Down on the farm there are always plenty of sweet animals. Some just have personality plus; many are at present, farm stock and future food. As this lovely cow posed for my camera lens, she was especially curious and hopeful that I just might have a bucket of grain. Which brings up a question; do you know were your food comes from? Are you at the least, as curious as this cow about food production?

Seems lately that organic farming is now a big business and my marketplace is ground zero for anything organic. In 1987 a small company started up in a little town called La Farge, WI. At the same time I opened my first Real Estate office,  Organic Valley opened too, and they grew into a huge multi-million-dollar company.  I have done well too, but they have obviously done better. Being now the largest organic co-op in our nation, I am hopeful that many of you have seen their label. It is the red barn on the milk carton? Perhaps many of you have even bought their dairy products?

But back to this sweetie of a cow, she resides on an 82-acre Amish farm that I have just listed.  She is temporarily residing there with approximately 25 other cows in a Beef cow/calf set up. You don't need a large acreage farm to operate a cow/calf operation. Running 20 to 25 head is possible on this size acreage. In case you are not farm-folk, Beef cows are large animal, and often weight 1200 pounds or more. You need good fences, lots of pasture and water. A typical cow/calf operation will breed the cows in spring, to take advantage of the pasture grassland in spring and summer. Then selling off the male calf stock at the end of the season, while always holding back some female stock for the following year. This farm has an old 4-bedroom farmhouse. If you have never been in an Amish farm home, many do not have bathrooms or indoor plumbing, but this one does, hurrah!  There is 3 to 4 good out-building. What exactly is a good out building?  I would have to say that is one that is still standing and serviceable.  They generally are places to store the hay, repair the tractor and equipment and occasionally get the cows out of the weather. Oh... many are also places to store all that stuff farmers cannot part with and hang onto for a future farm auction or to make country Realtors earn their keep when city buyers want them cleaned out.  There is a 60x60 shop building, a 25x60 pole shed and a 40x80 old dairy barn. The barn is no longer used for dairying but is being used for hay storage. This property also has numerous cold-water springs and streams crisscrossing the front of the pasture-land.  

If you enjoyed this farm tour then the next time you shop at your local farmers market for those fresh organic veggies, brown eggs or to buy a huge organic T-bone steak, gosh think a minute... that steak could be this Sweetie!  Please support our heartland, our organic farmers that are busy making your food and me, your rural country Realtor!

Are you searching for homes in Hillsboro or Vernon County call Mary Strang at the R teamRE/MAX Hill Country Realty 608-637-3599