On the road again!
I was lucky enough to attend the Ferme Pierre Boulet Sale in Montmagny, Quebec, on May 29th, and while on my way there, I thought I’d break up the nearly 10 hour drive with some farm visits of course!
WOODLAWN FARM, Pawlet, Vermont
Some herds are fortunate enough to have the “franchise” kind, and certainly Woodlawn Juror Daisy falls into that category of franchise cattle! Daisy was one of those that almost didn’t happen. “We showed Daisy as a heifer in one of the Putney School shows because our friend was managing that. She did okay and came back to the farm where she started to grow. She just got huge and Bob Fitzsimmons came to look at her one day. He said we ought to consign her to the national convention sale, but we decided to keep her instead. That was a good decision!” explained Tim Leach, a 6th generation farmer to work on this land just south of Pawlet. Daisy offspring fill the barns at Woodlawn and when you walk through with Tim, and son Seth, you are just overwhelmed at the influence that just one cow can have! Daisy already has 4 EX daughters (all by Durham), and Very Good daughters by Terrason (85 and 88), Durham (86, 89 and 87), Allen (87) and Goldwyn (87). Daisy herself was just scored 3E-93 at the age of 10-09 in March 2009. With over 220,000 pounds of lifetime milk already out, we’re just starting to see her real brood cow potential taking shape.
They have added some other cow families to the herd, one of which is Liddleholme-R Roxy Rhonda-ET, who was purchased at the Liddleholm Dispersal in May 2008.
A new greenhouse calf barn was built in 1994, as well as a beautiful loafing shed for the higher end cows. In the calf barn, you’ll find 15 daughters & granddaughters of Daisy, including Shottles from an 87 Durham x Daisy and four Talent daughters of Daisy. There’s also some Advents from Rhonda that might catch your eye. In the heifer barn, watch for Dundee and Goldwyn daughters from Delta x Daisy, especially a really nice Goldwyn carring an Aftershock calf.
Tim Leach with a Shottle heifer x Durham x Daisy
Woodlawn Durham Delta, one of three Excellent full sisters from Daisy.
Things are looking awfully good at Woodlawn Farms, but don’t take my word for it. Stop in and see for yourself! Or look for their new website coming soon at Holstein World!
LIBERTY HILL, Rochester, Vermont (pictured above)
Literally in the heart of the Green Mountains, Liberty Hill not only features a great herd of Registered Holsteins, but a beautiful bed & breakfast as well! According to Bob and Beth Kennett, they purchased the farm about 30 years ago and have since then developed three homebred cows who have exceeded the 300,000-pound lifetime mark. They are Robeth Bell Rosie, Robeth Airliner Wisdom and Robeth Inspiration Rachel. A fourth cow, an EX-91 Pete, had made over 200,000 when the Kennetts purchased her, and came to Liberty Hill where she also made 300,000. Her EX Leadman daughter has many interesting granddaughters and great-granddaughters still in the herd. According to son, Dave, the breeding philosophy at Liberty Hill is to breed for type and feed for milk. “We want cows that can make 40,000 pounds in a lactation and also breed back every time. We don’t rush them right after they calve. We use bulls that aren’t necessarily the top TPI sires of the month, but rather bulls that can do it all and are proven.” For example, they have daughters in the milking herd by Charles, Durham and Roy. The game plan is to continue developing a very consistent herd, so the bulls that they use are the same.
The farm officially formed an LLC in 2005 with both of Bob & Beth’s sons – Dave and Tom. During that time, the Kennetts nearly doubled the size of their herd and are now milking 120. Since Dave graduated college, he has also been developing a market for bulls and sells about 40 per year to farms in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. “The cows and bulls sell themselves when buyers come to the farm and see the results of generations of Registered breeding standing in the barn,” Bob explained. “Our customers know we pay attention to the matings and we’re on all the Holstein programs. It makes a difference to them. They want to breed what we have, and that’s a really good feeling!”
Generations of great Liberty Hill cows! Bob Kennett (at left) with son Dave and three generations of Liberty Hill breeding – a Charles – her Stardust daughter and her Durham granddaughter.
The Bed and Breakfast is run by Beth and has been operational since 1984. Beth averages about 1,000 guests per year in the 7 guest rooms of the spacious house. With all its “nooks and crannies,” large rooms and beautiful decorations, it’s no wonder that she has visitors from all over the globe! “I think it was good for the boys to have visitors to the farm who absolutely loved and admired what Dave and Tom did for a living. It’s nice to have people validate what you do for a living and we were fortunate to have that. Having visitors also gives us a chance to spread the word about production agriculture and just how important it is to preserve this lifestyle.”
Watch for a new Liberty Hill website coming soon to Holstein World, featuring two VG Durhams that have been shown, as well as many members of the very influential Pearl family.
