Celebrating 60 Years!

We are celebrating over on our Facebook Page, the reason; 60 Years with Registered Guernsey. As our farm is a 100% registered Guernsey herd this is a huge part of our history. So I hope if you are on Facebook you will like our page and follow along with us. But if not, I will also be posting all of our tidbits here.

So here's  a recap of the history I have shared of our farm and family so far!

#1 December 27th, 1952 Paul & Delores Mann purchase their first registered Guernsey; Judy's Mae Anna

#2 Paul and Delores Mann purchased the farm from her parents shortly after their marriage in 1942.

 #3 The farm first came into the family in 1938 when Roy moved his family to the Silverton area so that his daughter Delores could attend High School. Delores' parents are pictured here shocking hay.

#4 Paul and Delores Mann were blessed with 5 children. Here they are pictured in 1957 with one of their 4-H showmanship heifers. Left to right is: Diana, Dena, Wendal, Merlin and Alan.

#5 One of the first notable cows (that has a picture!) was purchased in 1955 by Wendel; Cloverlawn Nylon. While not much of a milk cow, Nylon was a great showmanship cow. Wendel is pictured here (on left) with Nylon taking Reserve Champion Showmanship honors at the 1958 Oregon State Fair.

#6 The first milking parlor was completed in 1959 and the farm has sold grade A milk ever since.

#7 To celebrate the completion of the parlor Delores threw a surprise "barn warming" party for Paul. Back when newspapers reported on social events, this party was covered; here's what was said about the event: "Paul Mann tried several time on Sunday evening of last week to go to the barn to start his chores, but each time his wife kept him in on some pretext until suddenly a house full of friends arrived for a no-host supper and surprise "barn warming" for Paul. The new modern milking parlor of block construction was inspected by the guests, some of whom had never seen the raised milking platforms or bulk cooling tank. The part adjourned to the barn after supper to see Paul milk and do his evening chores. They presented him with money for a new electric clock for the milking parlor. Mann has 30 head of dairy cattle, most of them registered Guernseys."

#8 In the early 60's the farm announced that: "Wholesome farm fresh Guernsey milk by the Gallon or Half Gallon, Now available at their farm or Ideal Market." This started a somewhat short adventure in bottling and selling our own milk, which also included home delivery.

#9 The farm was very active in the 4-H program; with the Mann's serving as leaders and participating in activities from Christmas parties to showing at fair, 4-H was always a top priority for the whole family.

#10 "The Paul Mann family in the Abiqua district have completed plans for the 4-H Dairy Training meeting to be held at their Guernsey farm this Saturday. The meeting will be attended by club member, their parents and friends, and anyone else interested in the project. Don Anderson, Extension Dairy Specialist from Oregon State University, and Elmer Meadows, Guernsey Fieldman, will conduct the session which will include phases of dairy training. Selection of dairy animals, raising dairy calves, sanitation with the dairy project, and judging animals will be studied. Members of the Marion-Polk Guernsey Breeders will also be present. Members of the Powers Creek 4-H Livestock Club will furnish cookies." The farm hosted over 120 people on that day, March 17, 1962, a testament to their commitment to the 4-H program!

 

#11 During the years that we did sell our own milk, it was a full time operation for the whole family. Here is a great shot of Delores bottling in 1962.

#12 Today our herd is made up of 16 active cow families, with about 6 of them accounting for 75% of the herd. Barbara enjoys genealogy and every cow since the first purchase in 1952 is charted.

#13 Of that first registered cow, Judy's Mae Anna who was purchased in 1952, there are still 17 direct descendents in the herd today. This includes an up and coming heifer we are keeping an eye on: Abiqua Acres Judgements Juno. Juno was the 1st place Spring Yearling and Reserve Junior Champion of the 2012 Oregon State Fair. She is also #101 on the American Guernsey Association-Top Heifers Ranked by Parent Average CPI for December 2012. Juno is bred and we are excited to have her calve next June. She is Bred and Owned by Ben Sichley.

 

#14 Another cow family that is still present in the herd today started with the purchase of Lovelake Knights Belle on September 12th, 1962. There are 18 descendents of this family present in the herd today, including the pictured Abiqua Acres Verdict Beatrice.

#15 This "B" family also holds the highest scored cow ever bred by Abiqua Acres. Born December 6th 1968 Abiqua Acres Dariboy Beatrice was sold in the early 70's and went on to be scored EX-93.

