Milo & Me Hoppy Tail Acres

samssimonsays

Milo & Me Hoppy Tail Acres
Joined
Mar 29, 2015
Messages
3,603
Reaction score
4,766
Points
393
Location
somewhere in the Northern region of Minnesota
It is kind of a goofy name for a farm/Rabbitry BUT the meaning behind it is a good one!

It started off with me losing my last mini lop rabbit after selling out before college. I was them surprised with a French Lop doe, one I had been looking for for a very long time I should add. I named her Mailey. She was a pet and was potty trained, went to work with me to the pet food store I worked at and traveled back and forth from school and home when I would go home for a visit. Then, a friend found Milo. He needed me to pick him up for him as I was MUCH closer to him. I got him and was shocked at how mean he was. He had been abused, carried by only his ears and taught that people meant pain. My friend did not want him when he saw how bad he was. So it became Milo & Mailey instead of Mailey as my house pets. It took me TWO weeks of carrying him around in a baby sling modified for dogs while I was at work for him to finally start to trust people. After that day he was the most laid back, loving rabbit I had ever had. Because of this, my grandma urged me to write a book about his story and the bond we shared, not only did she urge me to do it but she even had a name, Milo & Me. So I did! One day after months of urging and constant reminders from Gma I sat down and wrote it. Milo & Me came to life in the form of a children's book also illustrated by me.
1.jpg

When I decided to start raising French Lops I decided to brand the rabbits with the book title. Milo & Me Rabbitry had a special ring to it and locally in our small town people just associated the two together. Well since deciding for certain to take the leap into getting goats for milking and making items with their milk I decided to make a name that is a little less focused on the rabbits but with them being my main focus, adding Hoppy Tail Acres seemed to fit. I already make items out of bought goats milk and call it Hoppy Goat Soaps so Why not incorporate the two together? And so it was born, Milo & Me Hoppy Tail Acres!

So here is a little bit about us. I will add more as I get photos taken of the set up we have and area we plan to build for the goats. :D =D

13 - 2 (1).jpg

I am 24 years old, married to the love of my life and living our little life in the country and lovin' every second of it! (Except for that one wild turkey attack incident:hide)
I am an avid animal lover, raiser, breeder, and rescuer of all kinds and believe that they deserve every chance possible. I volunteer with a local Wildlife rehab center where I had the amazing pleasure to help raise orphaned wildlife and get them back to the wild, Red Squirrel, Beaver and Raccoon's are pictured but I also aided with an otter, chipmunks and many grey squirrels as well as other reds, deer, cotton tails and birds).
I take in rescue rabbits as there are no small animal rescues in my area, I rehab them and I find them loving homes. I also advocate against animals as gifts:somad (I do know some instances are ok but most end tragically) and run a major campaign against it in my town for rabbits and Easter... Since starting to educate the public by bringing my rabbits out to the Easter festival for kids to meet and see as well as learn why they are not toys and how much work goes into them I have seen a drastic drop in the number of rescues I take in the months following Easter! :celebrate
634229_orig.jpg 15 - 1 (13).jpg
Growing up we had Chickens, Gees, Dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and fish. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS wanted a goat, pig, clydesdale (only kid to skip the pony or anything logical equine wise) or a lamb. Sadly this never happened so NOW I am getting to live part of my dream of owning a self sustaining farm on our little 5.76 acres of heaven. Don't get me wrong, it needs a LOT of work on the buildings and our home is slowly being remodeled but where we are in our lives, it is perfect!

15 - 13 (1).jpg
IMG_20140716_074343.jpg

IMG_20150328_195048.jpg
At the time of our wedding last year in June, we had an 11 week old Collie pup and an 8 month old Great pyrenees pup. The Great pyr was our FIRST dog together and was our son. So naturally we chose him to be our ring bearer. How fitting for the dogs called polar bears right?! Sadly, only several days after his first birthday he ran and took our collie with him. He was hit by a car with her very close behind him. We are very fortunate we did not lose both but it hit us very hard. He took a piece of my heart with him I will never get back. Long story short, Our Collie Stella went off the deep end and anxiety went through the roof, started to spiral and get more overbearing and slightly aggressive and so began the search for another pyr (husband would not get anything but). We found our boy Rumely who is half pyr, 1/4 maremma and 1/4 Saint bernard in the process. We definately got the only puppy with ALL bernard in him. Size, brain, temperament and all...! :he But we love him just the same! :idunno Anywho, onto the rest of the "farm"!

15 - 12.jpg I raise French lops, it is what I do so here they are! This was my Grand Champion Solid Blue Buck Tucker (I bought him as a starter buck to add to my little herd at the time) He has since passed but I have two daughters, a friend has the other, three grand daughters, 2 grand sons and a great grand daughter from him who all do exceptionally well at shows and I am super proud to say that until I sold any of his babies, I was the only person known in Minnesota to raise and show Blue french lops. In 2014 I was ranked #2 in the state of MN for French Lop breeders and am super honored for that title! It has certainly been a looong, hard, tear filled journey to say the least. :barnie
Christmas 2014 - 10.jpg This is Nash (Nashville for full name) my bottle baby from 2014 and first Fawn born to my barn without actually having one to breed :celebrate




Now I will be adding in the goats, chickens, geese and ducks! o_O I am sure I will be in for a bumpy ride with them all as well but here's to hoping! :fl

Hopefully next year we will have a litter of pups with our beautiful Stella as well but I am not sure the world can handle another Stella :lol: See http://milome.weebly.com/tail-tales/stella-quirk-the-fake-out to know why...

So there it is! That is the story of my little farm Milo & Me Hoppy Tail Acres!
 
Top