Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Bolton.
Hi Jeff, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My wife Michelle and I met our very first Bernese Mountain Dog on the beach of Lake Tahoe in 2015. We were in the resort town for my oldest daughter’s wedding and had a couple of days of down-time before the wedding. We wanted to spend some time at the beach so I dropped off Michelle and our youngest daughter at the beach and went to park the car. By the time I made my way back to Michelle, she’s sitting on the beach blanket with a Bernese Mountain Dog in her lap! “We gotta get one of these!” she said with a huge grin. A wise man once said, “Yes, dear.” And after meeting this sweet pup named Sutter, we began our search for a Berner of our own. We quickly researched this magnificent breed and learned about their ancestry and origins, their personality traits and their various health conditions. Their short lifespan (6-8 years by most accounts) was definitely a bit of concern. But we talked about it and said to each other, “None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. Let’s go for it!” So we searched for available pups between California and our home in Gardner. We didn’t end up finding any available pups in that span and ended up having to overshoot Kansas City by several hours. In the little Amish town of Arthur, IL we fell in love with our first Berner, Gideon.
After having Gideon for a couple years, we moved out to our current home on 5 acres and thought it was time to add another giant dog to our family. In 2018 we brought home the beautiful Willow and from the moment we got her, we knew she was something unique. She was so therapeutic, calm and a real spirit animal. It didn’t take long for us to decide we needed to make more of these! Once again we researched and learned as much as we could about breeding. Our first litter of adorable Berners came along in Jan. 2020 – right before the world was turned on its head!
The idea of turning this into a small business had great appeal after this first litter. Not only were the puppies just the cutest things you could imagine, the people who we started to meet were just amazing. There’s something about the common love of a dog that can make two strangers instant friends. We considered the things that are important to us: our faith and our family. The choice of a name became obvious – Faith & Family Farm.
We are truly passionate about this breed and our goal is to produce the highest quality Berners possible. All our dogs are first and foremost our pets and their health and well-being is a priority. We health test all our breeding sires and dams and ensure our parents meet or exceed the highest standards. The popularity of Berners is increasing and we regularly speak to applicants across the country about our pups and our breeding program. While most families will have a 6 – 8 month wait to get their puppy, they all agree that the wait is totally worth it! When those families come to pick up their new addition, we celebrate “Gotcha Day” with smiles, tail wags and maybe a tear. For Michelle and I, nothing quite compares to watching these pups go from tiny, helpless babies to a confident, playful member of a family who knows they are bringing home more than a dog; they’re welcoming unconditional love into their lives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the challenges we face as a breeder is overcoming the stigma of unethical breeders. Everyone has read the horror stories of puppy mills and deplorable living conditions their dogs endure. Our goal is to be transparent and informative whenever we contact a potential family. For those who decide to adopt from us, we welcome them to visit our facility and let them see in person where these pups spend the first 8 weeks of their lives. Families get to meet our adult dogs and ask any questions they have of us. We’ve made a significant investment in our puppy room and we pride ourselves on having a clean and safe environment for the young lives we’re responsible for.
We’ve been impressed with Faith & Family Farm, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a small, family-owned farm in the heart of the Midwest raising exceptional Bernese Mountain Dogs in a healthy, loving environment. Faith & Family Farm began in 2017 here in Gardner, KS. Our focus is on raising confident, well-socialized dogs and matching them with families looking for the perfect family dog. Our core values center on honesty, integrity, compassion and generosity.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For us, success means delivering on all our promises and providing each family with the best dog they’ve ever had. We want to keep in touch with our families and be a resource for any questions that may come up once that new pup goes home. Our families regularly reach out to us for advice and suggestions but they also will randomly send pictures of their puppy’s latest adventure. We’re humbled and grateful for the many kind words and great feedback we’re given about not only the pup but the overall adoption experience.
Pricing:
- See the website
Contact Info:
- Website: https://FaithAndFamilyFarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithfamilyfarmgardner
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithandfamilyfarm/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandFamilyFarm
