Shining Star Farm

Shining Star Farm is a Shetland sheep breeder in Riley Township, MI, serving Macomb County and Southeastern Michigan near Detroit.

The farm’s owners, Mark and Holly Layher, have run their sheep operation for more than a decade and hold membership in the American Shetland Sheepbreeders Association. They perform routine health screenings, including annual parasite checks and hoof trimming, and maintain detailed lineage records for each lamb.

Lambs graze on fenced paddocks rotated weekly to promote pasture health, and daily handling helps develop a calm, social flock. Their small flock size allows individual attention to each ewe, and carefully managed breeding pairs promote genetic diversity within the herd. Neighbors often remark on the sheep’s glossy coats and even temperament. Seasonal fleece offerings find their way into local fiber circles, reflecting the farm’s oak-fringed fields and purpose-built shelter barns that protect the animals through Michigan’s winters. In recent years, the farm has shown at the Michigan State Fair, earning ribbons for fleece density.