Year in Review: 2014 Blog Highlights

I enjoyed sharing the happenings of my farm and family this year. Here are some highlights from 2014:

Six Most Popular New Blog Posts in 2014

1. Cow's Milk vs Non-Dairy Imitation Milk posted April 1, 2014     

Comparing naturally superior cow’s milk to non-dairy imitations.

2. Why are calves separated from their mothers? posted January 14, 2014    

Explaining how calves are raised on our farm.  

3. It’s National Agriculture Day! posted March 25, 2014   

A look at agriculture’s far-reaching impact in all of our lives.

Chumey and Jack

4. The manure is deep in Farmed and Dangerous posted February 24, 2014  

Me and other farmers sharing thoughts on Chipotle’s silly fiction Farmed and Dangerous.

5. Farmland: The Movie posted April 22, 2014    

My review of this documentary which follows six young farmers and their families through the joys and challenges of production agriculture.

Lad, Garrett and Jack with some friendly heifers

6. Is Milk Safe? How do I Know it’s Free of Antibiotics? posted April 29, 2014   

The facts about milk quality and safety.

 

Me and Lad in the milking parlor

My 3 Favorite Blog Posts this Year

Coming Soon. . .Rowdy Cow Creamery posted July 8, 2014

Sharing the progress of constructing our on-farm milk bottling creamery.

The County Fair – Generations of Showing Cattle posted August 26, 2014

Pictures of me, my husband and our parents showing cattle at the county fair throughout the generations.

Garrett and Lad with Vanessa before going into the show ring

Farm Animal Treatment & the See It? Stop It! Program posted November 11, 2014

Featuring the great team at our farm with the animals they care for.

To see pictures highlighting 2014, check out A Look Back at 2014 on the Farm.

I hope you'll visit my blog in 2015!

Me walking through a barn on our farm

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

Calf with a broken leg

Calves are born on our farm daily. They usually get up and start walking around within an hour after birth. But that wasn’t the case with a heifer calf born a few days ago. Shortly after she entered the world, it appears her mother accidently stepped on her back leg breaking it.

She needed medical attention, so Lad, Josue and Marco got to work helping this calf. An injury like this is rare on our farm. A splint was made, then the leg was set with the cloth-lined pipe splint before being bound with hoof wrap.

She's a tough, strong calf

The calf was treated with anti-inflammatory and penicillin for the pain and swelling. She’s doing well and currently resting in the soft, cozy straw bed inside her hutch.

In a week, the splint will be taken off to check the leg. Then the dressing and splint will be re-applied.

She's protected from the wind and cold

Everything is being done to help her leg heal so she recovers and becomes a healthy heifer.
 

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.