Latest updates from the dairy.

When people think about breeding goats, the first thing they usually notice is color—and we won’t lie, we love that part too. Nigerian Dwarfs keep things interesting.

But color is only one piece of the picture. We’re focused on conformation, strong udders, proper teat placement, and the kind of milk production that keeps a small dairy running smoothly.

Temperament matters just as much. We want goats that are calm, easy to handle, and enjoyable to work with. Goats that respect fences, stand steady on the milk stand, and don’t turn chores into chaos.

All of those traits are passed down through solid genetics. That’s why we study both sides of every pairing—our does are the foundation, but our bucks shape just as much of the next generation.

We currently run two bucks, and every few years we bring in another to keep genetics fresh. It lets us keep improving without getting too closely related.

Every breeding decision is intentional. Every pairing has a goal. We’re always looking ahead to what the herd will be like a few years from now—not just what looks good today, but what performs, milks, and stays sweet for the long haul.

Better goats. Stronger genetics. A herd that improves every season.

— Naomi Lane Dairy

Some mornings start before the sun even thinks about rising. Boots by the door, jackets half-zipped, and a quick ‘who’s ready?’ before we head out. The goats don’t wait—and neither do the bottle babies—and right there with us are our daughters.

They’re learning to juggle it all—school during the day, 4-H responsibilities, and bottle baby duty in between. One minute it’s assignments, the next it’s mixing bottles, checking on kids, and helping with the milking routine. It’s a full schedule, but they’re figuring it out one day at a time.

Mornings in the barn have their own rhythm. The milk stand gets set, the goats line up, and the bottle babies make sure everyone knows they’re hungry. There’s always a little chaos, but that’s part of it. The girls jump in wherever they’re needed—feeding, milking, or making sure each kid gets taken care of.

Bottle baby duty isn’t something you can put off. They rely on consistency, and the girls have stepped into that responsibility. They’ve learned how to mix bottles, keep feeding schedules, and pay attention to the little details that matter—because with animals, those details always matter.

At the same time, they’re balancing 4-H. That means learning more than just daily care—it’s understanding the animals, putting in the work behind the scenes, and preparing for something they can be proud of. It’s not just helping anymore—it’s ownership.

And of course, there are days when it’s a lot. Schoolwork, barn chores, feeding schedules—it all stacks up. Some mornings are rushed, some evenings run long, and not everything goes perfectly. But they show up anyway. That’s where the real learning happens.

Out here, responsibility isn’t something you talk about—it’s something you do. Every feeding, every milking, every early morning adds up to something bigger. We’re teaching consistency. We’re building work ethic. We’re showing what it looks like to take care of something that depends on you.

It’s not always easy, and it’s definitely not always clean—but it’s real. And it’s shaping them in ways that go far beyond the barn. This is more than just milking goats. It’s raising the next generation the right way.

Most mornings don’t start in the barn—they start in the house. Getting everyone up, making sure the girls are ready for school, backpacks packed, and out the door on time. Once they’re off to school and he heads out to work, that’s when my part of the day really shifts.

I head home, change, and go straight out to the barn. Monday through Friday, the morning milking is on me. By the time I get out there, the goats are ready and the bottle babies are definitely letting me know they’re hungry.

First thing I do is get the milk machine ready. I make sure everything is clean and set up, then put a fresh filter in so it’s ready to go. After that I move on to bottles—clean what was used, mix fresh formula and milk, set them in warm water, and bring them up to about 103°.

While the bottles are warming, I start milking. I bring the goats up, get them on the stand, and work through them one by one. By the time I’m finishing up, the bottles are usually right where they need to be and the kids are ready to eat.

Then it’s time to feed. They don’t wait, and they’re loud about it. I make sure each one gets fed and is doing well, then I bottle up the milk, get it into containers, and put it in the cooler.

Last step is cleaning and sanitizing everything so it’s ready for next time. It’s not the easiest part, but it’s one of the most important. If you skip it or rush it, it shows later.

By the time I’m done, goats are milked, kids are fed, milk’s in the cooler, and the machine’s clean. Then it’s on to the next part of the day—school pickups, 4-H, and doing it all again later. It’s a lot, but everything depends on it getting done, so you just show up and do it.

— Hollie