Randy and Kathy began Miller Farms in Jackson County, Ohio in 1987 on about 20 acres. It began with a small flock of Columbia and Dorset sheep, about 20 head. In 1990 we purchased another farm, 119 acres on Van Fossan Road and the focus for about 8 years became cattle and grain. All this was in addition to both of us working full time jobs. We really enjoyed the farms; the stories are fun to tell, and I might say "commiserate" in regards to some.

 

Randy had worked for a couple of large farms in both Jackson and Pike counties before we had met and married. His dream was to have a farm of his own. Shortly after we got married in 1986, he began helping my cousin Dean with his sheep at the farm and took an interest and liking to them. Dean helped us get started by exposing us to some sheep shows as well and also took us to get our first flock. Remind us to tell you that story - it's a good one.

 

Over the course of grain and cattle years, we got away from the sheep for a period of time because of the work involved in managing them. Even with the big and beautiful farm on Van Fossan road we stayed at our place on Beaver Pike because my (Kathy's) dream had always been to have a house on the hill behind my grandparents (now Kathleen's) house. In 1997 we broke ground for our house on that hill, building it ourselves after having help getting it under roof. Now, if you can picture it, we are working full time, farming with 60 head of cattle, putting up hay and corn (the tobacco and other grains on rented ground had stopped by this time), and building a house. Sanity, energy and enthusiasm begin to wain. Randy says the fun ran out of it for him when his cattle had been out a couple of times (remember we are 3 miles way) and the last time they were within 40 feet of the Appalachian Highway.

 

So in April 1999 we sold the farm on Van Fossan to some of the Amish who had approached us several times before, had an auction of most of the equipment and supplies and.........bought a 30 foot camper to enjoy. :)