Whispering W Farm offers a Herd Share Program.
Ohio law currently does not allow the sale of raw milk to consumers but does not prohibit people from drinking raw milk if they own a share of a herd. The consumer who desires the right to nourish their family with raw milk, must own either a goat or a share of a herd thus becoming a shareholder in the herd. This arrangement requires signing a PRIVATE bill of sale and a PRIVATE boarding agreement which establishes a committed, long term trust relationship between the farmer and the shareholders.
Each member or shareholder of the herd-share buys into the herd, not actually an animal but a share of the entire herd and by completing a BILL OF SALE contract. The cost to buy into the herd is refundable if the shareholder decides to leave the program.
The shareholder also completes a BOARDING CONTRACT, which is the agreement between the farmer and the shareholder and states that the farmer will take care of the animals feed, milk and maintain the animal’s health etc. This monthly fee varies and stated on the CONTRACT and is controlled by the economy, and depends on the farmer's needs to accomplish these tasks. This translates into product for the shareholder. Goat herd-share programs are broken down into two contracts first is FULL SHARE and the buy in for the herd is $50.00 per share and requires a onetime milk bottle purchase of $25.00 per share for which you will receive four half gallon milk bottles with plastic lids that are yours to keep. Second is a HALF SHARE and the buy in for the herd is $25.00 and is refundable if the shareholder decides to leave the program. Half of a Goat herd-share program requires a onetime milk bottle purchase of $12.50 per share for which you will receive two half gallon milk bottles with plastic lids that are yours to keep. You will receive half of your bottles filled with product upon first pick up. You are to exchange your empty bottles every week for filled ones. Please label your bottles clearly with your name and please only take the bottles that have your name on them. Herd-share members are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing their own bottles prior to exchanging them. If you forget to bring back bottles to exchange there is a fee of $7.00 per bottle for each new bottle taken. The monthly boarding fee for FULL SHARE goat herd-share members is $30.00 and for a HALF SHARE the monthly boarding fee for a goat herd-share member is $15.00 due on the first day of every month. This entitles the share holder to an ownership reward of raw milk each week.
