ABOUT US
About Us
Welcome to A W Homestead.
We're a small family in northeast Kansas pursuing a slower, more intentional way of life. Long before our daughter was born, we dreamed of getting back to our roots—raising our own food, caring for livestock, spending our days outdoors, and living as simply and naturally as possible.
Today that dream includes a large garden, homegrown vegetables, pasture-raised chickens for meat and eggs, butcher hogs, dairy goats, and Quarter Horses. We believe there is value in knowing where your food comes from and taking responsibility for as much of it as we can. In a world of convenience and processed foods, we choose hard work, fresh air, and a lifestyle that feels rewarding.
Life took an unexpected turn when our first and only child, Charlie, was born prematurely at just 2 pounds. Along with being diagnosed with Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), she faced significant medical challenges that forever changed our family's path. Through countless hospital stays, surgeries, therapies, and appointments, we've experienced both the incredible advances of modern medicine and the frustrations of navigating a healthcare system that often overlooks the individual child.
Charlie has become the heart behind everything we do. She has taught us resilience, patience, gratitude, and the importance of celebrating every milestone—no matter how small. Through our website and social media, we share our family's journey, our homestead lifestyle, our animals, and the realities of raising a child with complex medical needs. Our hope is to encourage others, educate about Down syndrome, and show that a meaningful life isn't measured by how easy it is, but by the love and purpose found along the way.
Our Dairy Goats
We've built a small registered Nigerian Dwarf herd backed by strong dairy genetics. Our goal is to raise healthy, correct animals that can excel in the show ring while producing rich, high-butterfat milk for the family. Nigerian Dwarfs are wonderful dairy goats, excellent companions, and their small size makes them a great fit for many homesteads.
Our Horses
Our Quarter Horse program is built around producing versatile, level-headed ranch horses with the kind of minds, conformation, and athletic ability that last a lifetime. We focus heavily on Blue Valentine and Hancock bloodlines while thoughtfully incorporating other proven ranch genetics. Looking ahead, we also hope to develop a program producing registered ranch mules with the same emphasis on soundness, disposition, and versatility.
At the end of the day, Aw Homestead isn't about perfection—it's about building a life we're proud of, one animal, one harvest, and one day at a time. We're glad you're here to follow along
Our Equine Program
Horses have always been a way of life for us and always will be. Whether we're gathering cattle, roping, enjoying summer rodeos, or spending a day on the trail, our horses are expected to be willing, versatile partners that can handle whatever is asked of them.
Over the years, we've carefully built a small breeding program centered around the qualities we value most—sound minds, solid conformation, durability, and versatility. Our program is heavily influenced by Blue Valentine and Hancock bloodlines, known for their bone, athleticism, work ethic, and dependable dispositions. We believe a horse should not only perform well but be one you enjoy being around every day.
We recently welcomed our foundation breeding stallion, and we're excited to see the qualities he'll pass on to future generations. As our program grows, we also plan to cross selected mares with Mammoth Jacks to produce registered ranch mules that are equally capable on the ranch, on the trail, or in the arena.
Our goal isn't to raise large numbers of horses—it's to thoughtfully produce quality individuals that we would be proud to own ourselves and that will serve their next owners for years to come.
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Our Dairy Goats
After extensive research, we chose Nigerian Dwarf goats because we believe they are one of the best breeds for the modern homestead. Originally from West Africa, these hardy little goats have become one of the most popular dairy breeds thanks to their friendly personalities, efficient milk production, and exceptional milk quality. Despite standing only about 22 inches at the withers, a well-bred doe can produce up to two quarts of rich, high-butterfat milk each day. Their milk is excellent for drinking, cheese, yogurt, soap making, and many other homestead uses.
Our herd is registered through both ADGA and AGS and is routinely tested negative for Johne's Disease, CAE, and CL. We have worked hard to build a herd backed by strong dairy genetics while maintaining the health and longevity of every animal.
As our homestead continues to grow, we are also beginning to branch into registered Nubian goats. Their exceptional milk production, calm dispositions, and versatility make them a great complement to our Nigerian Dwarf program. We look forward to thoughtfully developing both breeds while staying true to our homestead values.
The reason we started raising dairy goats was simple—we wanted to move away from relying solely on commercially produced food and provide our family with wholesome, home-produced dairy. Our management philosophy focuses on allowing our animals to live as naturally as possible. Our goats spend their days on pasture browsing and foraging, and we believe good nutrition, proper management, and selective breeding are the foundation of a healthy herd.
We use medications responsibly and only when needed, avoid unnecessary whole-herd deworming by practicing targeted parasite management, and prioritize raising hardy, productive animals with strong maternal instincts. Whenever possible, kids are raised by their mothers, allowing them to develop naturally and preserving the strong maternal traits we value in our breeding program.
Above all, our goal is to raise functional dairy goats that are healthy, productive, and a joy to own—animals that thrive on the homestead while providing nutritious milk for generations to come.
