A Look Back at 2014 on the Farm

As 2014 comes to an end, I'd like to reflect on the milestones, activities, and day-to-day farm happenings by reviewing pictures I captured throughout the year.

The Polar Vortex: The year started with one of the coldest winter's we've experienced.

The snow-covered barn

Lad breaks up ice in the cow's frozen water trough

The hearty cows brave the cold winter

My Dad, Tony, working at the snow-covered farm

Cows: These bovine beauties are the stars of the farm.

Inquisitive cows

Taylor with Lorena #6616

Heifers relaxing in their clean, dry barn

Andres follows the cows to the milking parlor

"I'm done milking, now I'm going to stand here and watch the activity"

Strolling from the milking parlor to the barn

Thirsty cows get a drink after milking

Josue with friendly Penolepe

Jack brushes Kissy Foot, she loves the attention!

A selfie with me and Chumey

Mom and calf in the maternity pen

Henry the barn cat likes visiting with the calves

A favorite spot on the farm, the calf pen

Marco delivers milk to the calves

The newborn heifer calf of 4-H animal, Flo

Farming & Harvest: The farming season started off with some challenges. The rye grass seeds planted in fall 2013 did not emerge from the ground in 2014 due to the extremely cold winter. We had a late spring, but were able to get all the crops in the ground.

The men check to see if our "new" used corn planter dropped the seed

Lad planting corn on a sunny spring day

Fall corn harvest

Jack checks an ear of corn in a partially harvested field

Summer & the County Fair: This is a busy and fun time with our boys at the farm.

The boys found a turtle in the farm pond

Boys being boys

Jack with farm kitty, Ted

Garrett's 4-H heifer, Lucy, and Jack connect

Brushing the heifers to getting them ready for the County Fair

Jack relaxes with his heifer, Daisy, at the Fair

Jack showing for the first time

Garrett with his Reserve Junior Champion heifer, Vanessa

Tours: We have fun showing off the beautiful cows and calves at our farm.

Garrett, me and Jack waiting for a tour group to arrive

This friendly calf likes one of our young visitors

Two ladies with the Leadership Geauga Youth Group pet one of the cows

The wagon ride stops in the barn

 

Jack pretends to drive the barrel train

Rowdy Cow Creamery: Construction began on a new venture at our farm. Our new on-farm milk bottling plant will open for business in spring 2015.

The vat pasteurizer is delivered

Moving the bottle filler into the creamery

The creamery is almost complete

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Garrett, Lad, Brenda, & Jack

Coming Soon. . . Rowdy Cow Creamery

Rowdy Cow Creamery, our new on-farm milk processing facility, is progressing. The equipment installation is almost complete and we’re excited to start bottling milk soon! We have a few more steps before we’re ready to go, but I wanted to give you a progress report.

Here’s a look at the recent happenings. . .

The bottle filler equipment was delivered and unloaded

Lad moves the bottle filler onto the porch

The bottle filler arrives in the Creamery

This equipment will fill bottles with our fresh milk

The pipeline transports fresh milk from our cows to the vat pasteurizer

The Creamery is almost ready to bottle milk!

The Rowdy Cow Creamery crates are ready to be filled with bottles of milk

Soon, I hope to be sharing photos of us bottling milk! Stay tuned. . . .

June at the Dairy – Crops, Tours, Parties, 4-H & Kittens

The last few weeks have been full of action at our farm. These images share the activity we’ve enjoyed during the last few weeks.  

Garrett and the other Geauga Dairymen 4-H club members started working with their animals. This involves petting and brushing them. Then getting a halter on to lead them around when they are ready.

Garrett with Lucy (the black & white heifer) and Vanessa (red & white heifer)

Garrett and Jack brush the heifers

Jack connects with Lucy, the heifer Garrett showed at the Fair in 2013

Jack and Garrett hold two of the new kittens at the farm

Jack loves the kittens!

Farm cat, Peaches, with her babies

The 4-H boys play with the kittens while the cows watch

The planting of our corn and Sudan grass crops is complete for 2014! These crops are emerging from the soil. It's a great feeling to see the crops growing. The weather is cooperating this year!

Corn emerging from the soil

The corn crop

We've been busy with tours. In the last few weeks, we've hosted nine groups on our farm.

Students watch cows in the milking parlor, the cows are curious about the students too!

Jack shows the students a milking machine while they observe the milking process

Students watching the cows milking

A Day Camp group having lunch in the Parlor Room

Visitors interacting with the calves

My Dad gives visitors a ride around the farm

College Dietetic Interns say hello to the heifers

Young visitors enjoy the tractor on the playground

Fun on the tire snake

My sons are out of school for the summer. They invited some of their friends to the farm to celebrate the last day of school.

My Dad gives another wagon ride through the barn. Thanks Dad!

Jack and his buddies in the corn box

Rowdy boys on the parlor balcony

This calf really likes Ben!

Jack's buddies are ready for a ride on the train

The celebration of June Dairy Month continues!

The boys climbing on the hay bales

The center of our farm . . . the cows. We love our cows!