In the cattle pen || Dirks Farm

Mornings are fairly routine for my parents, and in the winter, though the mornings are always colder and a little slower than in the summer, the objective is the same.  Bed + fill the bellies of the animals.

This particular few days were just a snip-it of the first day after weaning the babies from their moms.  The cows get to stay on the fence line separating to talk to their babies who will eventually stop calling for their mom when they get settled into having their own independence.   In that time, the cows milk dries up and all the food and energy is put into the growing baby in them.

Their cattle are fence line fed hay + oats that are both grown on their farm and sent to market.  My mom usually keeps back about 14 of her best heifers to replace the cows that are old or have done their time on the farm raising their calves.  Despite how little fun it is sorting and vaccinating, I am usually there to lend a helping hand and photographing can sometimes be challenging while manning the gate.  If you’re a beef farmer and you are calm during these times .. you are a rare species 😉

So here is a little glimpse into the Dirks Farm.