Upcoming Events
Thank Ewes - The Blessings From Sheep
About This Event (Sign Up on our EventBrite Page)
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, come celebrate the blessings that sheep give us: milk, meat, and wool.
This event brings together the best of education, craftsmanship, and farm life. Perfect for homeschoolers, homesteaders, craft lovers, and anyone who wants to connect with where their food and fiber come from.
What to Expect:
• Learn how to work with wool—spinning wheels, looms, and hands-on demos
• Explore how sheep milk becomes cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products
• Talks and demonstrations on raising healthy sheep and managing quality forages
• Learn about rotational grazing and small-scale dairy management
• Visit the farm store for artisan cheese, wool goods, and farm-made products
Learn how you can purchase starter flocks for your homestead or hobby farm
Bring a bag to take home wool for craft projects. Free wool to each attendee!
You’ll leave with new knowledge, inspiration, and maybe a few new farm-made treasures to take home. Farm Store will be open for purchases!
Sign up here!
***South Carolina Sheep Association Members can attend Free of Charge. Not a member? Register here - www.scsheep.com
Lamb-uary Bottle Brigade
IT'S TIME! The babies are coming!
We would love to have you and your family and friends come help with the babies at the farm! We need help walking the pastures to see if anyone is in labor, cleaning baby areas, bottle feeding, and washing the babies' dishes and laundry and even help for the moms (health checks, milking, feeding)
In order to avoid having too many people out one day and zero friends the next day, we are hoping this signup sheet will help.
(Click here for the form and to sign up to volunteer)
Babies will be born January through March, but we would still need baby help through the spring!
Plan a day or weekend outing, or make it a weekly adventure!
Homesteading 201 Sheep, Goats, and Native Grasses
Homesteading 201: Sheep, Goats, and Native Grasses
Join us at Whispering Pines Dairy on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM (ET) for an in-depth look at how to raise sheep and goats while making the most of your land.
What You’ll Learn
How to raise sheep and goats for milk, meat, or family sustainability
The role of native grasses in improving soil health and supporting your herd
Practical management techniques to balance livestock care with land stewardship
Real-world insights from experienced shepherds and homesteaders
Who Should Attend
This workshop is designed for both new and experienced homesteaders who want to expand their skills and learn how to build a productive, sustainable homestead.
Why It Matters
Sheep, goats, and native grasses work together to provide food, improve land quality, and create a healthier environment for your family and community.
Come ready to learn, share, and connect with other homesteaders. This event combines education with hands-on learning, giving you knowledge you can take home and put into practice.
We look forward to seeing you at the farm!
Sign up on our Eventbrite page!
Shepherding 101
Shepherding 101 at Whispering Pines Dairy
Spend the day learning the essentials of shepherding on a working dairy farm. This hands-on class is designed for families, aspiring homesteaders, and anyone curious about sheep and goats.
What to Expect
Rotating Learning Stations: Small groups will rotate every 20–30 minutes for focused time at each activity.
Milking Parlor: Learn what equipment is needed and practice milking sheep and goats.
Pasture Tour: Explore our pastures and understand the basics of nutrition, shelter, and fencing for healthy flocks.
Health Checks: Practice FAMACHA scoring and BCS, learn humane handling techniques, and discover how to care for young lambs and kids.
Wool Workshop: Try your hand at felting with a take-home project, plus take home extra raw wool (bring a bag).
Bible Lesson: Learn why sheep are the most mentioned animal in the Bible, taught by a shepherd.
Working Farm in Action: Watch Border Collies herd, see livestock guardian dogs at work, and experience daily feeding and farm tasks.
Farm Store
Our farm store will be open after class with cheeses, meats, fresh milk (cow, goat, and sheep), kefir, yogurt, and wool products including yarn, roving, blankets, and hides.
Who Should Come
We have taught visitors from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, inspiring new micro dairies and homesteads. If you are considering starting your own flock, this class is the perfect place to begin. Families are welcome, and children under 5 attend free. Tickets are the same price for children and adults, with discounts for SC Sheep members.
