From 1920 until 1948, Howell Farm was owned and operated by a man named Xenophon Cromwell and then his son, Hart. The Cromwells were dairy farmers.
Later, in the 1960s and early 70s, the farm was owned by Charles and Inez Howell (the farm’s namesakes) and leased to tenant farmers who raised cattle.
Now, 40 years later, the Howell Farm bovine population is again on the rise.
Until a few weeks ago, the cows here numbered three: Jake and Chris, our two mature oxen, and Daisy, a Jersey cow used for milking. Since then, they’ve been joined in the barn by Layla, a milking shorthorn, and Ray, her calf. Last week came the news that Daisy is pregnant. She’s due next summer.
Today, to cap off the bonanza, Farmer Rob picked up two mixed-breed calves from farmer Pat Hlubik in New Egypt. These two calves, yet to be named, will help drink some of Layla’s milk, and will receive training as oxen.
So that’s seven cows at Howell Farm these days, equal to the seven horses in the barn. The horses, however, will soon be firmly back in control. Ray, who has been on loan from Cherry Grove Farm in Lawrenceville, will return home by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, out in the fields…
Fall plowing continues, although not exactly as planned. It’s been too wet to continue plowing in the lower fields, so Farmer Jeremy and interns plowed today in an upper field that still needs some smoothing out from the 2011 plowing match.
Later, in the 1960s and early 70s, the farm was owned by Charles and Inez Howell (the farm’s namesakes) and leased to tenant farmers who raised cattle.
Now, 40 years later, the Howell Farm bovine population is again on the rise.
Until a few weeks ago, the cows here numbered three: Jake and Chris, our two mature oxen, and Daisy, a Jersey cow used for milking. Since then, they’ve been joined in the barn by Layla, a milking shorthorn, and Ray, her calf. Last week came the news that Daisy is pregnant. She’s due next summer.
Today, to cap off the bonanza, Farmer Rob picked up two mixed-breed calves from farmer Pat Hlubik in New Egypt. These two calves, yet to be named, will help drink some of Layla’s milk, and will receive training as oxen.
So that’s seven cows at Howell Farm these days, equal to the seven horses in the barn. The horses, however, will soon be firmly back in control. Ray, who has been on loan from Cherry Grove Farm in Lawrenceville, will return home by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, out in the fields…
Fall plowing continues, although not exactly as planned. It’s been too wet to continue plowing in the lower fields, so Farmer Jeremy and interns plowed today in an upper field that still needs some smoothing out from the 2011 plowing match.
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