250,000 Followers, A Hacker & The Story of Hamish and Kyloe — With Marc Stewart, Thistle Do Farm

250,000 Followers, A Hacker & The Story of Hamish and Kyloe — With Marc Stewart, Thistle Do Farm

He saw a Highland cow lift her head from a hay bale in a field in Scotland and knew right then that he would own one someday. It took Marc Stewart ten years to find Hamish, but what followed was fifteen years of one of the most heartfelt bonds between a man and his cattle the internet has ever seen. This week Lori sits down with Marc, owner of Thistle Do Farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and founder of a 501c3 Highland cattle sanctuary, to hear the story of Hamish, Kyloe, a quarter of a million Facebook followers and losing it all overnight to a hacker. This one is for anyone who's ever loved an animal more than they can explain. Key Takeaways Steers often make better companions than heifers for people who don't want to breed.  Time spent with your cattle — real time, not ten minutes twice a day — is what builds a true bond.  A 501c3 sanctuary status allows supporters to make tax-deductible donations of animals, not just money.  Protect your social media pages — Meta Verified exists now and is worth the cost.  Don't build your entire audience on one platform. Episode Highlights Marc shares how the name Thistle Do Farm came to him — and why it's perfect.  The story of Kylo, the runt steer saved from becoming tiny T-bones, who eventually grew to 1,100 pounds.  How a Facebook hack wiped out 250,000 followers and $900–$1,200 a month in donations overnight — and what happened next.  Lori makes the case for Marc taking in owner-surrendered steers, and the conversation opens up a real avenue for listeners who have animals in need of a good home. Timestamps  00:01 — Welcome & intro to Thistle Do Farm  03:30 — How the farm got its name  05:35 — A trip to Scotland, a Highland cow, and a ten-year wait  07:30 — Finding Hamish and the first four years  09:51 — Rescuing Kylo: the runt saved from the dinner table  12:02 — Why steers make better companions than you think  14:53 — Building a social following and becoming a 501c3 sanctuary  16:26 — The Facebook hack that wiped out everything overnight  20:01 — How YouTube saved the channel  23:15 — Losing Hamish and Kylo after fifteen years  24:20 — What's next for Thistle Do Farm  31:08 — Owner surrenders and what Marc is looking for Find Marc and Thistle Do Farm on  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HamishandKyloe/ [https://www.facebook.com/HamishandKyloe/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamish_and_kyloe/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thistle_do_farm [http://www.youtube.com/@thistle_do_farm] Follow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories! Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast  Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/ [https://www.the32collective.co/]

Mini Cows As Therapy: Grief, Illness & An Accidental Business — Shantell Goodenough, Posh Mini Farm

What happens when a mini Highland cow shows up in a nursing home and a lady sits down at the piano to play for her? That is the kind of moment Shantell Goodenough lives for. Based in Shelley, Idaho, Shantell started Posh Mini Farm less than a year ago after a grief-stricken whim turned into a full-blown business and a lifeline. Fighting lupus and several other autoimmune conditions while mourning the loss of her father, Shantell found in her mini Highlands something no medication could give her. This episode is warm, honest, and full of real talk about the true cost of getting started - not just financially, but in time, training, and commitment. If you've ever thought about taking your Highland to events, weddings, or care facilities, this one's for you. Key Takeaways The purchase price is just the beginning - feed, maintenance and training add up fast.  Halter training takes daily consistency and some animals may never be event-ready.  If you're taking your Highland to events or facilities, get proper insurance and use waivers.  Pink pool noodles on horn tips are a genius hack for working with kids.  These animals are a genuine therapy tool for owners and the people they visit. Episode Highlights Shantell shares how her first Highland came to her after its mother was struck by lightning — and how that became a full business in under a year.  She breaks down what it really takes to bring mini Highlands into assisted living facilities, including the potty bag reality check nobody talks about.  The team gets into wedding Highlands, cocktail hour saddle packs, and the very real risk of a cow bucking drinks across a reception.  Plus Lori's black eye story makes another appearance. Timestamps 00:01 — Welcome & intro to Posh Mini Farm  00:49 — How Shantell got her first Highland after lightning struck  03:35 — Building a business through grief and autoimmune illness  04:50 — How cuddle sessions and assisted living visits began  07:45 — Taking mini Highlands into care facilities and what to expect  10:47 — Animals on the farm: goats, insurance and waivers  17:00 — Cuddle and feed experiences and event pricing reality  20:41 — What new owners don't expect: true cost of ownership  23:29 — Halter training, personality and why it takes daily work  27:42 — Chondro positive and planning for size  27:42 — Weddings, saddle packs and cocktail hour Highlands  35:02 — Charging fairly for your time, travel and training Follow Shantell at  Instagram: @poshminifarm TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@shangoodenough?_r=1&_t=ZP-96hYRGQuAkp [https://www.tiktok.com/@shangoodenough?_r=1&_t=ZP-96hYRGQuAkp]  Follow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories! Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/ [https://www.the32collective.co/]

