First Snow of the Winter

We live in the snowbelt of Northeast Ohio, so expect cold and snowy winters. The question isn't if snow will come, it's when and how much. As a native Californian, I always hope for short and mild winters. We recently had the first snow of the season leaving us about a foot of snow on the ground.

Here are some images from the farm. . .

The snow covered milking parlor building

Icicles in mid-November!

Everyone is bundled up

The daily chores go on snow, rain or shine

The snow covered milk tank

My handsome husband, Lad

The animals are protected from the elements. . .

Keeping cozy in a straw bed in the maternity pen

These cows happily chew their cud while being milked

The calves don't know how cold it is outside

The curtains in the barn block cold wind and snow

The snow creates new recreation opportunities, especially for children. . .

My sons enjoy some sledding

Ready or not, winter is here. On the bright side, a snow-covered landscape is beautiful.

Living in Pancake Town

We live in the community of Burton, also known as Pancake Town USA. The town square is home to the Burton Log Cabin and several maple trees. Every March, these trees are tapped to collect sap which is delivered to the log cabin sugar house where it is boiled into pure maple syrup. Our community is known for its delicious maple syrup!

The Burton Log Cabin

Me by one of the maple trees and sap buckets in the Burton Town Square

Downtown Burton

This is celebrated every March when the sap is running. Burton is host to several pancake breakfast every Sunday in March.

The Burton Middlefield Rotary hosts a pancake breakfast at Berkshire High School

This is the spread at the Burton Middlefield Rotary pancake breakfast

The polar vortex doesn't want to leave us this winter. The extremely cold weather we continue to experience isn't good for maple syrup production. 

Driving down a snowy road in Burton

Maple syrup season marks the beginning of spring. But mother nature isn't cooperating! I hope to see warmer days in the near future.

The Polar Vortex Continues

The cold, snowy and below average temperatures continue here in Northeast Ohio. A few weeks ago, I wrote about winter at our farm. I was hoping we saw the last of the polar vortex for this season, but its back this week! Today, temperatures won’t get above zero. When factoring in wind-chill, it feels even colder. Our low temperature today, with wind-chill, is -30 degrees.

Here are some scenes from the last few days. . .

The warmest place on the farm is the milking parlor because the cows are giving off heat and we have a heater in there to keep people warm while working. . .

This curious cow is done milking, but continues to hang out in the milking parlor

The cows are milked 3 times/day regardless of the weather

The cows head back to their barn after milking

The bulk milk tanks are covered in snow and ice

The dedicated milk truck drivers have one of the most challenging jobs braving winter roads

The milk truck comes to the farm daily to pick up milk. Our farm is located on a hill with a steeper than normal driveway. In the winter, the driveway can get snowy and icy which makes it difficult for the milk truck and feed trucks. There are times when we need to tow trucks up the hill using a large tractor. In fact, my husband Lad was at the dairy at 3:30am pulling the milk truck up the hill.

The guys brave the weather to feed the cows and calves. . .

Richard getting ready to deliver feed to the cows

Ricardo loads milk to take to the baby calves

The animals stay warm inside barns with soft and warm bedding to relax on. . .

The curtains and doors are closed on the barn to keep the cold wind and snow out

These side curtains are closed now but will go up when the weather gets warmer

Curtains protect the calf pen too

The cows keep warm in the maternity pen

This friendly heifer greets me in the barn

When it’s cold, tractors and equipment in the milking parlor freezes and can stop working. Water troughs freeze and need to be thawed. The barns get icy so cows can slip, fall and get hurt. Manure freezes making it difficult to move it out of the barns. 

One of the challenges freezing temperatures bring are frozen water troughs. . .

Ice water anyone?

Lad breaks up the ice in this water trough so the cows can drink

The cold bothers the people and equipment more than the cows. . .

Jose and Lad chat

Cows grow a thicker hair coat in the winter to keep their bodies warm

Snow covered equipment is a common scene on the farm

The low temperatures and snow bring additional challenges to animals, people and equipment on the farm. The cows need care 24/7 regardless of the weather. They need to be milked and fed. Their barns need to be cleaned. Cows have calves on the farm daily. Sometimes animals require medical treatment.

Thanks to the dedicated staff at our farm for all they do to care for animals everyday. And to the service providers who pick up milk, deliver feed, come to fix equipment and deliver products regardless of the weather.

Anyone else wishing for an early spring? 

