09/30/2026
I’ve debated sharing her story. I usually talk myself out of it.
I’ve talked about her several times over the past year and a half that she’s been with us. Wendy. She’s the oldest cow in our herd. She’s a natural leader. She has a ton of milk and has grown off the largest calf in the herd the past two years. She’s a registered cow. She calves easily. She keeps easy. She’s smart and easy to work. She’s worth something, especially in today’s market.
She was a gift to our farm. A gift from a complete stranger.
We were looking for milking Dexter bloodlines. I’d connected with someone from further south in Alabama who had a connection to a farm in Tennessee. Her milking Dexter cow came from their lines and she recommended we reach out. Blake did. He asked if they had any cows we might be able to purchase. Explained we had fallen in love with the breed and what we were seeking. The man proceeded to tell Blake that he had one that we could have, but he didn’t have one he would sell. Blake thought he misunderstood, naturally. Who gives away a cow? He didn’t know us. So one might assume he was just offloading a problem? Right.
He went on to say she was a cow he had raised. They were aging in life. Scaling back their numbers and chores. He had tried to place her before but she came back to him every time. He simply asked that we take care of her. Treat her well. Make sure she had a good life for however long she had. He genuinely wanted something good for her. When we went to get her, he echoed the same sentiment. She was ours. If we ever changed our minds about her, he just asked that we bring her back.
I know a lot of people with cattle. I don’t know a single person who would give away one of their healthy, productive animals for free - plus a heifer calf to boot - to a complete stranger.
His message was clear. He had more than enough. He had been blessed. He was genuinely grateful for what he had in life and he was happy to gift a cow to a next generation Dexter enthusiast. Every time I watch her in the pasture, she’s a reminder of the kind of human I want to be.
Generous. Thankful. Appreciative.
The kind of person who prioritizes stewardship over money. And one day, we’re going to keep that tradition alive, in honor of Wendy. 🫶
