Our Story & The Breed
Purpose & Provenance
At home with the Cloud Cap Valais flock — Hood River Valley, Oregon
Rancho Relaxo is a boutique sheep farm nestled in Oregon's Hood River Valley, home to Cloud Cap Valais — our flock of exceptional Swiss Valais Blacknose sheep.
We didn't start out as farmers. Jeri and Ed came from creative and corporate backgrounds — Illinois and Pennsylvania natives who built careers in design, business, and athletics. But when we met in Hood River and started building a life together, something shifted. The land called. The sheep arrived. And the rest began to fall into place.
What began with a few fiber sheep quickly grew into a focused Valais Blacknose breeding program. These rare sheep, originally from the Swiss Alps, require attentive management, ethical breeding, and environmental conditions that mimic their ancestral home. Our farm sits just under 2,000 feet in elevation — higher than most — and some of our flock rotate seasonally to a hillside therapy farm with double mountain views of both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams.
Our mission is rooted in purpose and provenance — raising healthy, high-conformation sheep with calm, social temperaments and producing a flock that honors both animal and land.
Jeri & Ed — Rancho Relaxo
There are sheep, and then there are Valais Blacknose.
Arguably the most striking sheep in the world, the Valais Blacknose commands attention. Originally from the rugged terrain of the Swiss Alps in the Upper Valais region, they bring centuries of heritage to our pastures.
With their signature black facial markings, spiral horns, and dense, cloud-like double-coated fleece, they are an unforgettable presence. Yet, for all their visual drama, it is their temperament that sets them apart. They are famously docile, highly social, and fiercely curious—often behaving more like a friendly dog than traditional livestock.
More Friend Than Livestock
Bred for Temperament
Conformation and fleece matter, but so does disposition. We breed for the calm, affectionate, people-loving nature the Valais are famous for — sheep that seek out company and settle in like family.
Famously docile and social, our Valais behave more like friendly dogs than traditional livestock.
What Makes Them Valais
Adherence to the Swiss Breed Standard is paramount. True Valais Blacknose are defined by precise conformation, distinct markings, and vigorous health.
Markings
Black nose to center of head; black around the eyes connecting to the nose without gap; black ears, knees, hocks, and 'socks'. Ewes display a signature black spot under the tail.
Horns
Horns spiral outward away from the cheeks. Rams grow thicker horns that curve forward, down, then out, while ewes grow slightly thinner, equally elegant spirals.
Fleece
A true wool breed. Double-coated, softer in lambs and coarser with age (~28-38 microns). Staple length reaches 4-6 inches, requiring biannual shearing.
Conformation
Robust and resilient. Ewes average 150-200 lbs; rams command presence at 175-275 lbs. They boast a broad chest, straight back, and strong, well-placed legs.
From Pasture to Pedigree
Our Breeding Philosophy
Our program is currently in its fourth year of a meticulous upgrading journey. Adherence to the Swiss standard means rigorous phenotype screening—a comprehensive breed-advancement framework evaluating markings, fleece, and structure.
We do not cut corners. Our approach is entirely small-batch and deeply ethical. We believe in taking the time required to honor the genetic legacy of the Valais Blacknose, ensuring every lamb we produce advances the quality and health of the breed in North America.
A Tradition of Naming
What's in a Name
For our purebreds, we follow the letter-of-the-year tradition used by the UK and the Valais Blacknose Sheep Association of North America (VBSANA) — every purebred born in a given year shares the same first letter. Our own touch is to give each of them a two-word name.
Our breed-up animals follow an alphabet all their own, begun at A and climbing one letter at a time, and each is given a single-word name.
Whatever the convention, every name pays homage to the place we call home. Mount Hood and the Hood River Valley run through the whole flock — names drawn from the mountains, rivers, and trees that surround us.
The Foundation
The foundation of any superior breeding program rests on its genetics.
