing in 2003.  May 12th 2003 was our first testing day.  We are very excited that 4 of our does earned their milk stars that first year for us.  It is important to us to get those stars earned and continue the heritage passed on generation after generation from the dams and sires.  We plan to continue DHIR as long as we have dairy goats.

We were very pleased as one of our does from 2004 did place on the ADGA Top Ten list.  She also earned the SG (Superior Genetics) award from ADGA.  Also, our rolling herd averages put us right on the list with other top herds across the nation.  You can see our herd (Magic Dreams) on Provo's website in Top Herds under goat for 2004.

We are excited to have gotten started in the production programs offered by ADGA.  We are always looking to improve our herd and the Dairy Herd Improvement testing provides valuable, concrete information. 

We will be able to provide production records on our animals.  There will be no guessing as to our animals milk production, just the facts.  

We feel that both LA and DHIR are tools that go hand in hand.  We are striving to produce animals that have exceptional conformation as well as being good milk producers.  Both of these tools are valuable when we decide on choices for breedings.   Without performance records, animals are just names on papers.  DHIR and LA appraisals are the true pedigree makers, the proof of that animals worth.

We have been able, after working on HES scores, LA scores, milk stars, and starting on DHIR, to show a few of our Nubians.   We have earned GCH legs and finished a number of Champions.  In the past we tried to attend shows as we are able but it is very hard for us to leave the farm for any length of time.  Again, we feel LA & HES scores and DHIR are more important than shows.  

2003 & 2004 were very productive years and we far exceeded our expectations and dreams for our animals.  We accomplished everything we had set for our goals both years and much, much more.  We had come a very long way!

We had many changes in our lives in 2005 and as a result sold off our stock.  We fortunately leased some animals and kept semen straws for ourselves for future use.  Ed and I are getting older and health issues have been a factor.  Ed started a job in Chicago and adjustments were made.  

In 2006 we have come full circle and decided to retain a very small herd of nice Nubians and retire on our farm in Michigan.  Ed continues to work in Chicago at this time and comes home as much as possible.  I work the farm.

We will continue to carry a few of our BEST of the BEST does and bucks at our farm and each year will have a few very nice kids for sale from our exceptional stock.  We will continue with milk testing and LA assessments.  We will NOT be showing our goats so we will be selling very nice quality animals.

We try very hard to improve our lines each and every year.  We are already planning ahead for 2009.  This process will go on up until the day the doe is bred.  So, each breeding is NOT random or hurried,  but is carefully thought out and planned for.  

Herd health has always been of MAJOR importance to us.  Each year or Nubians are tested for Johnes, CAE, CL, Bruc., and TB.  We have always maintained a negative herd.   We will not be showing in the future as we do NOT want to expose our excellent stock to disease.  We have and will maintain a closed herd.  But, we will prove our stock through LA assessments and DIHA.

We are very glad to be back.  Even if it is in a very limited way.

Thank you,