Farmers, and cows, share their experience with the Polar Vortex:
Dairy Cows Interviewed On Surviving Polar Vortex at The Udder Side
We Survived the Snowpocalypse at The Dairyman's Blog
January in Ohio = COLD!!! at Down on the Farm

Visit our Farm this Fall

Fall is a wonderful time to visit a farm. Here on our farm, we’re offering five special events open to the public September 19, 22 & 28 and October 11 & 20. In addition, private tours and party packages are available by appointment through October 31. Check out Hastings Dairy for details.

A visit to our farm includes a guided tour of the milking parlor to watch the cows being milked, a wagon ride to the barn to see where the cows live, a visit to the calf area to pet the calves, a ride on the Chugga Chugga Moo Moo Train, agri-education stations, outdoor playground, corn box, pedal tractors, craft activity, farm games, and a Junior Dairyman indoor play area.

Here are the things you’ll experience when you visit our farm. . .   

A visitor meets one of our friendly cows

Taking a wagon ride through the barn

Ready to take a wagon ride around the farm

Hello sweet calf!

Kids love to pet the calves

The Chugga Chugga Moo Moo train is leaving the station

Fun in the giant sandbox

A future farmer?

The corn box is a great place to spend the afternoon!

The Special Events include all of the activities listed above plus. . . .

Cow Tales Adventures (for children 5 & under w/ caregiver)
Thursday, September 19 from 10:00am-12:00pm @ $6/person (12 months & under free)
This farm adventure allows young children and caregivers to tour the farm, pet the calves, ride the train, play in the indoor play area, have a dairy snack and more! Plan to arrive by 10am and be at the farm until 12pm to take part in all of the activities.

Fall Dairy Days 
September 22 & 28 and October 11 & 20 1:00-5:00pm @ $6/person (2 & under free)
Relax and enjoy the beautiful fall colors at our dairy on the hill. The dairy tours, wagon rides, train rides and all the activities listed above will be going on the entire time we're open. Come and go anytime.

Parking is free. Drinks and ice cream bars are available for sale or bring your own picnic. Activities are outdoors and indoors. No reservations are necessary. These special events will proceed rain or shine. Remember, you're visiting a farm so dress for the occasion.

If you have a group of 15 or more, book a private tour of the farm. Group tours are perfect for schools, day camps, scouts, 4-H clubs, play groups, senior groups or any group! Looking for a unique party experience? Check out our party packages which provide private use of our facility.

We look forward to hosting you on our farm!  

Experience a Dairy Adventure at our Farm

Ever wonder what happens on a dairy farm? Visit our farm to find out. We’re open for the 2012 season from April 16 to October 31 for school/group tours, birthday parties and facility rental by appointment for groups of 10 or more.   

In addition, we’ll host six Special Events in May and June that are open to the public. Bring the family to experience our dairy farm that is home to 600 milk cows. A visit to the farm includes the following fun activities:

Guided tour of the milking parlor to watch the cows being milked . . . . .

Hayride tour of the farm and freestall barn to see where the cows live. . . . .

Visit to the calf area to pet the calves. . . . . .

Displays about dairy cows and milk products. . . . .

The outdoor farm-themed playground and corn box. . . . .

The indoor play area. . . . .

The May & June Special Events include all of the standard activities shown above plus:

Day at the Dairy Season Opener – Saturday, May 12 from 1-6pm $5/person (kids 2 & under are free). Join us to re-open our farm for the season. In addition to the tour, play farm-themed games like feed sack races, barnyard obstacle course, horse shoes, and cornhole.

Cow Tales Adventure & Storytime (5 & under w/ parent) – Tuesday, May 22 from 10am-Noon $5/person (12 months & under free) Reservations Required. This unique farm adventure allows young children and parents to tour the farm plus read a farm-themed book, make a cow craft, play in the indoor play area and have a dairy snack.

Dairy Days - Saturday, June 16 and Sunday June 24 from 1-6pm $5/person (kids 2 & under are free). Celebrate dairy month by visiting our farm to learn about cows and milk. In addition to the tour, milk and cookies will be served.

Cow Camp (10 & under w/ parent) - Wednesday, June 20 from 1-3pm $5/person Reservations Required. This unique hands-on camp allows children to experience the farm. In addition to the tour, children will feed a calf and plant a seed to take home. Cheese & crackers will be served.

Dawgs at the Dairy – Friday, June 29 from 4-8pm $8/person Reservations Required
Enjoy a hotdog dinner on the farm and while you’re there take a hayride, watch the cows being milked, play on the farm-themed playground or relax by the bonfire.

Parking is free. Drinks and ice cream bars are available for sale or bring your own picnic.

We look forward to showing you around our farm! For information, pictures, details about the special events or to make a reservation, go to http://hastingsdairy.com/ or contact me at hastings97@gmail.com.