Good things don't happen by accident

Hey friend,

I hope you're enjoying the slower pace and longer days that come with summer.

Last week, our family took a trip to Murphy, NC. We spent our days hiking, exploring, and enjoying a change of scenery. As much as we loved the mountains, one of the best parts of the trip was having space to step away from the daily demands of farm life and think about the months ahead.

One thing farming has taught me is that the best decisions are usually made long before they're needed.

When we got home, the biggest change on the farm was the puppies. They've nearly tripled in size, and Elsie has been the sweetest first-time mom.

Watching her care for her litter brought back memories of bringing home our first livestock guardian dog, Valkyrie, six years ago.

Valkyrie is still healthy, strong, and very much the heart of our farm.

But if we want another dog with the qualities we value so highly, we can't wait until Valkyrie retires to start looking.

A truly good livestock guardian dog takes close to two years to fully mature.

The kind of dog we need isn't just protective of livestock.

We want dogs that are trustworthy with children, gentle with poultry and young animals, confident without being aggressive, and content to stay home rather than roam the countryside.

As I began searching for our next guardian last year, I realized again how difficult those dogs are to find.

The more I looked, the more grateful I became for the breeders who entrusted us with dogs like Valkyrie, Elsie, and Vidar.

Their stable temperaments, intelligence, and reliability weren't accidents.

Those traits were carefully cultivated over generations.

Eventually, I realized that if we wanted more dogs like ours, we needed to become part of preserving those qualities ourselves.

So we made the decision to breed Elsie to Vidar.

Three months later, we have ten beautiful puppies sleeping in our living room and starting to spend some time toddling outside.

Watching Elsie become a mother has been one of the sweetest experiences I've witnessed on the farm.

More than that, it's been a reminder that the things we value most—whether it's healthy livestock, productive land, or dependable working dogs—don't happen by accident.

They're built through thoughtful stewardship, careful selection, and a willingness to plan for the future.

I'm incredibly grateful for the breeders who laid that foundation before us, and honored to carry that legacy forward.

From my heart,

Brianne

Iron Oaks Farmstead

386-209-6150