Sometimes one comes along who just steals your heart. Ten day old Shat Acres Ezra is one of those.

Ezra will be monitored as he matures for breeding stock quality traits, but he already excels in one thing: docility. Docility is part genetics and part care and husbandry.

Although his playfulness is super cute and endearing right now, as he gets older, Ezra will need be taught to respect personal space. It is important for all Highland breeding stock to learn that even though they will eventually be larger than their caregivers, humans are not only to be trusted and loved but must be the dominant animal. Shat Acres has been breeding for docility for over half a century, and Ray has been working his cow-whisperer magic with all breeding stock we sell every step of the way. Rest assured that little Ezra will receive both love and guidance as needed.

And what did the Birthday Boy do on his special day?

Ray fence-trained ten-day old Shat Acres Virgil with momma Shat Acres Verbena helping. (not)

Helped socialize week-old Shat Acres Ezra with momma Shat Acres Eve watching while chowing down on hay. Some Highland mommas are very protective, some are more chill.

Pushed the winter's accumulated manure, hay, and compost into piles to spread on pastures and hayfields.

Picked up stones and sticks from paddocks and winter-feeding areas, to improve our fields. Ray says every stone makes one less mouthful of grass.

Pulled drag harrows round and round behind the tractor to smooth ruts and rough ground, now that the mud is finally drying out.

Look who made the front page of the Times Argus newspaper today!

Meet Shat Acres Chloe, aka Baby Blue Eyes.

Chloe’s dam, Shat Acres Caylea, is unique with her blue eyes. In our sixty years of breeding and raising Highland cattle we have had just a few cows with blue eyes. Caylea is descended from one of those. Caylea is our only blue-eyed momma left at this time. Caylea passes this remarkable trait onto her offspring.

“Zora needs to come up to the barn. She’s off by herself down in the field. Get the rope!”

With no due date for Shat Acres Zora to calve, as our bull had been clandestine about sharing his amour, we had been watching Zora closely for signs of an eminent arrival.

Using our ‘rope trick’ Ray and I each took an end of our 50’ rope, and walking slowly and methodically behind Zora, brought her up to the barn and into the clean straw-filled pen. Our rope trick allows just the two of us (having no employees or farmhands) to move cattle easily and avoid stress for cattle and humans.

When we got her into the barn, Zora was discharging thick mucus and had an enlarged udder. We did not know exactly how long it would be before calving, but with the cold, rain, and muddy Spring reluctant to arrive, we did not want to be scouring the field day or night looking for a chilled, wet newborn.

We had made the right choice, as within an hour Zora produced a water sac. Mature cows should complete birthing their calf 1/2 to 3/4 hour after the water sac appears. For first calf heifers the time can be 3/4 hour to just over an hour.

I checked the time that the water sac had appeared.

I know exactly what that means. And although that has not happened yet this spring, I do know that TODAY'S THE DAY.

With Shat Acres CinnamonEve due with our first 2026 calf on March 27th (my birthday) it was high time to check and refurbish our CALVING TOOLBOX.

After decades of “Where are the chains?” “I need OB lube now” “Quick, get the BoSe (Vitamin E & Selenium) ready” “Do we have any iodine” I had the epiphany to prepare a toolbox that has everything ready, handy, and easy to transport from house to barn without a moment's delay.

The Calving Toolbox has been a lifesaver, literally, many times over. Each item is labeled and in an individual zip-lock bag. The zip-lock bag is so that if anything leaks it does not soil or contaminate any other critical calving items. Not all calvings require all items in the toolbox, but all calvings require some of the items. And when we need them, they are just a phone call, and a rushed hop-skip and jump from house to barn.

The year: 2005. The place: Sheridan, Wyoming. The event: The International Gathering of Highland Cattle.

Highland cattle breeders from around the world gathered to share camaraderie, attend educational workshops, and visit farms and ranches of local Highland breeders.

It was at this gathering that a gentleman approached Ray, saying "I know you." He had a strong accent, and neither Ray nor I recognized him. "Just a minute," he said. "I'll be right back." Rushing to the elevator, he rode it up to his hotel room, and returned to the lobby, waving a paper in his hand.

Love comes in many forms. One is sharing what we have with those in need. Not having enough to eat is a gnawing need that farmers who prduce food can help satisfy.

For over a decade we have been donating our 100% Grass Fed and Finished Highland and Highland/ShorthornX Beef to GLEAN. Otherwise known as Community Harvest of Vermont, GLEAN insures that every pound of meet we donate goes to those most in need.

GLEAN is a class act. At the helm is Allison Levin, who not only insures our donation is distributed to local Food Pantries, Meals on Wheels, Senior Centers, Child Care Centers and others in need, but sends out Thank You notes from recipients and a printout of exactly where each item was donated to.

Don’t you love getting your hair done before traveling?

