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About Us: Your hosts are Frank and Allison Stahl.
 Frank is a native of Ohio, coming from a long line of farmers in the mid-west. Growing up in
Westerville, OH, Frank had the desire to design and build his own log cabin. He also wanted
to build a farm where his family would have the ability to survive without all the modern
conveniences and evils of the modern world. No - we’re not Amish - although do admire many of
the hardships they endure keeping true to their faith. Frank has provided the labor and
creativity behind the farm, and maintains it daily. Chores for Frank center around keeping
the animals and farm in excellent condition. |
Allison currently works off the farm as a consultant, providing family income which supplements
the farms and has allowed us to expand by purchasing the annex. In Allison’s long term dreams,
the Weston House will become a Bed & Breakfast, and give Allison the ability to really be
the "Inn Keeper", while Frank maintains the farming operation. |
Our vision of a family farm vacation get away was inspired by our own daughter, and our many
friends, who through the years have come to visit, and comment that they wish they’d been more
exposed to the rural farming style life. It’s really pleasant, nice, quiet, beautiful, and
away from the hustle and bustle most people live with every day.
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We really are a working farm - owning a total of 250 acres of the Appalachian foothills on 3 separate farms." We
have a herd of about 25 registered shorthorn cattle, which we raise for meat production.
We also have a herd of over 40 registered Katahdin sheep - a unique breed of "hair" sheep.
Rather than wool production, the sheep we also raise for meat. They shed their winter wool,
rather than needing to be sheared.
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About our Farming Program:
Our farm program is based on Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) with all livestock being fed
primarily grass and hay. Our fields are rotationally grazed, with pasture sizes as required
to maintain proper weight gains in all of the animals. Grass, especially when managed
properly, is an abundant natural resource in central Ohio. We take advantage of season and
compatibility of the animals to get the most efficient usage of our grass – keeping cows and
sheep together most of the time. Varying plant type, taste and length preferences of the
animals allow them to eat companionably side by side without competition. In addition, the
cows and horses provide natural predator protection to the much more vulnerable sheep.
While this method of herd management is labor intensive, it is ecologically sound, and has a
higher potential for profit.
Sheep:
Our flock of Katahdin sheep is comprised of 3 rams and around 50 ewes. We raise registered,
recordable and commercial ewes and rams. Our breeding plan aims at moderate size, good
mothering capability, lambing ease and consistency for weight gains and weight at weaning.
We participate in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP), which allows us to monitor
and document our flock improvement, and voluntarily in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program
(SFCP). Katahdin sheep are bred for meat production, having a mild flavored meat, and
conveniently as hair sheep do not need to be sheared.
Cows:
Our herd consists of about 25 registered American Shorthorn cows. While we currently have one
bull, most of our impregnation is done through artificial insemination. As a member of the
American Shorthorn Association (ASA), we raise our animals for commercial meat production, not
for show. We test our animals through Gene Star for tenderness and marbling. Pure breed
animals, again, allow for more consistency in taste and tenderness. Our breeding plan for the
Shorthorns aims at moderate size, good weight gains as grass fed animals, good mothering ability
and milk production.
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Nearby Attractions
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Amish Country
(Holmes County)
The Colonial City
(Mount Vernon)
Dennison University
and Granville
Indian Mounds
(Newark/Heath)
Zanesville Potteries
Kenyon College
(Gambier)
Roscoe Village
(Coshocton)
Covered Bridge
(Fallsburg)
National Rd. Museum
(Zanesville)
Longaberger Baskets
(Dresden/Frazeysburg)
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