10410 East Gregory Road Albany, Indiana 47320
Phone 765-789-8133 or 765-789-8106 email stravismc@aol.com
Country Living at its Best in America's Heartland
10410 East
Gregory Road Albany, Indiana 47320
Phone 765-789-8133 or 765-789-8106 email
stravismc@aol.com
Country Living
at its Best in America's
Heartland
History
of The Shepherd's Oak
A long time ago..... in a land touched by God alone an acorn fell in the middle of a woods and began to grow on a knoll overlooking a peaceful little pond. One of the pioneer families in our county, the Gregorys, began settling the area in the 1800's. The pond was a great fishing pond and the land great for hunting and wildlife. It was also a rich source of gravel which was used for early road building in the area. After the turn of the century the Gregory family used the land for grazing their sheep.
The Gregorys grew old and the land was sold off in the
1940's. A middle aged couple, Hendrick & Opal McConnell, purchased the ground
where that little acorn had grown into a large old white oak tree. Many other trees
were cleared in the forest to make way for pasture and crop land to support the couple and their growing family. The
rounded old oak now stood on the edge of a rolling green meadow. As all things do, change
came to the meadow. The middle aged couple grew old and passed on. The old
"Shepherd's Oak" saw
changes again; nature taking back what had been claimed for habitation decades
before. The children grew up, moved on and began families of their own. In
November 1996 I purchased the property from the estate. My name is Shannon
Travis. My grandparents built this homestead over fifty years ago. My father was
raised here. I
spent many youthful days enjoying God blessings here.
In 1998 my parents relocated back here to the homestead in a new house next door. Mom & Dad began their life together here and lived on the farm when I was baby. Uncle Don lives minutes away and can often be found out here helping out on the farm.
I have always desired to live in the country on a farm. It must really be in the blood. My maternal Great Grandfather was a sheep herder in Montana. My father's side was long line of farmers. It was now time to set that dream in motion, but with todays farm economy I had to be very creative. I have a degree in Entreprenuership & Small Business Management from one of the nation's premier Entreprenuership programs from Ball State University. I first encountered the alpaca on PBS and then on the internet in 1996. They seemed like a natural fit.
I began a two year investigation into Alpacas. My father and I attended the Farm Progress Show in 1998 where my father was introduced to alpacas face to face. He immediately fell in love with the animals, income potential and tax benefits. Within weeks we had entered into the alpaca industry as a family business. The first Shetland Sheep arrived the next year.
I had been searching for the proper name for my farm since I purchased
the homeplace. I had always admired that large old white oak overlooking the meadow. It is
such a wonderful spot to sit, watch nature or have a picnic. Then came the name Shepherd's
Oak. It is the perfect spot for the shepherd to watch over his flock.
I hope that
you can come visit us soon and see for yourself the blessings God has laid on
this land in America's Heartland, to include all our fine
animals.