Irish Valley Farm is located just outside of the small town of Belding, Michigan, which is centrally located 20 minutes north-east of Grand Rapids. Approximately 2 1/2 hours from both Chicago and Detroit. We have had over 15 years of experience in animal husbandry, breeding and showing horses along with building regional and national award winning dairy goat and alpaca herds. Leslie (Mom) has a degree in agricultural production and management from Ridgetown College of Ag. Technology in Canada along with an innate, keen sense for animal husbandry, herd health and breeding. Bob (Dad) was raised on a farm that produced cash crops and 200 head of beef cattle annually. He received under-graduate education in human biology and nutrition and a doctor of chiropractic degree from Life University in Georgia. Along with his livestock involvement, he maintains a private chiropractic practice.
The three girls, Alicia, Kate, and Hannah have had many years of experience already! They have achieved endless awards for showmanship as exhibitors of horses, dairy goats and alpacas! They take what they do seriously, while keeping a fun, relaxed attitude. The numerous years of livestock showing has taught many things, including how to compete in a healthy, Christian manner. They also have found great joy being a part of  numerous music and theatre groups around the Grand Rapids area. Alicia now lives in Chicago pursuing a career in Musical Theater, Kate is off to Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio for a degree in Musical Theater.  Jordan, the eldest, is now married and finishing up his college degrees, studying cardiac songraphy. Hannah is home schooled and continues to do her share of the work on the farm.

   We have been involved with showing & breeding horses for quite a few years.  Leslie & Bob bred Paints & Quarter Horses for 5 or 6 years before they discovered the P.O.A. (Pony of the Americas) breed.  Alicia, Kate & Hannah were once very involved in showing the P.O.A's at state and international levels, but are now finding the goats and alpacas more profitable.  We now own only 1 P.O.A. for Hannah to enjoy, and to show at the fair and other 4-H shows.

   The Dairy goats stole our hearts in the late summer of 1999 when the youngest sister, Hannah, spent so much time around the goat barn at our county 4-H Fair.  We purchased our first Dairy Goats in the Fall of '99. Now, however, we have become very well-known Michigan breeders and are actively involved in showing & breeding these wonderful animals.  We started attending the ADGA National Show in 2002 and have been to several since then.  These have been our chances to prove that our animals are nationally competitive, and our girls have not disappointed us!  MANY of our animals are related to some of the top bloodlines at Nationals.... and have done very well there themselves.  Visit the Dairy Goats link to find out more about our herd, take a look at our Sales List, and maybe even our For Sale page!

   Alpacas have been the most recent additions to our farm having entered our lives in the fall of '01. We heard of these exotic animals the late summer of that year, while showing goats at the Michigan State Fair, and soon after came across an "alpaca show" in East Lansing.  We were instantly attracted to these fascinating creatures and began looking into the investment prospects. We purchased our foundation herd in the late Fall of 2001 from Likada Farm Alpacas.
Since then we have been to many shows and acquired many new bloodlines. In the spring of 2006 we blessed to have a 1st and 2nd place at the AOBA National Show! Visit the Our Alpacas link to learn more about these beautiful animals and the wonderful investment lifestyle they bring!

As you can tell, Irish Valley Farm is truly a family run business.
Please Contact Us with any questions. And let us know what you think of our website! Thank You!

  

Sincerely,
The Gosnell Family