Wooly Whackers: Rentable Sheep for Grazing Services

A New Approach to Land Management

May 16—In a world where nature often finds its own way, sheep graze and grass grows. For Vallejo resident Luiz Ahumada, this simple truth became the foundation for a unique business venture that is now helping Solano County residents manage overgrown vegetation in an eco-friendly manner.

Ahumada's new business, "Wooly Whackers," offers a creative solution by renting out a herd of sheep to clear land plots organically. The name was chosen by co-owners Ahumada and Stephanie Gardner, who share a mutual love for livestock and a vision of sustainable land management.

The idea was inspired by their upbringing. Ahumada grew up in a place where farm animals lived among people, and he carried that background with him to Vallejo. Gardner, on the other hand, spent time living on farmland in the United Kingdom, where her connection to livestock was further strengthened.

Before starting "Wooly Whackers," Ahumada explored various business ventures involving horses and local arts communities. However, his experience with livestock eventually led him to a broader vision of becoming a large-scale grazing company. He built up a stable herd alongside a business partner and friend — until an unexpected tragedy forced him to take a step back.

"I had to make some hard decisions, which meant cutting my herd back, and just kind of putting it on the back burner," said Ahumada.

Momentum returned when Ahumada crossed paths with Gardner again. She helped care for two lambs after their mother passed away, and together they bottle-fed and even tube-fed the babies. These lambs later became the face of "Wooly Whackers."

Gardner first tested the waters by posting about the service in an online Vallejo community group. The positive feedback from residents made the leap to start the business a natural choice for the two.

"People love it because you're not using gas, you're not messing with the environment — it's eco-friendly," she said. "It's good for the sheep because they can go from place to place instead of just staying in one spot."

While many residents are familiar with goat grazing services, Gardner pointed out that sheep offer a different advantage. "Sheep tend to be cautious and even more intelligent grazers," she said. "With lambs and sheep, they're very smart, and they know if something is toxic to them — to mostly avoid it."

She added that sheep can also learn to recognize about 50 faces once they are around humans. This makes them not only effective grazers but also engaging companions.

Ahumada and Gardner have observed that the animals appear to have a positive effect on the vegetation they graze. "Anything that the sheep bite or chew on, it regrows and regrows healthier," Gardner said. "There's an enzyme in their mouth that works with the plants that makes the plants grow. We haven't figured out quite what it is yet."

To ensure the herd remains healthy and safe for clients' properties, the sheep are well cared for. They are all vaccinated, dewormed, and receive vitamin B shots regularly.

Beyond grazing, Ahumada and Gardner hope "Wooly Whackers" can expand into education and community engagement, especially for local youth. Ahumada wants to incorporate livestock-based learning experiences into the business model.

"There's some stuff in Vallejo, but there's not enough," Gardner added, noting that public knowledge about livestock is still limited. "It's like...we walk past people, and they go, 'Oh look a goat...' and I'm like, oh good grief, people don't know the difference between a goat and a sheep?"

For now, "Wooly Whackers" is focused on helping residents clear their properties the natural way — one herd at a time. Ahumada added that the joint venture has freed up time to continue pursuing another long-term passion of his: staying involved with the community and helping at-risk youth.

For information on renting a herd of your own, or to scroll through pictures of cute sheep, you can visit their official Facebook page under the "Wooly Whackers" name.