Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Mires
Sara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
How I got started… a love for animals, a desire for community, a dream of innovative gatherings and the attitude of “ Everything is figureoutable… and bad impulse control. Well, that’s the short answer, here’s the long one🐮
Broken Road Farm started as the whimsical daydream of a little tomboy girl with a big love for animals. Somehow in 2019 at the age of 34 (see ladies it doesn’t happen overnight) my husband, Greg, and I seized an opportunity to fulfill our land ownership dreams and bought our first farm in California. With absolutely no experience, very little research and a big love for the farming lifestyle ..we dove in!
God Bless the Broken Road was our wedding song. It explains the different paths and turns that life can throw at us, but we know that somehow through all those twists, we made it to each other. In naming our farm, our minds kept going back to the lyrics because we didn’t know exactly what we would offer yet, but we knew it would be a place of community, a place for friends to gather from all walks of life, and a place where broken roads are part of the journey. The farm would also need to generate money for the animals and all that comes with this farm life, I wasn’t sure how yet but I wasn’t worried.
Our farm actually grew quickly with the pandemic because outdoor activities were soon the only allowed activities.I started with kids craft days and our “Future Farmers”groups were born. While teaching kids about farming, I was learning about farming, how cool is that!? Small business love is in my blood ( I get it from my mama) so I naturally started collaborating with other creative small businesses and makers. Animals also multiplied rather quickly and our human count was at 2 kids.
We offer kid workshops, holiday fun, special events, hands on adult workshops, educational kids classes, farming and homesteading classes, unique social groups and more. Basically anything that my brain comes up with heavily influenced by collaborations. I can’t forget that with all that comes our adorable highland cattle we breed and a few other farm creatures to hang out with. With no small business plan, yet a big calling, we made it happen livin on a prayer! I just knew that the farm could offer whatever I could possibly dream of, how can I not share this with others!? After quickly gaining a community due to the overwhelming need from the pandemic we knew this space wasn’t going to cut it. There was also still a part of this little girls Farm life dream missing …Texas! (Thank God for a husband that believes in me and said let’s do it).
My heart has always been in Texas! Fond memories of annual visits with my grandparents in this great state is what really solidified the type of life and environment I wanted our family to thrive in, and the community we longed to find. I have 6 generations of Texas women before me and my husband’s father was born here too ! We wanted more joy and to live a more simple and fulfilled life. So two years later when all the needed pieces fit together beautifully, we made the move with 25 animals, our two kids and one on the way–but that’s a story for a different day.
Now that we are finally home in Ovilla, Texas, we started all over and invite y’all for the ride!
God bless the Broken Road that led us straight to YOU!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No! I learn as I go, and do a lot of trial and error. I learn and retain knowledge from DOING so I’ve learned a lot but spent lot of money on a few mistakes…woopsie! We’ve learned how to build fencing and animal shelters . Fix random things we’ve never thought of. Take care of sick animals and nurse them back to health. Have a storm take out a bunch of structures days after building them. Being away from family and starting all over. I had a pretty bad accident with a cow and was injured. Regular life stuff and way more I can’t remember.
WEATHER
Getting used to animals dying is a constant thing.
Dealing with narrow minded and lazy city officials have been a huge obstacle. People that can actually hear what you are saying instead of only knowing how to read checklist is key in this world. Working together to get to a solution instead of saying no because you don’t know how to do something is infuriating.
Obviously there’s more to this but rules are meant to broken when the rule doesn’t make any sense. I’m just the person to make that happen. Or is my husband? He’s running for Ovilla City Council right now! The passion about this lifestyle and community isn’t just from me. We want our town to operate differently, as do a lot of others. You don’t like how something is going? Do something. I think his slogan should be “Don’t talk about it, be about it.” He politely declined.
We constantly are having issues of some sort in this farm life, you just adapt and roll with it. I’ve cried so many tears it could fill up the pond we spent 8k on that kind of holds water.
Most people I know couldn’t hang in my life. They see the glorified farm life version on Instagram. I post some real stuff too but if you are actually living this lifestyle, you don’t have time to post all that jazz. Plus why be on social media when you’re fully present in your life? Part of our thing is letting you feel that magic. If you think your cut out for this, I’ll teach ya a thing or two!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Everything farm related is my jam. I definitely get help from Greg on the animal side of things but he has a normal job M-F. He has became a multi tasking champ.
I’m an event coordinator/ all positions that fall under that, camp counselor, lightweight vet, social media manager, farmer/rancher ish, contractor, animal trainer, candle maker (as of a month ago), dishwasher, ranch hand, house cleaner, accountant, cook, shirt maker, wreath maker, program manager, cattle breeder, animal snuggler, curator of glorious goods, landscaper, a forever learner and I’ve been told I’m pretty funny.
I’m a mom of 3 precious weirdos. Maddie – 8, Scarlett “Letty” – 6 and Mason -3. Yes my hands are full, but I use my toes to pick up things.
I go to their schools and help, I have about 15 projects in the works, 4 collaborations on the horizon and my Wild Child Camp is currently boomin!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I stole a blind goat from my neighbor that was abusing it and I left a note saying I took it. For a year he could see I had the goat. It had polio and I nursed him back to health.
I stole a goat and left a note.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Brokenroadfarm.com
- Instagram: broken_road_farm1
- Facebook: @Brokenroadfarmca
- Other: Brokenroadfarmca@gmail.com