This year we welcomed new stock carrying the celebrated lines of North Kilduff George and Deepdale Horatio, along with genetics brand new to the United States from the renowned Gemstone Flock of Cornwall, England — the first animals the Gemstone Flock has ever exported to the U.S., with much of their breeding tracing straight back to the original Swiss imports to the UK. Among our new additions are Parkdale Bubbles, Parkdale Black Beauty, Iowa Kobra Kai, and Prendwick Dot. This season also marked a milestone for our program: nine purebred lambs born from embryos. These bloodlines bring exceptional conformation, dense fleece, and the hallmark friendly temperament of the Valais breed — the cornerstone of our upgrading program and the next generation of our flock.
Stewardship & Care
We treat our flock as genuine livestock with a serious welfare commitment. Our lambs are handled daily, raised to thrive in varied terrain, and deeply respected as living creatures in our care.
Management involves attentive, hands-on diligence: twice-yearly shearing to maintain optimal fleece quality and animal comfort, precise hoof care, robust vaccination and parasite management, and rotational grazing on quality seasonal pastures.
Jeri's shepherding journey has been immersive. From shearing school and lambing clinics to working alongside veterinarians and seeking mentorship from respected U.S. and European breeders, education never stops. She traveled to Switzerland to study the breed in its native land, completing coursework for the Grading and Judging Program for U.S. breeders.
She currently serves on the board of directors of the Valais Blacknose Sheep Society (VBSS) as treasurer, helping steward the breed's growth and standards across North America.
From the Swiss Alps
Coming Down the Mountain
Where to Find Us in 2026
2026 Show Season
We're proud to be showing — and sponsoring — at this year's premier Valais Blacknose events. Come meet the flock and say hello.
Our dedication to the standard is reflected in our flock's presence in the ring. We are honored to have produced lambs that place nationally, including the Grand Champion Ewe and Ram at this year's Black Sheep Gathering.
"Nothing is rushed. Everything we do is small-batch, ethical, and done with intention."
— Jeri + Ed
Leadership & Service
- 2026Founder & Organizer, The Valais Blacknose West Coast Regional ShowAlbany, Oregon
- 2026Co-Chair, VBSS Show CommitteeValais Blacknose Sheep Society
- 2025–2027Board of Directors (Treasurer), Valais Blacknose Sheep Society
- 2025Founding Member, Valais Blacknose Judges & Graders Guild
Education & Training
- 2025Valais Blacknose Sheep Expert CourseVisperterminen, Switzerland
- 2024Introduction to Valais Blacknose Sheep Care, Judging & GradingSweden
- 2025Parasitology (Online Coursework)Online
- 2023Cornell Small Farms Program — Commercial Sheep Production (Online Coursework)Cornell University
- 2025John Harper's Sheep Shearing School (UCCE Mendocino)California
- 2024Oregon Sheep Growers Association Lambing SchoolOregon
- 2023Oregon Sheep Growers Association Lambing SchoolOregon
Memberships
- Valais Blacknose Sheep SocietyMember since 2021
- Valais Blacknose Sheep Association of North AmericaLifetime Member since 2026
- Oregon Sheep Growers AssociationMember since 2021
- Columbia Gorge Fiber GuildMember since 2022
- The Livestock ConservancyMember
- High Desert Wool GrowersMember
Beyond the Farm
Life in the Columbia River Gorge is about more than sheep. Here are a few of the other projects and businesses we're part of in this remarkable corner of Oregon and Washington.
Northwest PropertiesReal estate in the Columbia Gorge — homes, farms, and land in Hood River, The Dalles, and White Salmon with Windermere.
Power Station HRA community gym with two locations in the Columbia Gorge.
Chalk GymnasticsGymnastics in the Columbia Gorge.
Northlight Livestock Management and MarketplaceA livestock management platform and marketplace built for serious breeders — herd records, breeding programs, and sales.
Valais West Regional ShowA regional show for Valais Blacknose sheep in the West.
Makeshift Design CoCustom screenprinting in Hood River, Oregon.
The Story Is Still Being Written
Rancho Relaxo is always evolving—from lambing season and new genetics to farm projects, show weekends, and the everyday chaos of life with the flock. Follow along through our latest stories.
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