Soule: Children and Calves, Perfect Together

The bellowing in the holding pen stopped as I walked across the barnyard. Eleven calves watched me open the gate to come in and feed them in the pen -- a space I think of as the nursery. A day earlier, I had separated these calves from their moms. Why do we keep the mothers and babies separate? It's all about training the calves.

It's far easier to train cattle when they are babies. These calves live together in the nursery, where I spend quality time with them twice daily.

The good news is that the mother cows have already taught them a lot. They've learned about personal space, that hay and grass are for eating, and that love starts with licking. (Brushing is the human substitute.) But the mothers can't teach them about human interaction. That's my job.

These calves have three weeks to change from leaping, bawling bundles of energy to head-sniffing, friendly calves that look forward to their daily grain ration. They will be ready for summer camp on July 10, when young calf trainers at our summer Farm Day Camp take over. During the camp, youngsters are assigned a calf to train, which they will show off in a competition on the last day. I wonder who will learn more –- the calves or the kids?

Every year the magic of kids and calves amazes me. Happiness is when a 12-year-old boy would rather snuggle with his calf than run through the sprinklers on a hot day or send text messages.

If you know of any animal-loving youngsters (ages 8-14), check out the camp. We still have spots available, and scholarships are available. Application is easy and can be found here.

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Carole Soule is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, N.H., where she raises and sells beef and other local products. Her book, “Yes, I Name Them,” will be available in September 2023. She can be reached at carolesoule60@gmail.com.