Mornings Like Ours: A Memorial Day Reflection

written by

Carole Soule

posted on

May 25, 2026

After 24 years raising cattle, you'd think I'd be unaffected by Finn, the friendly steer who walks over looking for scratches, or when Owen B, a  Scottish Highland steer, regards me with those big eyes. And especially Curious Bleu, our riding steer, who lets visitors sit on his back.

No matter how bad my day has been, my spirits soar when I walk up our farm road, sunlight filtering through the arching trees like light through stained-glass windows. 

This Memorial Day, those simple pleasures feel like something to hold close. A peaceful morning, a job we love, animals who trust us—none of it comes free. It was bought by people who never came home to mornings like ours. We owe them a quiet kind of gratitude.

To everyone who comes to the farm for our Ultimate Cow Experience: I cherish all of our visitors. Your support ensures our cattle will have lifetime employment. This weekend, we remember those whose sacrifice makes that good fortune possible.

Carole is co-owner of Miles Smith Farm where you can have an Ultimate Cow Experience.

Memorial Day

More from the blog

Which do you Love? Cattle or Horses?

Back in the day, horses were the go-to form of transportation, pulling carts and wagons. Cattle can do the same work but are slower. It’s been said that a team of horses can do in one day what it would take an oxen team to do in three. But horses, because they’re fast, run away when spooked. Most cattle are lazy and take a gentler approach.

When You Love Cows, Of Course You Name Them

When we started raising cattle, keeping track of individuals in our 50-head herd was essential. Calves, though adorable, looked alike. Unlike their mothers, I couldn't tell them apart, so we gave each one an ear tag. The numbered tags didn’t bother the animals and made identification easy. Problem solved—almost.