Walking Sweater Farm began with one little boy named Abe, and one little Angora goat named Harry. Abe (Abraham Buddish) received the bottle baby goat when Harry was 5 days old from a family friend who raised goats and sheep. While Abe’s older siblings had dogs as pets, Abe had his pet goat.
The Buddish’s lived just outside of town when Abe soon adopted a lamb who needed a mother the following year. Abe took care of his animals and also grew more and more interested in their fiber. As Abe learned more and more about the wool and mohair, and learned to spin, knit, weave, and felt, the idea of having more of these wonderful fiber producing animals was in his head.
Our farm name arose around the family dining room table one day far before it was a real farm. Looking out the window and watching Harry and Sweet Pea enjoying our backyard with their long coats of fiber, they looked just like sweaters that are walking or Walking Sweaters.
As more and more animals accumulated and our own breeding had taken place and the opportunity arose, the Buddish’s moved across the county line into Jefferson county, KS in 2010. It was a welcomed move as the whole family had always wanted to live further away from the city. The move also meant more land for goats and sheep! Abe quickly grew his herd of goats and flock of sheep and started his own breeding …. For the sheep, the breeding mainly consisted of crossing Shetlands with BFLs with a small addition of Cheviot. A few fine wools were also added for Abe’s fiber needs. The goats have stayed a mixed flock of white and colored Angora goats and have added some cashgoras for additional fiber options.
Abe graduated high school in 2014 and moved out of state for college where he studied Fiber and Textile Design. His parents Randall and Debra Buddish took over the task of the farm and it continues today. Abe now living and working in the outskirts of Chicago makes it back to the farm as much as he can and especially around shearing time. He is still an active member in the decision making of the farm through breeding and culling decisions.
Today our family farm averages around 50-60 animals between sheep and goats. We have two guardian dogs who protect them and border collies who manage the animals.
We sell Raw Fleeces, Washed Locks, Carded Roving, Mill-Spun Yarn, Hand-Spun Yarn, and More!