#16 Delores acted as the chaperone for Adrienne Ellison, Oregon's Dairy Princess in 1962. Miss Ellison and Mrs. Paul Mann headed to Chicago, Ill. for the American Dairy Princess Contest on September 8th 1962. An exuberant send off was arranged at the Portland airport that included a band, milk toasts and a crowd of well wishers. Adrienne was not crowned as the American Princess, but I know my Grandmother enjoyed her role!

   

{Wordless Wednesday}

Saying Goodbye to Sasha

 

I'm having trouble with the fact that two weeks have gone by since we said goodbye to our "firstborn" Sasha. She had always been here everyday in my life for the past six years and I still find myself looking for her. She was a barn kitten that we rescued, and honestly didn't expect to survive. She was so young, but showed us right away what a fighter she was and beat the odds. Since she was with us from such a young age she was more of person then a cat. I am not really a cat person but found myself totally in love with her quirky personality. We were hoping she would be an inside/outside pet, but she right away told us she was a part of family and belonged in the house! There's not a memory in this house that doesn't include Sasha and I am finding comfort in the memories she leaves behind. Love you pretty girl and thank you for being a part of our family! 

For Family

Did you know that 99% of dairy farms in the U.S. are family owned? That is certainly a tradition that rings true on our farm as we are 100% family owned and operated. So that means our work force consists of the 4 of us and a very driving micro manager who calls most of the shots on our daily deeds. Some times it is a hard balancing act, there are definitely days when I wish my boss/partner wasn't family. And wishing that the work could just stay at the barn and not follow me home. But I wouldn't have it any other way, they say the family that works together stays together and I truly believe that. It's a much deeper respect and understanding I have for my parents and husband as I work by them everyday. It is a togetherness that strengthens us all through the good times and even more through the hard times.
And I consider myself lucky and blessed to be a part of the tradition of family farms. It's a very special breed of people who choose to live this life. The more I look at others lives in this industry the more I am affirmed that it all comes back to the same roots of family.
So today and everyday I am Thankful for Family!

{Wordless Wednesday}

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all the Happiest Thanksgiving!

From Suey and all of us here on the farm I hope this day finds you surrounded by those you love, with great food (and maybe even great drinks!) and too many things to be thankful for!

I am certainly thankful for our farm; our lifestyle that allows us to live the way we want and help provide for this world. Our family; near and far and all around, these are the people who make us who we are. And although times are tough sometimes I am very thankful for all those little things that make my everyday possible. I hope you can take a minute to be thankful for all you have as well!

Enjoy and be safe this Holiday weekend!

~Darleen

For all the Helping Hands

Dairy farming is a 24/7, 365 days a year job! Our family works hard around the clock to provide the best possible product we can. But we don't go it alone, here are just a few of the many people involved and I am Thankful for all of them!

Our Veterinary: Doc is pretty much a part of the family, as we have had the same vet for my entire lifetime. He still laughs and remembers his first call to our farm when he was fresh out of school and Grandpa was here. He's here once a month for a herd check-up and always on call for emergencies. A vital lifeline in any dairy operation is a good vet, just like your family doctor we take our Ladies health very seriously!

Our Hay Grower: We have an amazing family that we work with in Eastern Oregon that grows all our alfalfa hay. We don't do any actual farming ourselves, except for grass hay for our heifers and calves we bale ourselves, all other feed is bought and brought onto our farm. We have such a great partnership and are so blessed to have a direct source for the best food for our Ladies!

Our Nutritionist: Helping make those decisions about the best food is our Nutritionist. There are so many choices in the world of dairy food, and so many prices and other obstacles to running a successful feeding program. We'd be lost navigating all of that without our nutritionist.

Our Milk Haulers and Plant Workers: We work 365 days a year because the cows are always making milk. So the other end of that is having someplace for that milk to go. The milk truck is here every other day and it doesn't get here on it's own, that requires a truck driver. So even Christmas and Thanksgiving those guys are working hard to make sure the freshest product gets to the plant to be processed. And at the plant there are lots of hard workers making delicious products with our milk!

Our Farm Community: Last but definitely not least the farming community. This is a hard one to put into words, but we all look out for each other in the farm community. In times of trouble or trial there is always someone willing to lend a helping hand. It's a spirit of togetherness that comes with no expectations, simply the knowledge that you will also be there when they need your help. And in times of triumph we are all celebrating together, there is a shared success in each others accomplishments!