What to Bring
Weather-appropriate clothes
Rain or rubber boots (easy to hose off)
Baby wipes and hand sanitizer
Water bottle
Bag for wool to take home
This event runs rain or shine. The SC Sheep annual meeting will follow the class. Do not miss this opportunity to connect with nature, gain practical skills, and enjoy a memorable farm day.
Sign up now on our Eventbrite page!
Happy Sheep & Goats with Regenerative Forage Practices
Learn how to raise healthy, happy sheep & goats using regenerative forage methods at our upcoming event!
Sign up on our Eventbrite Page
Date and time
Saturday, September 27 · 9am - 3:30pm EDT. Doors at 8:30am
Location
Whispering Pines Stables/Upstate Equestrian Ministry
681 Campbell Bridge road Seneca, SC 29678
Get directions
Agenda
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Gates Open, Follow Signs to parking areas and Sign in
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Introduction to Whispering Pines and the dairy.
A brief tour of the facilities, a quick description of how to milk and introduction of speakers. Then we will divide up into groups to walk through different pastures. The leaders will stay in their area and attendees will move from pasture to pasture to benefit from learning from each forage expert.
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Forage evaluations
Whispering Pines has 180 acres with over 25 different pastures of a variety of forages to suit the wide variety of livestock. Attendees will learn how to evaluate forages for nutritional value, identify Native grasses, seasonal annuals, grasses, legumes, brassicas and forbs as well as learn the why and what purpose of each type of forage to bring to your farm- whether medicinal value for small ruminants or increase of protein, fiber or mineral values and the related soil health outcomes.
Also, the methods needed for each forage- whether to broadcast or drill! Great information for seasoned farmers or beginning homesteaders!
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
How to milk sheep, goats and cows
We have an option to learn milking of cows, sheep and goats for any interested attendees.
This option is available at no additional charge but you will need to sign up by contacting Whispering Pines by 9/20/25. Only limited number of attendees can sign up.
This experience will be an overview but a dedicated milking class is recommended, which we offer throughout the milking season on Tuesday- Friday by appointment.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Basics on Sheep and Goats
Learn basic handling, herding, hoof care and health check basics. Some small ruminants have been handled less than others. Learn good shepherding techniques! Chasing them is not one of the techniques!
Learn the how to in handling, basic health checks, learn how to do vaccinations and why? An opportunity to learn some basic hoof trimming techniques and corrective hoof care. For those interested in evaluating breeding stock or learning some tips for record keeping during breeding season, we're already started and share our methods at Whispering Pines.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch - We provide lunch. Great time for networking!
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
FAMACHA Certification and Body Condition Scoring
FAMACHA is a great tool for evaluating anemia in small ruminants (sheep and goats). Using this method, you can determine whether you need to deworm or not. Dewormers should not be given periodically but only when necessary. Learn what dewormers should and should not be used on sheep and goats as well as parasite resistance to certain types of dewormers. This segment will have a class room as well as hands-on opportunity.
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wrap-up- final thoughts and questions, finishing up on skill trainings
About this event
South Carolina Sheep and Goat Association welcomes you to Whispering Pines Dairy Farm sponsored by National Grazing Lands Coalition
Raise healthy, happy sheep & goats with regenerative forage practices
Come join us at Whispering Pines for a hands-on event all about raising your sheep and goats the right way! Learn about regenerative forage practices that will keep your animals healthy and happy. Whether you're a seasoned farmer or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to improve their livestock management skills. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with other like-minded individuals and gain valuable knowledge to take back to your own farm. See you there!
Cheese Making Basics
Join us for a hands-on introduction to the art of cheese making.
We will begin with a guided tour of our creamery, where you will see the molds, methods, and equipment behind our cheeses. You will also get an overview of the different products we create right here on the farm.
Next, roll up your sleeves as we learn the process of making cheese. You will follow along with a recipe you can take home, and each guest will leave with a 1/2 pound of fresh soft cheese.
Fresh milk and cheese-making supplies will be available for purchase. Because it is the end of milking season and quantities are limited, we recommend placing orders in advance. Our farm store will also be open after class.
Sign up here on our Eventbrite page!