Forest Park Ayrshires

07/09/2024

Gemma all tucked in!

07/06/2024

There is a reason the 4th of July became the most dreaded of holidays for me.
It started with my cows lying peacefully on a warm summer day under the shade trees at Forest Park chewing their cud. This is the picture of contentment every dairy farmer lives for, it's every bit as rewarding as having a lake to yourself in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, where the splash of the paddle, and distant call of the loon captures peace of place as it was known by the indigenous occupants of an earlier America.
But on this day as the cows nearly dosed off into what might best be called a state of pure content something would interupt the peace they enjoyed. On this day a hot air balloon came from behind the wall of trees, clipping treetops as it emerged directly above them. As the balloon was directly above them the burner was hit.
This created a stampede that went unimpeded through a series of fences of various styles for well over a half mile and off the property of Forest Park. This singular event triggered a pattern of stampeding that one could not have imagined. Several were injured two developed infections and were no longer useful as dairy cows and had to be put down.
Now on our farm the cattle were very accustomed to the firing of rifles, and shotguns. Nothing really bothered them, they would just come to see what we were doing out of idle curiosity. But this balloon event changed everything.
Shortly after this balloon incident, bigger fireworks started becoming more common. I found myself out in the lot trying to calm the cows and heifers to prevent another stampede, but was nearly caught in a stampede of heifers. The Milltown fireworks were set off close to my cattle which were within the village limits. This fireworks ended with a Grand Finale volley of the loudest noise makers, one on top of the other. Again a cow was lost after crashing a fence. Fortunately, I escaped uninjured. This repetitive finale closely resembles the guns of the cowboys blazing on the old western movies to create an intentional stampede.
The cows who were first scared out of their gourds, passed the stampeding behavior to the younger generation with their newfound triggered behavior. So with this, the third of July became roundup day, with the cattle taken off the pastures and locked into steamy hot barns for their protection.
So pardon me if this day is thought of with dread. My current cattle seem to be the first to not have not learned the triggered response, but I have witnessed a stampede of horses on Highway 35, and I expect many more spooked animals, as people become increasingly entitled, and in search of a cheap thrill.

06/30/2024

Happy Birthday Greta!! Pops loves you dearly!🥰

02/02/2024

Memorializing with a photo the first time Sugarin time started in January, at Forest Park!

12/21/2023

Wishing you a "Simple Little Christmas"

The Baby's Manger is set,
wooden Shepherds attending. Hot chocolate steams,
with marshmallows bobbing
Red candles atop birch logs,
sprigs of balsam adorning
As we gather around the piano,
the caroling commences
The hillside awakens to children,
on tobaggans joyfully screaming
Popcorn and holly berries,
strung together by young knitters
Snowflakes and Angels,
cut of paper then glittered
Family gathers together,
for the pine 🌲 trees final trimming
Rekindled spirits of memories cherished,
rise anew, with those we now treasure!

Peace and Joy FB friends, from me to you!

12/10/2023

Gracie arrived at Forest Park 16 1/2 years ago. Some dark animal was coming to the porch at night so Lois put a security camera out, it was Gracie, just a kitten trying to live on her own.
She's had a great life here at the farm. Instantly, knew which people were naughty, or nice. Didn't take to other cats, and probably for good reason. Despite her petite size she was the master of rodent control, while she wasn't captaining the feedcart.
Today she passed away. She befriended many of you along the way. This picture was taken just a few days ago, as she was staring me down for some cat treats.

11/22/2023

Dad in 1942 near Antler Lake. With a buck that went over 200lbs. Story had it that he was having having allergy problems, and took the early train to Minneapolis to see a doctor. After returning home in the afternoon he bagged the nice whitetail. Yes, we used to have mass transit in Milltown. Now we bicycle down the railroad bed. 😆 Aunt Ardis, his sister, also loved to hunt.

07/28/2023

07/25/2023

One thing we know for sure is that technology will not stand still still. The rate of change will always increase because science builds upon every bit of knowledge and innovation gained. The hand driven transfer pump I have on my porch is a reminder that a mere 100+ years ago my farm operated with work horses and a steam engine. My ancestors were also building the first power lines to local communities a little over 100 years ago. If we drive innovation forward, better methods will continue to evolve at a rate never seen before. Knowledge is exponential. We only go forward.

07/15/2023

Rain proved to be elusive once again. The evening smoke left us with a red rubber ball in the sky. Delores chewing on alfalfa stems.

07/11/2023

Forest Park Kingsire Daisy
Celebrating "Cow Appreciation Day"
A beautiful day in Wisconsin it is!!
Beet pulp/w mollasses with her grain today.