Barns Strong Enough For A Goat & Tough As A Donkey

For Sandie Cardone of Michigan and Leo Sabatini of Alabama, the journey to creating their ideal family farm began with their love for animals. Sandie and her husband, Wes, had always dreamed of a homestead where they could care for their horse, mule, and other beloved animals on their 10 acres. At the same time, Leo and his wife wanted a backyard dairy farm across their expansive property. They both needed shelter for their animals and saw that a small Quonset barn was the best choice and here’s why.

The Cardones had spent two years preparing their land, creating a safe, welcoming space where their animals could thrive in the middle of the Michigan woods. This meant clearing trees, leveling land, and erecting a sturdy fence. Similarly, down in Trinity, Alabama, Leo Sabatini and his wife were planning and prepping for their small-time dairy farm, securing the property and choosing the right goats.

“We did this slowly as we could afford it, avoiding any debt in the process. By the summer, I could wait no more!”

Although they are in completely different parts of the country and caring for different types of animals, the couples both wanted the same thing–an animal shelter that could withstand the local weather, endure the rough treatment from animals, and be relocated if the farm’s needs changed.

Sandie chose the steel building not only for its cost-effectiveness but also because its spacious, durable design would keep their animals safe year-round.

“The shape and size were perfect, and the building could withstand Michigan’s harsh weather.”

After about three weeks of construction, complete with wood kick walls crafted from lumber on their property, the animals settled into their new, cozy home. “Now, they have a sturdy shelter to protect them, and I can enjoy watching them roam and play.”

The Sabatinis chose two SteelMaster metal buildings—one for the female goats and one for the males. The buildings give the goats nooks and crannies inside to explore which is especially useful for the baby goats who love resting in the small “coves” formed by the building’s curves.

“They’re resilient and cool, even in Alabama’s heat.”

With the structures in place, Leo and his wife feel confident their animals are safe, comfortable, and well-shielded from weather changes.

“The assembly only took three days,” says Sandie. “I wanted to keep the animals away from the metal walls, so I wanted a wood lining in the shelter. We had our trees that had been cut down to clear the corral area milled into lumber. The builder used Maple boards to build the kick walls, which took one day. We used treated wood to add the short wall in front so that a gate would fit the opening and be able to swing into the building out of the way. This was another day’s work. So in total the process took about three weeks to prepare the foundation, assemble the SteelMaster building and add the custom wood liner/gate.”

For both families, the sturdy steel shelters have brought peace of mind and the joy of having their animals close by. The Cardones’ and Sabatinis’ love for animals shines through their commitment to building secure spaces where their animals can live happily and safely. In their own ways, each family has created a unique home that fulfills their dream of caring for animals on their farms, sheltered by structures designed to endure and protect.