7 Miles Ranch

09/10/2026

Have you ever had comb honey? 🍯 7 Miles Ranch has some in stock! Stop inside Market on Market and check out the 17 small businesses located inside. There is something for everyone at the market!

Thurs 3-6 Fri 2-5 Sat 1-4
206 N Market St in Paxton

09/10/2026

I will be at the patch with honey and other goodies! Opening day is always fun with lots of activites for the family.

🎃 It’s almost time! 🎃
Opening day is coming up September 12th from 10am-5pm. We are looking forward to kicking off our 5th season celebration with you!

Our friends at Artesia brewing will be offering a tasting from 2pm-4pm too!

09/04/2026

Good news! 18yr old Hope had her 13th calf on Wednesday! He is a sweet friendly bull calf. Hope and baby are doing great! I hadnt posted about calf watch last week because I was doubting if she was breed. I knew her AI date but she wasnt bagging up like she ussualy does. Since we've owned Hope she has calfed two days before her due date or her due date. Wednesday morning I was hoping and sure enough she was in her normal pasture birthing location. This week they will enjoy their own pasture next to the herd while they bond. Hope enjoys her time alone and is often seen laying in the shade under the trees.

Since we had two heifers last year we won't have a steer for 2028. Thankfully I know we can find a dexter steer or two close for our customers. Next year we will be breeding Rose and Melanite for 2028 spring calfs. Stay turned next month for pictures of their boyfriend. There are so many studly boys to choose from!

07/20/2026

It was a long hot week but we made it through the fair. The geese were so excited to be back home. The poor things were tramatized by ribbons flapping on their cage. The ribbons where half chewed up the next morning. They were not happy campers after the ribbon fiasco. Yesterday they made sure to tell everyone they had arrived home after they stretched out their wings. Then they preceded to bath for the next 10 min.

Makenzie did great on her birds she picked out. She won 7 first place, a 2nd, a 3rd, 4th in tinted eggs and a 7th. She had the same placements in all 3 shows and won Reserve Grand Champion in the 4h show! Now to see if I can get some eggs to hatch for next year!

07/15/2026

The county fair is this week. The kid spent the weekend prepareing for her show by bathing chickens and kennels! All but the rooster enjoyed their spa day.

Since It was hot out, I decided it was a great time to bath and groom the dogs too. Roxie and Buddy started shedding last week. A bath and conditioner always helps brush them out easier. The geese were very curious with our task. I had to shoo them away after they tried to help remove buddies fur! Silly geese.

06/07/2026

We have 2 ewe lambs! They are very freindly and curious about us. Hopefully these two will be keepers.

06/04/2026

Every time one of the animals are due to give birth it feels like they take forever! Momma sheeps first possibe due date was Thursday. She has been in her own pasture for several weeks next to the herd. She slimmed down and the ligaments at her tail head loosened meaning the lambs were getting into position. These signs ussualy mean labor is soon or several days out. Of course older sheep can take longer. I knew it was too soon at 2 weeks out but chester the ram can get frisky and stress the ewes towards the end of their gestation. You can tell she is uncomfortable but she is getting extra vanilla wafers to make up for it. The lambs will be a week old before going in with Buddy and the herd. Buddy is still to young to trust with newborns.

05/24/2026

Looking for a unique shopping experience where you can shop 17 different small businesses under roof?

Stop in at the Market during open hours!
3-6P Thurs 2-5P Friday and 1-4P Sat
206 N Market Street in Paxton

Find this yummy honey in 7 Miles Ranch booth!

05/23/2026

17+ Small Businesses • One Storefront • Endless Unique Finds ✨

Market on Market in Paxton is growing and we are looking for new vendors beginning 6/1/26!

If you make, create, sell, or repurpose products and want a space to showcase your business — we would love to chat with you! 🛍️

Send our page a private message for booth information and availability

05/08/2026

My son called me one evening asking what this was in front of his house. Sure enough its a honey bee swarm. Swarms are usually very docile since they are not guardian their home. I instructed him how to protect himself and collect them. He was able to scoop them into a box using a kitchen flipper! I picked up this tiny swarm and installed them in a hive by flashlight.

This swarm is about the size of a softball. They most likely came out of an over populated hive that had created one big swarm. With another virgin queen available the first hive swarmed again which is why this one is so small. I will feed them all summer and hope they build back up before winter.

If you see a swarm, post it to a facebook group like central illinois beekeepers association or another local group. Swarms will move on but they will most likely make a home in the side of a house. Home removals can be very expensive for a homeowner.