A Mini Cow Changed Our Lives Forever | Milk & Honey Ranch

What happens when a software engineer from South Africa loses everything, buys a mini Highland cow on a credit card, and builds a miracle from scratch? This week Lori and Taylor sit down with Brent and Daniela Phillips of Milk and Honey Ranch in Burton, Texas — and their story will stop you in your tracks. From the Texas Snowpocalypse that changed Brent's outlook on life, to a $7,000 cow that launched a thriving agritourism business, to Daniela's near-fatal car accident that somehow became the turning point that changed everything. This episode is less about cattle and more about what these animals do to people - the magic they carry and the lives they transform. Grab a tissue. Key Takeaways Mini Highlands can be a genuine business foundation — not just a hobby.  Private agritourism and experience-based stays are a growing opportunity for small farm owners.  Keeping faith and showing up one day at a time can carry you further than any master plan.  Animals change people — including the people who own them. Episode Highlights Brent shares how one mini cow grew into a ranch sleeping 164 guests across 41 stays.  The story of Daniela's accident, her miraculous nine-day ICU recovery, and how strangers booking the ranch kept it alive.  The moment Brent told an influencer he'd run naked down the street if it helped his wife — and why he'd do it again.  Plus Matthew McConaughey just bought a mini Highland from them. Timestamps 00:01 — Welcome & introduction to Milk and Honey Ranch  01:20 — How a tech guy from South Africa ended up with mini Highlands  05:41 — Losing everything and finding a new path  07:17 — Buying the first cow on a credit card  09:42 — How cuddle sessions turned into a sell-out business  17:11 — Expanding from mini cows to a full agritourism resort  21:56 — January 2024: $5,000 in the bank and a phone call no one wants  25:17 — The power of prayer and a community that showed up  31:05 — Nine days in ICU — and a year and a half of bookings  34:50 — Where Milk and Honey Ranch stands today  42:49 — Location, visiting & what to expect Visit Milk and Honey Ranch at www.milkandhoneyranch.com [http://www.milkandhoneyranch.com] or find them over on socials @milkandhoneyranch Follow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories! Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves  Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast  TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast  Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/ [https://www.the32collective.co/]

The DNA Test Mistakes Every Cattle Owner Makes - With Stefanie Oppenheim, UC Davis VGL

