Not Her First Time

Shat Acres has been sharing a Highland cow and calf with adoring visitors at the Champlain Valley Fair for 53 years. For over half a century one of our Highland mommas has shared a sawdust floored pen with her calf at McDonalds Farm for ten days.

Except when the pen is shared with two calves.

On August 22,2025 Shat Acres Raisin Pie strode confidently to the red-boarded pen followed by her twin boys, William and Wallace. She acted like she had been there before. Because she had. Last year Pie led twin bull calves Ethan and Allen into the same pen, to thrill the 2024 CVF visitors.

In 2010 Raisin Pie’s momma Shat Acres Cinnamon Raisin led her twin daughters Crimson and Clover into the pen at McDonalds Farm. In January 2011 Cinnamon Raisin, Crimson and Clover traveled a bit farther, to the National Westen Stock Show in Denver, CO. The twins, who had arrived at the CVF in August 2010 named Twin 1 and Twin 2, had been christened Crimson and Clover by the Vermont children attending the Fair. Cinnamon Raisin, Crimson and Clover went on to win Grand Champion Cow/Calf(s) at the NWSS—the first time twins had garnered that prize.

The remaining 50 years that Shat Acres has shared their Highland cattle at McDonalds Farm, it was a momma with just one baby Highland boy or girl.

William and Wallace are Raisin Pie’s third set of twins— every time with two bull calves. Pie turned ten years old this year in May. She has birthed and raised eleven live offspring. When Ethan and Allen were born last year, Pie was our only Highland in 58 years to have two sets of twins. With the arrival of William and Wallace she has now had three.

We told Pie she does not have to do that again. One at a time will be fine.