Shat Acres Cinnabear Wallace (t) wanted to look his best with one last blow-out before leaving for Wisconsin. Which hairdo do you like best?

With a final combing and a kiss goodbye before swapping trailers, Wally was on his way. Shout out to Victor Ash of Almost Home Transport for his TLC of all Shat Acres Highlands he has delivered to their new homes.

It is true that Highlands are well adapted to the extremely cold temperatures we have experienced in Vermont this winter. Their double coat of hair usually insulates the cattle well despite temperatures falling to double digits below zero, with wind chill temperatures considerably lower.

Keeping our Highland cattle’s hair fluffed up helps the down undercoat do its best work. We worry most about calves and younger animals getting chilled. Just like human babies, their ability to regulate body temperature is not yet fully mature. Ray uses our big hair blower to remove any ice that might have built up on the outer coat, as well as any moisture that may have permeated the lower down coat proximal to the skin.

What would you think if you drove into your driveway at night and these two boys, weighing over a ton each, were standing 10’ from where you exited your car?

Here’s what we think.

How lucky are we to have twins Rob and Roy gracing our presence every day and every night with their prehistoric-looking gentle-giant majesty.

These boys sure do get around!

Twins Shat Acres William and Shat Acres Wallace, with momma Shat Acres Raisin Pie, are featured in this week’s Lancaster Farmer.

William and Wallace are Raisin Pie’s 3rd set of twins. Pie is ten years old with eleven healthy offspring, raising all three sets of twins herself as well as her five singles!

Shat Acres Raisin Pie is quite a cow.

Vermont's Green Mountains donned a heavy coat of white this week. 17" at our farm in Plainfield, with temperatures struggling to climb above 0 for over a week, -35 with the wind chill some mornings. But in Vermont , just wait a bit and the weather will change. Yesterday the temperature made it to 5 above, the wind stopped, and for a little while we were graced with sun.

Grand Champion Cow/Calf Shat Acres Cinnamon Raisin with twins Shat Acres Crimson and Shat Acres Clover, the only time a Highland Cow has won this award with not one, but two calves at her side. This Grand Championship was the first of Cinnamon Raisin's many NWSS Grand Championships, multiple AHCA point show Championships, as well as Supreme Championships.

Look who made the front page of the Saturday Times-Argus!

Shat Acres Raisin Pie with her third set of twins, William and Wallace! Raisin Pie is 10 years old with 11 live offspring.

William and Wallace were preceded by 2024 twins Ethan and Allen, who were preceded in 2019 by twins Rob and Roy, with singles every year in between. Pie’s first two set of twins were black. William and Wallace will both be brindle.

“I’m going to name her Jackie because today is my Dad’s birthday. His name was Jack.”

“She will be yours then.”

Although we had never met before, Ashley flung her arms around me, weeping as she said, “Thank you. I love her already.”

Now nearly eight months later Jackie left today for her new forever home with Ashley Shinkwin. But she didn’t go alone.

Away in a Manger From our Fold to Yours, Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year!

Blessed with Family, Friends new and old, our Highland beasts Great and Small, Capital City Farmers' Market Montpelier Vermont customers, Highland House Farm Stay guests, fellow Highland Breeders, and the Beauty that surrounds us every day, we are beyond Grateful.

Peace on Earth and Good Will to All!

When I was teaching first grade, on my classroom wall was this sign:

Mistakes are Wonderful Opportunities to Learn

Last year when we brought Rob and Roy, our six-year old twin Highland steers home from their summer pasture, Ray put them both into the trailer at the same time. When they arrived home and attempted to exit the trailer, Rob had stepped on his halter.

As you can see, trailer deboarding did not go well. Rob and Roy had outgrown the option of riding home in our 16' trailer together.

“Why did you drop him on his head? Why would you do that?” came the indignant cry from my grandson.

Our last calf of the 2024 season was due on July 5th. On July 3, 2024, I knew something was not right with how labor was progressing for Shat Acres Raisin Tart.

(for the full story, search "Phoenix Rising" or scroll back to January 30, 2025)

That afternoon, I made the call. "Ray, something is not right with Tart. I think you should put her in the chute and check her out. We need to see what is going on.”

This time on the World Stage. The results of the 2025 International Highland Virtual Show are in. Judged by Karen Dennis of Australia, there were 157 entries to the 2025 Virtual Show from 9 countries throughout the world. Judged solely by one photographic submission, the entries are an inspiring display of some of the best Highland cattle in the world.

You might wonder why we keep these six-year-old twin steers, when they might have been beef years ago.

Rob and Roy bring awe and joy to so many with their ton-sized physiques and gentle-giant personalities. Rob's horn spread is 69", Roy's 70".

Although many do, we do not feed our breeding stock treats. We want the treat to be combing and communion with humans. Treats are like candy to cattle, and if you are in the pasture with them, they grow to expect, and demand, those treats. We expect our cattle to respect our personal space, and get close for combing or cuddling when we want them to.