Howland Homestead Farm

New Randall Herd In CT

2010-06-12T12:05:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Cindi and Steve Duthrie for their new herd of 2 Randall heifers! In May they came and picked up "Maureen" and "Pollyanna", 6 week old heifer calves, and took them to their farm in Norwich, CT. Cindi and Steve already have heirloom pigs and chickens on their farm, the Randall girls will fit right in. They hope to eventually milk the calves as family cows.

Off to Massachusetts!

2010-01-30T13:29:00.003-05:00

D.J. Clary and his son Matt came down from Plainfield, MA this morning to pick up our two new bull calves born earlier this month. They are going to train them as an ox team. The temp was in the low single digits today, so D.J. outfitted the calves with dog coats for the trailer ride home. The boys looked quite dapper in their new gear. We wish them the best, and will be looking forward to seeing their sharp looking team in the coming years.

Photo: Matt on the left and D.J. on the right.

Randall Steers For Sale

2010-01-17T10:17:00.003-05:00

This pair of calves were born less than 2 days apart the first week of January 2010. They are very well matched, started on the bottle and human friendly. I've started lead training. I'm offering them for sale as a future ox team. The price is $750 for the pair plus 1/2 of Vet costs. (health papers). Contact Phil through the website or pblang@gmail.com. Don't let this great pair get away!

Hancock Shaker Village 2009

2009-10-08T09:13:00.003-05:00

We made our annual trip to the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA the second to last weekend in September to exhibit Randall calves at the Country Fair weekend. We took heifers "Alice" and "Billie", both around 10 months old. The weather was nice on Saturday, rainy on Sunday, but it was a good trip.

Randall Steers For Sale

2009-09-18T09:08:00.005-05:00

We've got a pair of month old steers we'd like to sell to be trained as oxen. This pair is pretty well matched and within a couple of days in age. They are being bottle fed and are being lead trained. We're asking $700. for the pair.

This pair has been sold, thanks for looking!

First And Last Calf Of 2008

2009-01-06T08:12:00.006-05:00

At left is a picture of our faithful milk cow "Dora" and her new heifer calf "Laura", the farm's last calf of 2008.

Below that is a photo of "Cora", the first heifer of 2008. Cora's mom is also Dora, so Dora has the rare distinction of having both the first and last heifer calves of 2008!

Hancock Shaker Village 2008

2008-10-02T08:44:00.007-05:00

Dianne and I spent the last weekend in September exhibiting Randall calves at Hancock Shaker Village's annual Country Fair. This year was the 13th. consecutive year that we have gone. We took Randall heifer "Mabeline", and Randall steer "Ziggy".

The weather report predicted a washout, but we made it through the weekend with only some isolated afternoon showers. New this year was an exhibit of antique machinery and old International tractors.

Returning events included a quilt show, timber framing demonstration, and many other exhibits of old time crafts and skills, as well as games for the children. Phil.

First Calf Of 2008

2008-02-07T09:24:00.000-05:00

Our lovable and dependable cow "Aprodite" presented us with the first calf of the year on Tuesday. The healthy bull calf is being called "Atlas". Aphrodite is an "Artemis" daughter.

The Country Fair and Crafts Weekend at Hancock Shaker Village

2007-10-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, September 29th., and Sunday, September 30th., Dianne and I exhibited calves at The Country Fair and Crafts Weekend at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. On Sat., we took Randall heifers "Madison" and "Coleen". On Sunday, we left Madison at home and brought "Sally Ann" to join Coleen. This year was our 12th. exhibiting at the Village, we first started when the weekend was billed as an event for rare livestock breeds. The weather was great and the event was well attended. Phil

The Family Farm Festival

2007-09-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

After going to the Silo Gallery opening the day before, on Sunday it was off to the Family Farm Festival in High Falls, New York. Cynthia Creech and Phil, once again accompanied by Randall heifers Sally Ann and Coleen, represented the Randall breed and the Registry at the annual event. It was the 4th year for the Festival, and it is growing quickly, with a large number of vendors and exhibitors, and a large crowd of attendees.

The weather was threatening, but no rain materialized to dampen the event. We talked to a lot of people about the Randalls, sustainable and local farming, and food issues in general. Cynthia was interviewed with the "girls" for a local (Hudson Valley) cable television news show.

