Locavore Lamb - SoCo's Williams Ranches

Would you want to roam the golden summer pastures of Sonoma County in a thick, woolly one-piece? No, neither would I, making it almost palpable to feel the relief of a newly shorn coat on these contented SoCo sheep!

Thanks to Maria at American Ag Credit for sharing these great shots with me and putting me in touch with Rex and Kerry Williams, Sonoma County Fair's 2008 Rancher's of the Year and first generation sheep farmers out in the West Country.

With 300 ewes grazing in both Sebastopol and the Santa Rosa area, the Williams provide grazing services for a wildlife preserve, wetland and areas surrounding water storage property. They also raise purebred Dorset and Southdown sheep, selling breeding sheep and project lambs to 4-H and FFA youth.

With two, active 4-H offspring of their own, Rex and Kerry squeeze in time to be 4-H leaders and members of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, the county's Purebred Sheep Breeders Association and California Wool Growers Association.

If you think you are busy, consider the added fact that on top of producing first-class, local lamb to Bay Area customers, Rex also puts in a full eight hours in his regular day job int he wine industry!

"We sell our lamb (and goat) direct to customers, and restaurants through out the Bay Area, folks should just contact us directly at lamb@williamsranches.com or 707/322-3326," says Kerry Williams, in between her party planning this week for her eighth grader's promotion. Now that's what I call a FULL sonoma country life! And I hope to take Kerry up on her offer for a farm tour sometime later this summer or fall.

Comments

[Jennifer Galatioto]

This is great. I always wondered whether it was cruel to sheep to use them for wool, but they look pretty happy. Its funny they almost look naked out in the field!

[Frances]

They do look like happy campers, don't they? Especially if they've graduated out of the premium 'lamb' category of the flock! Life as a hand-knitted sweater donor can't be bad, especially in scenic West Sonoma.