Spring (even cold and snowy) is always a really fun time to be on site because of the new additions that join our ranks. That’s right, I’m talking about farm babies. Each February and March, we welcome new Hog Island lambs and Milking Devon calves in a flurry of adorable bleating and wobbly frolicking. This year, to mark the occasion and share in the cuteness, members joined us for “Lattes with Lambs”–an open barn event that included coffee, hot chocolate, snacks, a Q&A with

Godiva, one of our spring Hog Island Sheep lambs. If you love animals and would like to spend a few hours each week working on the farm, join the Livestock Farmhands volunteer team on Saturday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm to assist with the successful management of our Heritage Livestock Program. Volunteers will work closely with staff members to help feed, clean the barn, repair livestock fencing, clear brush, maintain pasture and barnyard areas, and more. Livestock Farmhands

by Polly Festa, Livestock Manager Have you herd heard? June is National Dairy Month, and as a former Herkimer County First Alternate Dairy Princess and New York Jersey Queen, this month evokes fond memories of trying to figure out how to get chocolate ice cream stains out of my sash. In Upstate New York, almost every county has a Dairy Promotion Board. Though one of the many things we did to promote the benefits of dairy was to hold ice cream socials, we also went to area sch

Just 9 days old! Bliss is a sweet addition to the Milking Devon herd. by Polly Festa, Livestock Manager It’s a girl! “Liz” of the National Colonial Farm and Meadow Brook’s “Gabe” are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, “Bliss”. Born on December, 20, 2010, Bliss is a very active and healthy calf, and she loves to play chase with the other recent additions to the herd, “Loin” and “Mary Gertrude”. “Lorelei”, “Patty”, and “JuJubee” are big girls now and don’t want to b

As a feature of our blog, our livestock manager, Polly Festa will be providing updates from the barnyard once a month. This month, she talks about taking some of the animals to the big city. by Polly Festa, Livestock Manager The week of October 3 through 7 was the D.C. Farm to School Week, which kicked off the first National Farm to School Month. During this week, I took some of our heritage livestock to two schools in the DC area to teach kids about farm animals. On Monday,

by Lorelei and Jujubee Hi, my name is Lorelei. I am 9 months old. In human years that’s like being 9 years old. I was the Best of Show Dairy Female at the Charles County Fair. Hey, Blog Hog, What about me! I am Jujubee, and I am 10 months old. I was the first place Fall Calf at the Charles County Fair. My sister, Lorelei, and I won the best two head any age class too. Ladies, it is not nice to call each other names. – Sally Sorry, Sally Sorry, Sally At the Fair we saw many in

The heifers are ready to compete in the milking devon class at the Charles County Fair this week. Good luck ladies! At least we think so. It’s that time of year again — the children have returned to school, there’s a crispness in the air, football is on in nearly every household each Sunday — it’s county fair time! Join two of our Milking Devon calves, JuJubee and Lorelei, at the Charles County Fair this weekend as they strut their stuff in the Dairy Cattle Show on Septemb

by Sally Harry Harry, the Red Devon steer, aka "Lisa's Boyfriend" National Cow Appreciation Day, eh? Who could’ve imagined such a day existed?! Well, that Sally sure has been hamming it up around here, so I say moooove over, it’s about time I had my moment to shine! It’s a bright and sun-shiny day at the National Colonial Farm, which means there will be lots and lots of visitors–from people fishing and children smiling to folks strolling around with their dogs. I simply love

This week’s Pic of the Week photo was taken and sent to us by a frequent “visitor” to the farm. We absolutely love candid photos like this, you just never know what you may see when strolling around Piscataway Park. This little bugger has been caught, quite frequently, wadding in his “kiddie pool” by many and no matter how many times we’ve coerced him out of the water, he just keeps sneaking back in. Ah well, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em! Milking Devon Cattle Keeping Cool