The Math Ain’t Mathing: Our Sweetest Farm Surprise
We Had Plenty of Time… Or So We Thought
In May 2026, we brought home two new donkeys, including our beautiful Rosalie. We knew Rosalie was pregnant, so although only two donkeys arrived that day, we were already looking forward to welcoming a third.
We just did not expect her quite so soon.
We had been told Rosalie’s foal would arrive in January. A veterinary check and bloodwork seemed to support that timeline, so we felt confident we had plenty of time to prepare. There was no need to panic. No need to rush. We had a plan.
And we all know how much farm animals respect a well organized plan.
We wanted to extend the donkey pasture to make plenty of room for Rosalie and her new baby. In July, we cleared the additional pasture and began planning where the new fence lines would go. With January still months away, we thought we were comfortably ahead of schedule.
Our adorable little surprise
Wait… What is that?
Rosalie, apparently, had reviewed our timeline and decided it lacked excitement.
On the morning of August 11, our Agritourism Manager, Michelle, stopped by to visit the barnyard bunch. From a distance, she noticed something strange in the pasture.
What was wrong with the pig?
Why did it look so odd?
Wait.
Was that even a pig?
And why did one of the donkeys look so incredibly small?
Then came the realization.
“Oh my gosh. We have a baby!”
A baby?
In August?
Five months early?
The math was not mathing.
Yet there she was, the tiniest and sweetest little donkey girl standing beside her mama as if her arrival had been on everyone’s calendar all along.
Our little Jenny foal
The Sweetest Hiccup in Our Plans
We may not have had the expanded pasture finished. We may not have had the fence lines moved. We certainly were not expecting to welcome a foal that morning. But sometimes the very best blessings arrive before we think we are ready for them.
Our little surprise is the first baby ever born right here at The Heritage Farm, which makes her arrival even more special. She is healthy, precious, and already completely adored. Rosalie is doing wonderfully, and her baby girl has wasted no time stealing the hearts of everyone who meets her.
We thought we had until January to get ready. Rosalie had other plans.
The excitement spread across the farm almost as quickly as the news. We were all completely smitten, and even the other animals seemed eager to see what all the fuss was about. Curious faces lined the fences as the goats, sheep, pigs, and donkeys gathered to welcome the newest member of the barnyard bunch. There is something especially joyful in the air when new life arrives on a farm, and this sweet little girl brought a feeling of wonder and celebration to everyone at The Heritage Farm.
Best surprise ever!
Now we have just one important piece of unfinished business: finding the perfect name for the little girl who surprised us all in the very best way.
About the Author
Erika Rogers is the founder of The Heritage Farm at Stevens Creek, The Folk School, and Little Folk Forest School. An artist, illustrator, entrepreneur, and lifelong student of traditional skills, she is passionate about preserving folk traditions, heritage livestock, artisan trades, storytelling, and hands-on knowledge for future generations. Through The Heritage Farm, she is working to create a place where people of all ages can gather to learn, connect, and carry forward the skills and traditions that shaped the generations before us.