OUR STORY
Generations of Family Farms
Ryan & Desiree Visser are both from multi-generation family dairies, originating in The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany, and are partners in family dairies and raising crops in Southern Idaho.
With their two boys, Carson and Case, they live in the country, enjoying motorsports, family outdoor adventures, and, of course, raising farm animals.
Desiree is a graphic designer, teaches art and paints while the boys play sports, ride dirt bikes, rzrs and snowmobiles, and can fix anything with wheels.
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ABOUT THE VALAIS CHALET
The dream of a Valais Chalet began many years ago on a family trip to Switzerland to sightsee and visit relatives, when Desiree was fascinated by the Disney-like appearance and friendly demeanor of the mysterious sheep herds grazing near the Matterhorn.
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While Ryan & Desiree were building an ag shop on their property a few years ago, they happened across a contractor who also worked with sheep, and a conversation began about the Valais Blacknose Breed. Within days, they acquired an F2 Ewe, Stella, and an F3 Ram, George, from a Valais Blacknose Sheep breed-up program and quickly fell in love with their quirky looks and personalities.
Before a year had passed, they were formulating a business plan and expecting some of the first fullblood Valais Blacknose Sheep in the United States, from embryos purchased from Europe. Seven beautiful sheep arrived in the spring of 2024, and the Valais Chalet was born. They look forward increasing their flock and experience as shepherds and establishing the Valais Chalet as a
premier US Valais Breeder!
ABOUT THE BREED
The Valais Blacknose sheep, originally from the mountainous Valais region of Switzerland, have finally made their way to the United States after a long and carefully managed journey. Known for their distinctive appearance and friendly temperament, these beloved sheep were first exported from Switzerland to Britain in 2013, and later to New Zealand.
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In 2020, purebred embryos were imported from New Zealand to the U.S., accelerating the development of a purebred population. The first purebred Valais Blacknose lambs were born on American soil in 2021, marking a historic moment for the breed in the U.S.
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Today, a growing breeding program is underway, and although availability remains limited due to the breed's recent introduction, lambs and adults are now becoming available for sale. We are keeping a waitlist for those interested and will continue to provide updates as more animals become available. Using imported semen and a structured breed-up program, it takes five generations to reach purebred status, but with dedication and care, the Valais Blacknose sheep are now firmly rooted in the U.S. agricultural landscape.
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The Valais Chalet started its purebred flock with imported embryos in the Fall of 2023 and continues to take pride bringing in affordable, quality genetics to the Northwest and beyond!