About Us

Sterling fibers started with a passion for animals... How it all began... In spring of 2018 I met some goats. I have always been a full-out die-hard nature and animal enthusiast, anyone who has known me since I was little will tell you about all the critters, plants, and rocks that had my undivided focus and obsessive observation. Those who know me now will tell you that hasn't changed much, the flora and fauna of our world still hold my unending fascination. So in spring of 2018 we went to meet some goats, we had heard about the "Goat Lady" and her goat barn and decided to visit. Ann Bertschy welcomed us to her gorgeous faded red barn and lush pastures and, right away we were lead into a weaning pen full of white & bouncing 3 month old cashmere goats. They immediately ran, jumped, nibbled and climbed all over the fallen trees in their pen and us; the exciting new visitors. ​ I, not knowing a thing about goats had brought a random bag of vegetable scrapes from our kitchen, none of which they actually enjoyed. We spent the afternoon there with the goats and that fall when I was 11, I got my very first 4H goat April, she was part of Ann's Goatique herd. I could learn to take care of her and she would live there with her herd of over 100 does and around 80 separate bucks. I instantly fell in love with my new gray and silky six month old doe, and so did she. I spent that fall napping, playing, jumping, and running with April and her mom. I spent nearly all my spare time with her the rest of that year too, learning how to trim hoofs, brush, vaccinate, deworm, and how to care for my little goofy goat April. Then the next spring I got another little doe. That year there were around 20 expectant mother goats and 60 other children and me camped out in Ann's living room surrounding a old baby monitor connected to the maternity-mode barn. There's nothing like seeing a newborn animal enter the world let alone seeing it again and again. I named my new black kid Thistle, Thistle had a much different personally than my sweet April. She hated being held, she hated being caught, she was the most stubborn little firecracker of a goat. One day she gave me a bloody nose with her new little horn nubbs while the newspaper was there taking pictures! And all the while her over-protective mother McKinley would scream her head off, so working with baby Thistle was absolutely "Lovely". Then In the Fall of 2019 I decided to breed April to a charming buck named Goliath. That Valentine's Day April had two nearly identical gray kids a buck and a doe. The buck got named Vern and was well cared for by another girl. I named April's doe-ling Nettle; Nettle was the complete opposite of Thistle and was a calm, happy, and spunky little goat that loved her mom deeply and grew fond of me as well. Nettle turned into a generally well mannered and happy goat almost just like her mom. ​ The next year I got a little white buck I named Lex, Lex was reluctant at first, then we became good friends. Lex left the ranch to go work for a brush clearing company when he was almost a year old, since he wasn't chosen as a breeding buck.   After Lex, Briar a tan doe-ling joined my herd, she was as sweet as could be and followed me everywhere. Later that same year as the herd was downsizing I added Sunny and Peril under my care. A year and a half later; In 2023 the Jacob sheep were added to my merry bunch, they were very shy at first and very different from the goats. After a while the sheep's temporary stay turned into a life-long home and they became very friendly. Then In 2024 Sterling Fibers Ranch had to relocate due to the sale of the previous property. Sterling Fibers Ranch is now located on a abundantly green 15 acre pasture with access to clear mountain streams and tasty willows. We are so appreciative for the ability to graze our animals in such a beautiful place. We are also so grateful to keep two legacies alive by continuing what Safe Harbor and Goatique began and, by building off of their strong foundations.