Spring means new arrivals at the farm!

Here are a few of our new calves (February 2013).
11 Questions for a Granby Farmer
Each month, the Granby Drummer publishes an interview with a local farmer from our town. Read on to lean more!
1) How did you get started in farming?
Sally: I grew up on a farm in New Hampshire. I think Dan married me because I knew about farming!
Dan: I worked on a farm through high school and college. I would have worked for free, I liked it so much! Sally’s the brains of our operation, and I’m the wheelbarrow guy.
2) What's your favorite product/service that you produce? By far, it’s calves for kids to show. We’ve also developed a good niche market for Hereford bulls for other farms’ breeding programs.
3) What will your farm look like in ten years? In ten years, we hope it will look as good as it does right now, and that we can pass it on to our kids.
4) How does the community benefit from agriculture? Agriculture makes the food we all eat. It’s sustenance, it’s life, and has been since before recorded time. Agriculture in a community also helps develop a lifestyle. In Granby, it’s our history, and a great education for children and adults to be exposed to.
5) From whom did you learn the most when you were getting started? Other farmers – absolutely. It was very rewarding. People went out of their way to help us out and make sure we succeeded.
6) What do you wish more people knew about farming? The effort that goes into it! It’s a passion, and a way of life. You’re on call 27/4. It’s like being a parent to all of these animals, and to your crops.
7) What's on your farm's wish list? Time, more time. And good weather.
8) What's the biggest issue facing agriculture today? Keeping up with the world population – there are a lot of mouths to feed. Government regulation is also a big issue, as is land conservation, to preserve more and keep what we have now.
9) What's next at your farm? More calves! We have a few more cows due to calve in November and December. And, weather-permitting, we’ll still be picking brussel sprouts.
10) What's the most amazing thing you've seen on your farm? A good live birth. Earlier this year, we came down to the barn one morning to find a set of unassisted twins – both heifers (little girls)! They were both up, dried off, alive, happy, and just waiting for us.
11) What's the best thing about farming in Granby? It’s a great farm community. There is a lot of diversity, and a lot of camaraderie. And a great 4-H program!
1) How did you get started in farming?
Sally: I grew up on a farm in New Hampshire. I think Dan married me because I knew about farming!
Dan: I worked on a farm through high school and college. I would have worked for free, I liked it so much! Sally’s the brains of our operation, and I’m the wheelbarrow guy.
2) What's your favorite product/service that you produce? By far, it’s calves for kids to show. We’ve also developed a good niche market for Hereford bulls for other farms’ breeding programs.
3) What will your farm look like in ten years? In ten years, we hope it will look as good as it does right now, and that we can pass it on to our kids.
4) How does the community benefit from agriculture? Agriculture makes the food we all eat. It’s sustenance, it’s life, and has been since before recorded time. Agriculture in a community also helps develop a lifestyle. In Granby, it’s our history, and a great education for children and adults to be exposed to.
5) From whom did you learn the most when you were getting started? Other farmers – absolutely. It was very rewarding. People went out of their way to help us out and make sure we succeeded.
6) What do you wish more people knew about farming? The effort that goes into it! It’s a passion, and a way of life. You’re on call 27/4. It’s like being a parent to all of these animals, and to your crops.
7) What's on your farm's wish list? Time, more time. And good weather.
8) What's the biggest issue facing agriculture today? Keeping up with the world population – there are a lot of mouths to feed. Government regulation is also a big issue, as is land conservation, to preserve more and keep what we have now.
9) What's next at your farm? More calves! We have a few more cows due to calve in November and December. And, weather-permitting, we’ll still be picking brussel sprouts.
10) What's the most amazing thing you've seen on your farm? A good live birth. Earlier this year, we came down to the barn one morning to find a set of unassisted twins – both heifers (little girls)! They were both up, dried off, alive, happy, and just waiting for us.
11) What's the best thing about farming in Granby? It’s a great farm community. There is a lot of diversity, and a lot of camaraderie. And a great 4-H program!