Local entrepreneur, 16-year-old Kamden Bartman has quite literally taken a famous nursery rhyme and turned it into a thriving business.

Known as the Prairie Shepherdess, Kamden started raising her own flock of sheep in the fall of 2020, following her parents’ decision to try their hand at raising lambs.

“After my family had been raising meat lambs for about two years, they decided to purchase a flock of bred Navajo Churro ewes in the spring of 2020,” said Kamden. “By purchasing the flock of ewes, they would have the opportunity to raise their meat lambs from start to finish, and dabble into breeding sheep.”

Throughout the first summer with the sheep, the family was able to dive into rotational grazing, vaccinating, hoof trimming and everything in between.
“Being able to work with the sheep on a level I never had the opportunity to before was amazing, and I fell in love with it all.”

However, in the fall of 2020, Kamden’s parents decided to sell the flock, choosing instead to grow the beef and pork side of their operation.

“The sheep were an extra thing that would be a bit harder to maintain as they reached their long-term goals,” explained Kamden. “Me being me, I fell in love with the flock in the short few months we had with them, and I couldn’t have imagined saying goodbye to them. So, I begged my parents to let me keep a few of my favourites, and it began there. I started out in the fall of 2020 with two of the mature ewes from that spring, and the five ewe lambs that were born that spring.”

From that point forward, Kamden has grown an interest into a flourishing business that for anyone, let along a 16-year-old, would be described as incredibly ambitious.

“I raise Icelandic and Navajo Churro sheep,” noted Kamden. “I have chosen these breeds for their triple purpose usage (can be used for meat, dairy and wool); their hardiness in heat and cold; smaller size; good mothering instincts; easy lambing abilities; and their sweet personalities.

“I am focused on breeding and raising triple purpose breeding stock for other farmers throughout Canada, and producing wool, sheepskin and dairy products. Using as much of the animal as I possibly can and producing products without the use of chemicals and toxins is my passion.”

Kamden explained that the flock is sheared twice a year in the spring and fall, with fleeces sold to fibre artists throughout Canada and the United Stated to turn into yarn or other wool products. “I also keep a few of the fleeces for myself each shearing. I hand wash and process them right here on the farm and turn them into wool dryer balls, felted fleece rugs, batts to sell to spinners, and dryer ball kits.”

Since beginning back in 2020, the Prairie Shepherdess has grown her flock to 29 ewes, one fibre wether and two rams, and is expecting over 35 lambs this year.

While the majority of the lambs Kamden raises are sold as breeding stock, she said she also keeps a few of them each year for butchering. “Those lambs are processed in the fall or winter and sold as half and whole lambs. Using the whole animal and honouring their life has always been something that has interested me from the beginning and, with the lambs I have butchered, I get back their sheepskins and traditionally tan them with the use of eggs from my flock of chickens and smoke to set the tan. As well, I offer custom hide tanning for other farmers around who are looking to use more of their animals.”

Kamden said that after the ewes wean their lambs, she will milk a few of them, using the milk to make sheep milk soap. “I will freeze it all, and my lovely mom turns it all into soap for me.” Yet another part of this amazing entrepreneur’s business strategy.

Each year, Kamden has the ewes bred in November, anticipating the arrival of lambs at the end of March/early April. “By the time they lamb, it is warm enough outdoors that the lambs can be outside full time and I don’t have to worry about needing an indoor space for them. My lambs are weaned and separated from mom in June, and will either head to their new homes at this time or stay with me.”
By the time autumn rolls around, the lambs born in the spring will be big enough to be processed for meat.

“I also get busy processing their sheepskins. Just as those lambs are ready to be processed, my next batch of lambs are being born. It truly is the whole circle of life. Being able to live this life is the biggest blessing and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Not one to rest on her laurels and determined to honour the lives of her flock by using the entire sheep, in the summer of 2022, Kamden began tanning hides from her own flock and custom hides from local flocks.

“I was getting many questions related to tanning, so I decided to start writing my own book Egg Tanned Sheepskins At Home.”

After months of working on the book, it was published in November of 2023 for worldwide access.

“Being able to help so many people around the world learn to tan their own sheepskins has been such a great honour,” remarked Kamden. “Whole animal use and tanning are such a big part of my life, and I love that others love it just as much as I do, and I can help them with their dreams and goals.”

Continuing on a climb of success and notoriety, Kamden spoke at the Gathering Threads Festival in Edmonton last year, and in February was the guest speaker for the Canadian Wool coffee house to 46 online viewers. “I had the opportunity to share a deeper look into my business, my animals, the products I produce, and a bit about myself.”

However, like any successful business, the journey means sacrifice and hard work, and Kamden is no stranger to either.

“The biggest challenges of being a young entrepreneur is still being in high school and managing a business.

“I have made the switch to online school for my classes this semester, which has definitely been a huge bonus. Being able to be at home full time has helped to have the extra time to work on wool and sheepskins and has been beautiful for lambing time.”

She often spends her days outdoors with the flock or working on wool or hides, then at the end of that long day of working the flock, tends to her schoolwork before retiring for the night.

“Doing online for my classes has been a huge advantage, and I’m so glad I made that choice to switch.”

It only takes a few minutes of walking around the pasture with Kamden to realize she takes her business and her flock very seriously.

She calls out to the sheep and as they rally around her, she kneels down on muddy ground to greet them on their level. She handles the baby lambs under the permitting, albeit watchful eye of the ewes that she knows by name.

“The biggest joy is being able to show other young individuals that you can do anything no matter your age, and anything is possible,” commented Kamden.

“The biggest piece of advice I would give to anyone is that any dream or goal can be achieved if you put your heart and mind to it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and I feel like we constantly need to remind ourselves of that. Keep pushing no matter how hard it is, and keep working hard for your goal. Start small, and keep pushing. Your future self will be so proud of you for sticking to it.”

An inspiring message from a remarkable 16-year-old.