JO-AL EQUINE AND DAIRY GOAT FARM

JO-AL Equine and Dairy Goat Farm was thought of and started by two horse loving friends who met through 4H. That’s us, Jocelyn Marner and Alyssa Foster.

The JO-AL Equine and Dairy Goat Farm would be home to many horses, angus cattle and many dairy goats. The name “JO-AL” came about by combining the names Jocelyn and Alyssa.

Our set up this year is quite a change from previous ones. We thought of the idea while displaying our set up at the National Farm Toy Show in Dyersville, IA in November 2004. We knew we wanted to try a whole different look and theme and this is what came to our minds. The dairy goat business has become quite popular in the area around Kalona and Riverside, IA, so we thought it would be interesting to see what we could do with that area of farming.

Both of us are 14 years old and are 8th graders at Mid-Prairie Middle School, Kalona, IA. We belong to the Deer Creek Ramblers 4H club, as well as the Johnson County Horse & Pony Club. We both enjoy, and do very well, showing horses in halter and pleasure classes. Jocelyn also enjoys all speed events such as poles, flags and barrels, as well as riding in various parades. We both enjoy training horses, which Alyssa has helped her father with for many years, and Jocelyn is now learning more of that with their help.

Jocelyn’s Dad has helped design some of the special made buildings you see here today. Their friend, Gary Miller, Kalona, built some of the metal buildings for us. Reggie Yoder, Sharon Center Welding, built the bases for the hoop barns and some of the metal buildings, also.

Most of the larger rectangle bales and all of the round hay bales were handmade by us for the display. They were covered with our own alfalfa and straw that has been cut/crushed. The materials used for the landscaping are some naturals from the road ditches, and the bedding and feed are mostly food products found at our local Amish bulk food store.

We have had a lot of fun planning and setting this display up for others to enjoy. It is a challenge putting it up from “scratch” at the show, but it does make for a different look every time!

We hope you enjoy our display as much as we do!

Jocelyn Marner Alyssa Foster

Kalona, IA Riverside, IA