The Silo Gallery

2007-09-08T16:29:00.000-05:00

We were invited to bring Randall calves to The Silo Gallery at Hunt Hill Farm in New Milford, CT, on Sepetember 8th. The occasion was the opening of the Smithsonian's Barn Again! exhibit, now permanently residing at the Gallery. The Silo Gallery won the exhibit in competition with many other Galleries.
Dianne and Phil, along with Cynthia Creech, took yearling calves Coleen and Sally Ann, and they were a hit with all in attendance.

More Randalls in New Hampshire

2007-08-12T08:22:00.000-05:00

Karen Downing of Ossipee, New Hampshire, is the latest Randall cattle owner, congratulations! Karen and co-worker Susan Junkins came to the farm and took home Randall heifers "Marissa" and "April" to be the start of Karen's new herd. Karen (in photo, R, with April) and Susan (in photo, L, with Marissa), work at The Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm in Tamworth, New Hampshire, where Karen is the Livestock Manager. Karen's own farm in Ossipee is already home to flocks of sheep and chickens, and a pair of working steers.

New barn roof!

2007-08-07T15:13:00.000-05:00

Our cow barn is the third to stand on its foundation. The first survived from the early 1800's to the early 1950's, when it burned from a lightning strike. In the same decade, 1959 to be exact, it burned again at the hands of a farmhand smoking in the haymow. The first two structures were traditional post and beam, but the latest is a Gothic arch roof made with glued trusses with an entirely free span inside.
Below is a slideshow showing before, after, and during the project. Larger photos can be found here.

The new roof is this barn's third. Phil re-roofed it in the winter of 1978-79, when it was owned by his parents. In the last few years, shingles had blown off in spots, and an inspection revealed that repair would be costly and not extend the roof's life enough to justify it. So a decision was made to bite the bullet and have it re-roofed. The roofing job was completed by Gary Voelpel of Voelpel Brothers Roofing in Sherman, CT. Carpentry and painting was done by Transcend Carpentry of New Milford, CT.

A new Randall ox team

2007-08-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Bradley Johnson, and their daughter Celeste, for being the new owners of the latest team of Randall working steers! Cynthia Creech supplied a calf from her herd, as did we, to make up the 5 week old pair. "Anders" and "Lars" headed off to their new home in Naples, New York this afternoon. This is a nice looking, well matched team, and we're sure that they'll make fine oxen!

Randall calves on grass video

2007-07-22T13:55:00.001-05:00

I took this video of Randall calves (L to R) April, Jim, Dandy, and Marisa with my still camera, so the quality isn't great. Click on the arrow in the lower left hand corner to play. Phil

Going to the Kent Farmer's Market

2007-05-28T11:48:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, May 26, Phil started to attend the weekly Farmer's Market in Kent, selling mostly ground beef. The Market is held on the Kent Green every Saturday from 9-12 through the season which ends in late October. The vendors include 3 vegetable growers, a cheese maker, a baker, homemade soup, and a table selling homemade dog treats.

Visit to New Pond Farm

2007-05-20T07:33:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, May 19, Phil, along with neighbor and fellow Randall cattle owner Cynthia Creech, spent the day at New Pond Farm in West Redding, CT. The event was their annual Founder's May Fair, and we went to exhibit calves and support the efforts of this great place. Randall calves "Madison" from our farm, and "Worm" (a rare red Randall heifer) were available for petting and viewing, and they behaved themselves beautifully.

New Pond Farm is the legacy of actress Carmen Matthews, and serves as a natural resource/farming/educational center. The working farm milks 10 cows and sells milk, cheese, yogurt, and other farm products at an on-site store. One of their milking cows is Randall cow "Noreen", acquired as a calf from our farm. New Pond Farm also has a summer camp program. It's a great place to visit! To view a web album containing photos from this years' May Fair, click here. Album photos are best viewed in your browser's "Full Screen" mode.

The Barn Swallows are back!

2007-04-26T08:15:00.000-05:00

The return of the first Barn Swallow to the farm is always an anticipated event. Conversely, it is hard not to feel a little sadness on the day in late August when all of the swallows, the ones that arrived in spring along with their now adult hatchlings, line up on the power wires in front of the barn to stage their departure. I have always loved the Barn Swallows from when I first knew them as a child visiting my grandparents on the farm.

