On December 7, 2021, the farm welcomed the newest cowgirls: Laurel, Juniper, and Ridgeland, the Bull.
Laurel 
Juniper 
Ridgeland
Yesterday, my dad and I spent the entire day traveling to the farm & ranch store, checking off paperwork, filling up the diesel tank, and gathering wheat straw and making a cozy travel space for the cows.
Today, my dad and I set our alarms for 4am and both walked into the kitchen at the same time to brew some hot coffee. Within 30 minutes, we were both wide awake, dressed, and out the door. A quick stop on the way out of the driveway for muck boots and thick heavy coats, the wheels were finally rolling down the highway.
By 9:30am we arrived to our destination. We were greeted by a nice farmer and he gave us a walkabout to meet his grown highland cattle. I asked for permission to photograph them and he quickly told me, “Take all you want!” One of the pictures I took below … I just love them!
Soon after the outside visit of his cattle in the pastures, we followed the farmer into the barn. Passing by each stall – some with lemurs gazing and making noises at us, a handful of new adult highland heifers he had just purchased and was working with, even camels in another large pen.
But the moment I had been anticipating for 16 days – the introduction to my cowgirls and the bull!
The farmer walked over to a closed stall and began pulling the door back … Seconds later, Juniper bounced out of the stall and ran to his legs. Laurel stayed back, intently taking us in and inspecting the situation cautiously. You could quickly distinguish which one was very outgoing between the two! I squealed and clasped my hands under my chin, standing in pure adoration of their fluffy hair and petite frame. Loving on them and watching them bounce around the barn was pure delight.
Just adjacent to Juniper and Laurel, was our little bull, Ridgeland, standing at his door, listening to us talk and watching the girls play. I was completely taken back at just how perfect he looked. With the shortest legs, fluffy white hair, silver tipped ears, silver nose, and wearing a red halter, Ridgeland had me captivated. I squeezed my dad’s arm looking around at our new miniature cattle and was so giddy about them.
We followed the farmer to the office and began mixing up warm bottles for the cowgirls. Juniper was waiting outside the office door while Laurel had stayed back across the barn, standing outside of her stall. Sweet shy baby. With Juniper bouncing behind us, we made our way to Laurel and shook the bottles and called the girls to eat. Laurel quickly skipped over and both girls latched onto their bottles. Once the milk was gone, we returned them to their stalls for a potty break.
Through casual and entertaining talk with the farmer of fellow cow talk, relatable farm tales, high and low adventures, and learning about each other’s lives, he offered to show us some of his other farm animals down the road. We piled into the truck and got a personal tour of his exotic farm. From camels to water buffalo, to babydoll sheep and pygmy goats, to American bison and wart hogs, and micro mini highland cattle.
Back from the full farm tour, we gathered into the farmer’s home for coffee and chatted around the kitchen with his wife and good friend. After a while, we made our way to the barn again and backed our truck up to the doors. Gathering the girls and loading them into the truck bed, they quickly began nuzzling around in the cozy hay. We rallied over to Ridgeland’s stall and clipped the lead rope to his halter. Instead of us leading him, we followed him to the truck. I guess he was ready to travel with his future girlfriends. The guys took sides of Ridgeland and lifted him into the truck. I worried how the cows would respond in the truck as this as their first encounter and in a tight space. They were so easy going and Laurel took right to Ridgeland, nibbling on his ears and nudging her nose into his neck. He just stood there and chewed his cud and didn’t seem to mind her at all. They all seemed happy to be together and snuggled into the hay for the ride home.
By 4pm, we had arrived home. Immediately greeted by loud moos by Magnolia, Charlstynn and Merigold, we situated some of the fencing and began the unloading of all the cows. My brother joined us along with a few good friends to meet the new additions. With an assembly line, my brother jumped into the truck bed and gently guided Juniper to my dad. One by one, Juniper and Laurel were carried to their new pen. Soon, it was time for Ridgeland to exit the truck. With my brother carefully grabbing one side and my dad holding onto his halter and another hand under his belly, Ridgeland leapt off the side of the truck tailgate while dad slowly lowered him to the ground. He safely touched the ground and began walking behind us to his pen. Quickly joining the girls and enjoying a bowl of grain, the cows were taking in all the new scenery, scents, and farm animals. With the goats quickly jumping the high fence into the pen with the cows to share some grain, my golden retriever giving the girls kisses all over their faces, and Charlstynn, Merigold, and Magnolia pushing their noses through the fence gaps to smell each other and begin the bonding process.
My mom and I disappeared into the house and began mixing 5 warm bottles for all the heifers. Upon our return and the door shutting behind us, all of the cows turned their attention to the bottles in our hands and began mooing with hunger. Lining up along the gate and watching as we placed each bottle into the holders, we set Charlstynn, Merigold, and Magnolia up with their milk. With Laurel and Juniper being fresh to the farm, my Gramma and I both took a bottle and talked to the girls and loved on them while they enjoyed their first bottle in Mississippi.
We got everyone fed and tucked in for bed.
Looking forward to the start of a grand and new adventure with the cowgirls and the bull. Stay tuned y’all!
