Newborn Calves Make it Feel Like Christmas Every Day at Bohnert Farm « Back

Do you remember what your favorite Christmas gift was? I do! I was eight years old, growing up on my family dairy farm in central Oregon, and on Christmas morning, me and my sisters and brother were excited to see that good ol’ Saint Nick had brought presents for all. I remember how excited I was that I received a Cabbage Patch doll, something that was on my wish list to Santa.

After we opened gifts, I was asked to go out and check cows in our maternity area. I remember bundling up and not pleased with the assignment given to me by my parents. However, I remember being welcomed with a beautiful surprise, a newborn calf. I ran inside to tell the others, and everyone came out to see the Christmas calf. She was all white and we named her Mary!

And, while I think back to so many fun-filled and blessed Christmases, spent with my Oregon family, and now for the last decade, with my own family—my husband and three kids—that is one Christmas that always sticks out. I loved sharing my much loved Christmas stories with my children.

And, my three Jersey kids love hearing stories of when I was young. I think the idea that their own mother was once young is kind of shocking and amusing to them! The other day, the kids and I were making Christmas cookies, and I shared the story of when Mary, our Holstein calf, was born and the kids paused to listen for a quick minute. Even though, Cassie and Tyler had heard it several times before.

This time though, my oldest, Tyler, responded, “Mom, it’s like it is Christmas at our farm every day!” Yes, it is! At our dairy farm, we calved more than 300 cows this past year, so yes; it is like Christmas every day at Bohnert Farm, with us welcoming the miraculous births of new calves nearly every day.