Here at Sunovis Ranch, December marks one of our favorite—and most meaningful—annual traditions: Ramsgiving.
Ramsgiving is the moment when we introduce our ram into the pasture with our ewes, officially beginning the five-month gestation period that (if all goes well) ends with the arrival of lambs. It’s a powerful milestone on the ranch—one that represents careful planning, patience, and a deep respect for timing. Not the calendar’s timing, necessarily—but nature’s.
In years past, Ramsgiving happened right around Thanksgiving—hence the name—which meant lambs arrived in April. This year, however, we made a conscious and values-driven shift. By celebrating Ramsgiving just before Christmas, we’ve pushed lambing season into May, aligning more closely with the natural rhythms of spring: warmer days, longer light, richer pasture growth, and conditions that support both healthy ewes and thriving lambs.
Many Midwestern producers lamb during the cold winter months, particularly those preparing sheep for 4-H fairs and summer shows. That schedule makes perfect sense for their goals. At Sunovis Ranch, however, we aim to work with the land rather than against it. Spring lambing allows us to follow the seasonal cues that have guided agriculture for generations—when grass begins to grow again, when animals naturally flourish, and when the land itself feels ready to support new life.
That alignment matters to us.
It means less stress on our animals, fewer interventions, and a farming rhythm that feels both sustainable and humane. It also means that when visitors arrive in the spring—our most popular season—the pastures are alive with wobbly-legged lambs, discovering the world in the sunshine.
One of our favorite memories captures exactly why we love this timing so much.
Every year, our family hosts Easter at the ranch. A few years ago, after lunch, the entire extended family—kids included—took a walk out to the pasture. As luck would have it, we arrived just in time to witness a lamb being born—right there in real time.
For many of our family members, it was their first time seeing new life begin up close. The kids were wide-eyed. The adults were quiet and reverent. Everyone was completely transfixed by the miracle unfolding in front of us. It was one of those moments that reminds you why farming—why this work—matters so deeply.
Ramsgiving always feels a bit like that moment to us. It’s a pause. A decision point. A commitment to trust the natural order of things and to do our part thoughtfully, knowing that the real work unfolds over time.
As 2025 comes to a close, that feels especially fitting.
This year has been full—full of learning, growth, partnerships, challenges, and moments of real joy. We are incredibly grateful to our clients, family members, friends, and supporters who walked alongside us throughout the year. Whether you visited the ranch, partnered with us on a solar grazing project, joined us for an event, or simply cheered us on from afar, please know how much it meant.
Ramsgiving reminds us that the work we do today shapes what’s possible tomorrow—and that the best outcomes often come when we move at the pace nature sets, not the one we try to force.
As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, we’re filled with excitement for what’s coming: new lambs, new projects, and new opportunities to continue building a future rooted in stewardship, sustainability, and respect for the land.
Thank you for being part of our Sunovis Ranch story. Here’s to honoring the seasons, embracing new beginnings, and wishing you a very happy New Year. 🌱🐑✨
