Harlequin Sheep Society & Registry

Breeder Spotlight

March 2023

KidKat Ranch

Located in Smithville, TX 
Kidkat Ranch is owned and maintained by 
Charlene Coutre-Steele and her husband Dan.

What made you interested in sheep?

My husband and I were planning a move to Texas from Illinois, and we saw this as the perfect opportunity to start our own farm and raise our own livestock. We were excited to pursue the livestock agriculture exemption and decided to start with a small herd of Angora goats. We wanted to use their soft and luxurious mohair to create beautiful, handmade crafts. 

As a crafter, I have always been fascinated with the art of creating beautiful things with my own hands. When I stumbled upon the world of fiber crafting, I was blown away by the endless possibilities that awaited me. From knitting to crocheting, weaving, spinning, and so much more, I was hooked! 

However, raising goats turned out to be more challenging than we anticipated. These mischievous creatures were always getting into trouble and wreaking havoc on our farm. We also quickly realized that the hot and dry environment of Texas was not ideal for them. Despite our best efforts, we were forced to give up our dream of raising goats for their fiber. 

After much consideration, we decided to switch to mini sheep instead. They were a much better fit for our environment and lifestyle. We started with a small flock of Harlequin sheep, known for their unique and beautiful, spotted fleece. Raising sheep has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Not only do we get to enjoy their wool for our crafting, but we also get to watch them graze and play in our fields. It's a beautiful reminder of the joys of nature.

Why did you choose the Harlequin breed?

A friend of mine called one day to tell me that she had found a woman selling a small flock of Harlequin sheep. I had never heard of them before, but after seeing them, I really took a liking to them. So, we decided to take a drive up to Dallas and split the flock between us. I particularly appreciated that they were small in size.

Tell Us About Your Flock

I have 34 Harlequins and 6 Babydolls. There are five rams and two wethers. The rest are ewes (of course). I also have four "retirees" right now ages 10, 11, 12 and 13. Seven of my ewes are about a year old. The rest are a variety of ages and are still breeding.

What's the most rewarding aspect of 
raising Harlequins?

I love my sheep! I love their fun personalities and how sweet they are. Even my rams are "love bugs". We've really enjoyed learning all the aspects of raising and breeding these sheep. Especially since we came from Chicago knowing nothing about raising livestock.

How do you market your lambs?

We have a website KidkatRanch.com. We advertise there and on Facebook and Instagram. We ran a couple of small ads in Hobby Farms magazine and I'm in a bunch of sheep groups on Facebook and advertise there.