If you've ever sent off a hair sample and wondered if you were doing it right — this episode is going to stop you in your tracks. Lori and Taylor sit down with Stefanie Oppenheim, animal scientist and senior analyst at the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, to break down everything Highland and mini Highland owners need to know about genetic testing — from how to pull hair correctly to what those colour results actually mean. This is one of the most practically useful episodes the show has done. Whether you're testing for chondro, coat colour, polled, or free martin, Stefanie walks you through exactly what the lab needs, why it matters, and what mistakes people make every single day. Key Takeaways Always pull hair from the tail switch and never cut it — the DNA is in the root bulb, not the shaft. Send both the MC1R and dilution tests to get a complete picture of coat colour.  Buying semen? Ask for the bull's VGL case number before you breed anything.  A free martin test coming back positive doesn't automatically mean the heifer is infertile — always work with your vet.  DNA on file at VGL is a permanent fingerprint — it can identify lost animals, verify parentage and protect buyers. Episode Highlights Stefanie reveals the most common mistake breeders make when submitting hair samples — and it's an easy fix.  The team digs into chondrodysplasia, brindle genetics, polled versus scurred, and what a free martin result really means.  Taylor raises the question of DNA verification for high-value semen purchases — and Stefanie's answer is something every mini Highland breeder should hear.  Lori admits in real time what she's been doing wrong. Timestamps 00:01 — Welcome & intro to UC Davis VGL  00:59 — Stefanie's background in animal science and genetics  05:13 — How to pull and submit hair samples correctly  07:28 — Why root bulbs matter and how many hairs to send  09:32 — Labelling, case numbers and avoiding mix-ups  14:45 — Why uploading a photo with your sample helps  16:18 — DNA as a permanent identity fingerprint  20:47 — Semen purchases, AI and DNA verification  34:36 — Coat colour testing: MC1R, dilution and why you need both  37:13 — Chondrodysplasia and the Dexter connection in minis  41:21 — Brindle genetics explained  58:28 — Polled versus horned versus scurred  01:02:48 — Free martin testing: what the result really means Order cattle genetic tests at vgl.ucdavis.edu Follow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories! Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves  Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast  TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast  Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/ [https://www.the32collective.co/]

Why Your Fly Control Isn't Working - With Jessica Starcevich

Flies are one of the biggest battles livestock owners face every summer - and most of us are fighting them wrong. This week Lori sits down with Jessica Starcevich, entomologist and fly control expert at Spalding Labs, to break down what's actually living on your animals, why your fly bags might be making things worse, and how to build a smarter, more natural approach to fly control. From horn flies and face flies to house flies and biting stable flies - they're not all the same, they don't all breed in the same place, and they don't all respond to the same treatment. If you've been spraying permethrin all summer and still losing the battle, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways Not all flies are the same species - identifying where they are on the animal tells you everything.  Fly bags placed near barns can actually attract more flies than they catch.  Rotating your spray active ingredients reduces resistance.  Dung beetles are your best free tool - don't kill them with the wrong wormer.  Fly Predators target house and stable flies in confined areas and can achieve up to 75–90% control. Episode Highlights Jessica explains the four main fly species affecting pastured cattle and how to tell them apart.  Lori gets the wake-up call about her fly bags and how she was using them wrong.  The conversation covers IPM — integrated pest management — and how to build a whole-farm fly program without spending more than you need to.  Plus: what fly predators actually are, how they work, and why you should call Spalding Labs before ordering if you have over 50 animals or multiple species. Timestamps 00:01 — Welcome & intro to fly control  01:35 — Jessica's background & Spalding Labs' 50 years in business  02:39 — What fly predators are and how they work  04:11 — The four fly species affecting cattle & how to identify them  07:28 — IPM: integrated pest management explained  09:18 — Fly control for manure piles and large pastures  16:04 — Why fly bags can backfire  20:22 — How to know what flies you actually have  23:35 — Resistance to sprays and rotating active ingredients  28:22 — How fly predators reproduce and what results to expect  31:09 — When to call Spalding Labs instead of ordering online Learn more and get a custom fly program at www.spalding-labs.com [http://www.spalding-labs.com] Follow us on social media so you don't miss out on any advice, auction updates, or crazy farm stories! Find us on Facebook: Horns N Hooves  Instagram: @hornsnhoovesauctionpodcast  TikTok: @Hornsnhoovespodcast  Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com [http://hornsnhoovesauction.com] Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/ [https://www.the32collective.co/]