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Kindlehope Farm -
Danette Emberlin-Fuhrer & Joe Fuhrer 
Apr 2019
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1) How did you get started in the Boer goat industry?
After getting our farm, we did some research on goats and loved the look of Boer goats. After weeks of research, visiting local breeders and attending a couple of local Boer goat shows we began buying. Our first herd was small, maybe 8 does and one buck, and not the best in conformation, but we loved them all anyway. We did not initially show goats. We were content to keep our herd and sell kids.
2) What does you operation look like today?
As of this moment we have about 45 goats, including this year’s new kids. The desire for color in our herd was high from the beginning, but the prices were also high. Our color program has taken some years to develop, but we like how it’s moving forward all the time. Our current goal is to aggressively improve conformation in our color herd. We’re happy with how the past three years have moved us steadily towards that goal.
3) What do you enjoy the most about the Boer goat industry?
From the beginning we found great supportive breeders to help us along. So, for us the best thing about the industry has been the folks we’ve gotten to know over the years and the friends we’ve made. It’s hard to find a nicer group of people.
4) Who was an inspiration and helped you improve your herd and how?
My first encouragement came from Valerie Witt who became a dear friend and my cohort on goat buying trips. She’d raised dairy goats years earlier when her daughter was in 4-H so she was a good source for goat care issues. As we attended shows and met more breeders the list of those folks who became an encouragement and brought inspiration to us grew. So many folks we’ve come to admire and love. Overall, I have to say Richard and Sandy Hemminger have been right there for us or knew where to direct us for answers. They’ve been very inspirational as breeders and great people.
5) What has been your biggest challenge as a producer?
Color was not really that hard to manage once we knew how to pick does and bucks that worked well together. Getting the conformation and growth we wanted has been a bit more challenging. Our herd has always been relatively small and the favorites stayed regardless of what they produced. So, moving forward has been slow. Over the last couple of years we feel there has been an improvement in these areas and we’re feeling good about where we’re heading.
6) What are you most excited about for the coming new year?
We have some great bucks in the herd now and some really dependable does with all the attributes we’ve been breeding to get. We’re hopeful this combination will bring us a lot closer to achieving our goals.
After getting our farm, we did some research on goats and loved the look of Boer goats. After weeks of research, visiting local breeders and attending a couple of local Boer goat shows we began buying. Our first herd was small, maybe 8 does and one buck, and not the best in conformation, but we loved them all anyway. We did not initially show goats. We were content to keep our herd and sell kids.
2) What does you operation look like today?
As of this moment we have about 45 goats, including this year’s new kids. The desire for color in our herd was high from the beginning, but the prices were also high. Our color program has taken some years to develop, but we like how it’s moving forward all the time. Our current goal is to aggressively improve conformation in our color herd. We’re happy with how the past three years have moved us steadily towards that goal.
3) What do you enjoy the most about the Boer goat industry?
From the beginning we found great supportive breeders to help us along. So, for us the best thing about the industry has been the folks we’ve gotten to know over the years and the friends we’ve made. It’s hard to find a nicer group of people.
4) Who was an inspiration and helped you improve your herd and how?
My first encouragement came from Valerie Witt who became a dear friend and my cohort on goat buying trips. She’d raised dairy goats years earlier when her daughter was in 4-H so she was a good source for goat care issues. As we attended shows and met more breeders the list of those folks who became an encouragement and brought inspiration to us grew. So many folks we’ve come to admire and love. Overall, I have to say Richard and Sandy Hemminger have been right there for us or knew where to direct us for answers. They’ve been very inspirational as breeders and great people.
5) What has been your biggest challenge as a producer?
Color was not really that hard to manage once we knew how to pick does and bucks that worked well together. Getting the conformation and growth we wanted has been a bit more challenging. Our herd has always been relatively small and the favorites stayed regardless of what they produced. So, moving forward has been slow. Over the last couple of years we feel there has been an improvement in these areas and we’re feeling good about where we’re heading.
6) What are you most excited about for the coming new year?
We have some great bucks in the herd now and some really dependable does with all the attributes we’ve been breeding to get. We’re hopeful this combination will bring us a lot closer to achieving our goals.
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