Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Runaway Ralph

Most of the time, when we have a cow who is past the age of raising a good calf, she will be sold.  On the other hand, if she's been with us a long time and has carried a name, there's a good chance she will simply be allowed to die and be buried on the farm.  
This little cow was brought home to be fed last winter; her feet were making it difficult for her to walk and winter would have been hard on her without additional feeding.  Her ear tag number was 622, which meant she was born in 1996, making her sixteen years old, or 112 in human years.  And since she has a story to tell, she was never put on the trailer when others went to auction.  A few weeks ago, she surprised us with this pretty little heifer calf, which is just as spry as a calf from a young cow.

Now for her story: 
When she was just a tiny calf, Popa went to check the cows, and she got scared, jumped up and took off running away from the rest of the herd.  He followed her, thinking he'd probably never see her again, but finally found her in the neighboring pasture, over a quarter of a mile away, all tuckered out and resting.  He carried her back, setting her down now and then to rest.  She was given the name, Runaway Ralph, from the children's book by Beverly Cleary, and was called "Raffie".  Over the years she became one of our very best cows.  So, she's living out her old age in luxury, eating grain every day and loved, just because.

Charlotte



14 comments:

  1. Awwwww. That makes me happy. Good for her.

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  2. Oh Charlotte, you have no idea how good it was to read this today. I've been struggling to find my happy mood and honestly this helped. Thank you!

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  3. A good story and a pretty little calf!

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  4. Such a sweet story. I'm glad she will be able to enjoy her days there with you.

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  5. Isn't it the hardest thing to let old favorites go? Now she has a pretty little heifer calf to take her place.

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  6. I'm glad Raffie is living out her days at home. :)

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  7. How sweet! What a lucky lady she is to have a wonderful home like yours!

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  8. Aw....good for Raffie!

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  9. Hooray for Runaway Ralph! What a sweet story, Charlotte... and I'm glad your hubby was able to find her and bring her home... sounds like she has enjoyed a wonderful life with you.

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  10. This is such a precious story Charlotte. It's nice to know that she has own special story and a place in which to grow old comfortably. That new little one is awfully sweet.

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  11. I like just because stories : )

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