We almost lost our swallows in the late 70's-early 80's when the old original barns fell in and I removed them. Those old hand hewn beams were a hands down favorite place for the Barn Swallows to build their mud nests. We got down to only one nest in our newly rebuilt shop, and I worried that they would soon be gone. Although I know it's unlikely, I like to think that our swallows are direct descendants in an unbroken chain that traces back to when the first swallows discovered the Howland homestead over 200 years ago. Since we began farming actively and the cow barn is now open every day, our Barn Swallows have shifted their base of operations there, and we have multiple nests every year. Phil

It's daffodil time!

2007-04-25T07:14:00.000-05:00

Off to New York

2007-04-17T14:35:00.000-05:00

Willie Denner and his daughter Mae came down from their farm in Chatham, New York, Little Seed Gardens, to pick up their new heifer, "Howland Homestead Flora". Flora is 4 weeks old, the latest daughter from our faithful milk cow "Dora". Flora goes to join "Nelly" and "Lana", also from our farm.

A new calf

2007-04-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

Our Randall cow "Doreen" had a heifer calf today, "April". She was quickly cleaned off by mom despite being born in the mud as can be seen from the picture. She was up and nursing in no time. April joins "Coleen", her full sister from last year. A previous heifer of Doreen's was "Noreen", who lives at New Pond Farm in Redding, CT. Doreen's mom was "Pandora", a heifer we bought from Cynthia Creech, and who now lives on WitnessTree Farm in MO.

...And another new Randall owner

2007-03-06T06:55:00.000-05:00

Joanna Green of Newfield, NY, picked up her new Randall heifer yesterday, "Howland Homestead Betty". Betty will be joined by a Dexter calf, picked up on Joanna's return trip.
Joanna is an Associate with Cornell's Small Farms Program, and is editor of Small Farm Quarterly magazine.

Congratulations!

Another new Randall owner!

2007-02-18T08:26:00.000-05:00

Virginia Taylor is the latest person to start their Randall herd with an animal from Howland Homestead Farm. Virginia and her daughter Pip traveled from Virginia's "The Farm at Frost Corner" farm in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. They came to pick up "Howland Homestead Ariel", a 2 month old Randall calf. Ariel, a daughter of "Aphrodite", will be raised to be a homestead cow. Congratulations Virginia!

New Randall cattle owners

2007-01-15T16:35:00.000-05:00

01/13/07: Congratulations to Bill and Sherri Battles and family of Westport, MA as new Randall cattle owners! Bill and Sherri have purchased Randall heifers Black Eyed Susan and Molly, and Randall steer Montgomery. Good luck with your new herd! The photo at left shows Bill and Sherri's daughters with Montgomery.

Randall Cattle Art at the Silo Gallery at Hunt Hill Farm, New Milford, CT

2006-11-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

11/04/06, We attended a gallery opening at The Silo Gallery in New Milford, CT, with 15 month old Randall heifer "Mandy" in tow. We were invited to compliment a painting of a Randall calf that was part of the exhibit of works by Nan Parson Rossiter. Mandy was a hit, and we were invited back for next year's gallery opening. Hunt Hill Farm also is the site of The Silo cooking school and store, created by the late Skitch Henderson and his wife Ruth.

2006 Country Fair and Crafts Festival at Hancock Shaker Village, Hancock, MA

2006-10-07T16:16:00.000-05:00

Sept. 31 and Oct.1, 2006, Calves from HHF were exhibited at Hancock Shaker Village's "Country Fair and Crafts Festival". Dianne and I have attended this event with Randall calves for the last 11 years. It is a 2 day affair, and we travel the 1 1/2 hours each way both weekend days. Cynthia went with us both days. This year the weather was uncharacteristically rainy, but there was a surprisingly large attendance nonetheless.

The Family Farm Festival, High Falls, New York

2006-09-25T16:09:00.000-05:00

9/10/06, Dianne and I, along with Cynthia Creech, went to the Family Farm Festival in High Falls, New York. We exhibited Randall heifers Coleen, Black Eyed Susan, Molly, and Madison. There was a lot of interest in the cattle, and we talked to a lot of people about small organic farming and healthy eating. More info here.

2006 NOFA Summer Conference

2006-08-15T16:04:00.000-05:00

Aug. 10-13, 2006, We attended the NOFA Summer Conference at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. Randall heifers Mandy, Astilbe, and Doris took turns going with us to represent the Randall Cattle Registry. Details here, and here. We went all three days, making the round trip each day to be home for chores. It was exhausting! Lots of people stopped by to talk about Randalls and pet the calves, and the weather was beautiful.