On my way to school each day, I pass a Mennonite Farm owned by the “Miller Family”—in fact it is called the “Miller Dairy Farm”. We’ve visited several times with preschool and Scout groups and it is great fun. Mr. Miller has cows that you can milk, chickens to feed, little black pigs, ostriches, alpacas, and even some skunks. You cap your visit off with a real-live hay ride. (So much fun if you are riding, but a little slow if you are following behind in a car…)
Mr. and Mrs. Miller dress the part—the Mennonite suspenders, hat, haircut—its all very cool and they are so, so nice. Of course now in the winter, things are slower on the farm. But, this is the picture I saw last week as I passed the farm. And then I realized that Mr. Miller has it all figured out when it comes to feeding the “farm family”. He just throws a big ball of hay into the field and let them have at it. They sit around the ball and eat and eat down to the last straw—(it takes them days to finish!)
Mr. and Mrs. Miller dress the part—the Mennonite suspenders, hat, haircut—its all very cool and they are so, so nice. Of course now in the winter, things are slower on the farm. But, this is the picture I saw last week as I passed the farm. And then I realized that Mr. Miller has it all figured out when it comes to feeding the “farm family”. He just throws a big ball of hay into the field and let them have at it. They sit around the ball and eat and eat down to the last straw—(it takes them days to finish!)
When the hay ball is gone, he throws another ball out there and they start all over again. Those farmers know how to streamline chores! They’ve got it all figured out in my opinion.
I told my kids I needed a hay ball for them. They just laughed at me and rolled their eyes.
