INTRO TO SMALL DAIRY ON THE HOMESTEAD
Thinking about adding a dairy goat or sheep to your homestead? Before you buy animals, build a milk room, or invest in equipment, spend an afternoon learning what life with a dairy animal actually looks like.
Join us at Rustybelle Farms for a hands-on, beginner-friendly class designed for aspiring homesteaders, hobby farmers, and anyone curious about producing their own milk. We’ll cover the realities of daily dairy animal care, milking routines, housing, feeding, equipment, and the seasonal rhythms of managing a small home dairy.
During this 2.5–3 hour class, you’ll:
• Meet and interact with our dairy goat and sheep
• Watch a live milking demonstration and learn proper milking techniques
• Learn about housing, fencing, feeding, and daily management
• Explore the equipment needed to get started and realistic startup costs
• Learn how milk is handled, filtered, cooled, and stored
• Sample dairy products and discuss what can be made from fresh milk
• Explore value-added opportunities including soap, yogurt, cheese, skincare products, and more
• Discuss potential income streams and ways small farms can generate revenue from dairy animals
• Enjoy plenty of time for questions and conversation
Whether your goal is fresh milk for your family, homemade dairy products, or building a small farm business, this class will give you a realistic look at what it takes to successfully keep dairy animals on the homestead.
No experience necessary.
Class Length: 2.5–3 Hours
Cost: $95 per person
Location: Rustybelle Farms, Paola, Kansas
Come learn, ask questions, meet the animals, and leave with the confidence to decide if a dairy goat or sheep is right for your homestead. 
Please where appropriate footwear as this is a working farm! We plan on starting early in the morning to beat the heat a bit but please bring water, a hat if you need one and expect to be outdoors! 
We will host rain or shine, nothing prepares you for a dairy animal more than learning in the rain, no matter the weather we'll be out there! 
Due to the limited class size there will be no refunds offered for anyone unable to attend after signing up. If for any reason the host should need to reschedule we will work to accommodate a new date or refund if need be!