A Finished Barn!

Lunch break for some of our employees while they finish the interior of the barn.

Looking down the ally where the cows will be notice the fans and the overhead garage door to keep the cows cool in the summer and shelter from the wind in the winter.

Well after nearly six months of building, from start to finish, the barn is complete.  We are happy to say that the cows took to it like it was the Grand Hotel.  They love the openess and act very pleased with their new surroundings.  How do we know this?  Well, we look at the contentment of them, they walk slow and steady and are not hesitant or jumpy.  They eat well, drink lots of water and chew their cud showing us signs of satisfaction!  All in all, it is mission accomplished.  Having healthy, happy cows only strenghtens our commitment to agriculture.

This shows where the cows will lay down to rest.  They are bedded with a smooth soft sand, it's like having a day at the beach for them.  It is comfortable and cool.

Notice the outside wall of the barn.  There really isn't one.  To keep the cows cool in the summer the sides are left open for air flow.  In the winter we have material "curtains" that roll down to keep out the wind and snow. 

The cows are in!  They are happy and eating a well balanced diet.  Water is available 24 hours a day.

Until next time, 
Drink milk and have a healthy diet.

Progress....

In July I can usually be found at my blueberry patch down the road.  I had a usually busy season and just didn't find the time to go to the buidling site to take photos.  I have one from my patch around the corner:

AUGUST 2010

Let's take a look at what progress is:







Things are looking great, but we still have a lot of work to do.

 

When the roof of the barn gets on, we still have plenty to do inside to make a comfortable home for the cows.  With the latest in building technology to provide a safe and secure environment for the cows, come back to see whats goin on inside...

Until next time...

The Last Fair in Michigan...for 2009!

What happens every year in Southern Michigan during the last weekend of September? The County Fair!! Yes, the smells of caramel corn, the sound of amusement rides, combine derby's and some "Famous Country Singer", and the sights of animals and kids!!


Oh how I love the county fair!! When I was a kid, my neighbors (the Nichols family) were the managers of the fair. They were also like my second family, and back then there were benefits of being "family" when the county fair started! I met "famous" people and rode all the rides for free (remember this was a long time ago-haha). It's great when you are ten years old and can stay late at the fairgrounds because you are doing the "rounds" with the "manager". I fell in love with the fair back then and still can't get enough of it today (just ask my husband).

I started my 4-H club when my oldest was 7 and now he's 20. My daughter's last year was in 2008 and I'm down to one last child showing at the fair, and he's 16. I'm already dreading the day when it will be his last fair. But maybe then I will start to take things to the fair for myself? I've wanted to enter photos for the last three years, but still haven't gotten that done. I will have more time to spend in the "Little Red Barn", the one our County Dairy Promoters sell milk and ice cream out of. And yes, much more time for chit-chat!!

So this fair was just as good as all the others. My 4-H kids did exceptionally well, as usual. Many blue ribbons were won, along with some Grand Champions and Best of Class awards, too.

Although my family raises cows, we don't take them to the fair. We have a strict policy of keeping our herd separate from other cows so as not to pick up any type of sickness that could lead to whole herd contamination. My children, instead, take other animals that don't come home, along with crop projects. We sell the animals at the end of the week and the "buyers" have the option to take them for meat or send them to the "market" where they will end up on someonelse's table. It is a win-win situation. The kids are able to use their money for next year's animal project and the buyers are supporting the "educational process" that took place over the past 3-12 months. We are very fortunate to have dedicated people support the youth in our county. My family, in turn, are supporters of the 4-H kids as well. We purchased some ducks and sheep this year.

My 4-H club members also take a wide variety of craft and food and crop projects along with educational exhibits. And so it goes, long months of preparation to display your "harvests" at the county fair, and in one week it is all over until next year. But what a great week it is!!

Until next time,

May the fair season Moo-ve your way!