OUR FAM & STORY

Originally from Southern California, we recently moved just north of Nashville, Tennessee & have started a mini-homestead that feels like a life-long, dream come true.  We are followers of Jesus, we home-educate our four children & are planting a church in Nashville, TN. Our family loves being together, loving animals (especially our Goldens, Remy + Rusty + Autumn), working the land, eating meat, finding waterfalls, & growing whatever God entrusts to us, a little more every day. Growing Great Goldens was born from the original God-given charge to "Be fruitful & multiply... 

“Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.” God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.” God saw all that he had made – and it was very good! There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.”

Genesis 1:26-28, 31

In a way, we've made it our families passionate focus to forge the way back to the garden & God's original design. We believe that starts with our everyday decisions & with whatever our hands find to do we do with all our hearts (Eccl 9:10). Naturally, this unfolds even into our Growing Great Goldens. 

We have always loved golden retrievers & I (Catie) had them all growing up. We've had Goldens be a part of our lives for about 20 years combined. We knew that when it was time to get a family dog (or two...or three!)  that it would need to be a Golden! The amazing temperament, trainability, & athleticism of the breed just fit our family. We got our Rusty with the intent & dream of breeding him one day. In fact, our kids worked lots of jobs, including walking/caring for neighborhood dogs, pet sitting, etc. to earn over $500 towards getting their Rusty pup. As you can see, we're a family with an entrepreneurial spirit, so once they had proven their responsibility, invested their own money & sweat equity, (as well as researched & constructed a future ROI & business plan) there was no way we could delay getting our Golden! Not to mention, our pet would be first & foremost part of the family. That was really the very beginning for our little family to start Growing Great Goldens. Over the last few years, that dream has become more of a reality & we feel so privileged to get to do what we're passionate about, together. We added Remington Rosebud when the opportunity arose to help a family friend. It involved a cross-country trip in the middle of winter & she was every bit worth the journey. She's been the most precious addition to our family & Rusty's best friend. We've started sharing the adventures of Rusty + Remy, with the excitement of all the future puppies of Growing Great Goldens! 

In the Fall of 2022 they had their first amazing litter of 11 puppies, it was our Autumn inspired litter & we chose to keep the "pick of the litter" rightfully named "Autumn" to become part of our family & a future mom at Growing Great Goldens. She is the most perfect combination of her mom & dads best qualities & she brings such joy to our family already. 

With overwhelming requests & a growing waitlist for a Rusty + Remy puppy, we sought the council of trusted fellow breeders & our reproductive Veterinarian to conclude that back to back breedings would be the best & healthiest route for Remy since she was such a wonderful mom & bounced back after puppies exceptionally well. She gave birth to 10 perfect puppies in May 2023. We're so excited to have placed each of them with exceptional families that have joined us in Growing Great Goldens. Remy & Rusty's last planned litter together was our Spring Blossoms litter this last Spring (2024). We are excited to announce an all dark golden litter with a sought after stud, Ransom from Dark Goldens on Hilltop with Remy this Winter 2025. Autumn was bred with Ransom this Fall 2024 & unfortunately lost the puppies. We are so sad, but this is part of our journey & we thought it important to share the good & the sad. We're very much looking forward to Remy x Ransom puppies still in the mindst of being heartbroken about Autumn's litter. The Growing Great Goldens family will be growing as we will be keeping a female from Remy x Ransom & we hope to add our own new Stud to our program in 2025 as well! 

If you're reading this, thanks for wanting to learn more about us, our faith, our little farm, & big family. We look forward to meeting you soon & hearing your story too. We can't wait to show you how exciting it is to join the journey of Growing Great Goldens with us!

Love, The Rippy's