On our couple of acres in Ephrata, PA, we started out with 10 sheep and some chickens. As the sheep flock grew, we sold the chickens so we could put more focus on sheep. As my flock grew, I began  to take a more extensive interest in caring for them and expanding my flock. Under the guidance of Matt Nolt from Glenbrook farms, we began replacing our stock with registered ewes, aiming to sell Katahdin seedstock enrolled in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) which in turn gives us Estimated Breeding Values (EBVS), helping to select top performing animals. In 2021, I found myself in need of new equipment and through that need, got a dealership set up with DS Equipment. 

Today, we are dealing four high quality brands of small animal handling equipment, alongside managing a flock of around 140 sheep and working constantly with sheep genetics to continue to improve my flock. I am grateful for the unique perspectives my shepherd-dealer role gives me and enjoy the challenges to keep improving both the equipment and the genetics.

As a married man with a family, I love that this operation allows the whole family to get involved!

Thank you to each customer who has blessed our lives.    

-Elvin Hoover, Paragon Farm LLC