What Happens when A Child Meets a Calf? Magic!

Every kid should spend time like this on a farm. Imagine the self-confidence they build training a 200-pound calf. There is no substitute for training a reluctant calf.

Coach Carole's Words of Wisdom: If you can dream it, you can do it.

"Can I borrow the hose?" Quinn asked, "I got pooed on by Charlotte." Charlotte was a 3-month-old calf assigned to Quinn at Farm Camp at Miles Smith Farm, where each camper gets a calf for the week. Ten-year-old Quinn used the hose to spray off her pants and wash her boots. Campers learn that working with calves is fun but messy.

But no matter how many times the campers were stepped on, and no matter how filthy they got, none of them walked away in disgust or anger. They wanted more.

In the mornings, the children learned to halter their calves, lead them, and wash them. They all listened and learned. By week's end, even the youngest child confidently led her calf. It was terrific how knowledge can seep into children's minds even when they don't seem to be listening.

Running with Calves

During the sweltering afternoons (the heat was relentless), the children sat in the shade, wrote in their journals, groomed their calves, and snuggled with them. Of course, there was running with calves, too. What child or calf doesn't love to run? Some kids dropped their lead ropes or stumbled during these informal races, but those who fell bounced back up and ran on.

"I love washing Owen," said Will. Will attended last year's Farm Camp, and this year, he told his mom, "I've waited all year for the camp." Owen the calf was born during the 2023 Farm Camp session, and this year, he was one of the few calves left from last summer's calf herd. There aren't many well-behaved calves out there, and many of the 2023 Farm Camp calves were sold as backyard pets to folks in Virginia, California, Ohio, and Florida.

Grand Champion

"These are the best behaved and cleanest calves I've seen," said Ari, who had driven up from Gloucester, Mass., to judge the Calf Show on the last day of camp. "And I'm amazed at how much the children know about their calves. They should all get first place." The show's grand champion was first-time camper and CIT (counselor in training) Gianna Lane with her yearling steer, Corn.

After the formal show on Friday came the costume contest. Charlotte (a camper) dressed Risotto (her calf) as a milk carton and wore a cardboard cookie necklace. Reagan was dressed as Taylor Swift, with her calf Winston in football attire, dressed as Travis Kelce. Will led Owen, in a cap and gown maybe graduating from "cowlege." And Lily dressed Cloud up as wait for it... a cloud!

This was outside judge Ari's field of expertise, so audience applause picked costume winners.

Self-Confidence Building

After the calf show, as everyone was leaving, a mother said, "Don't forget to take your diary."

Her daughter replied with pride, "That's a journal, Mom. We wrote in it every day!" My heart swelled to know that Farm Camp meant so much to this child that she would be proud of what could have been just another school-type task.

Judge Ari said, "Every kid should spend time like this on a farm. Imagine the self-confidence they build learning how to handle a 200-pound calf. There is no substitute for training a reluctant calf."

And despite the dirt, manure, flies, sweat, and tumbles, the kids all wanted to return for more.

Priceless.
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Carole Soule is the co-owner of Miles Smith Farm in Loudon, N.H. She raises and sells beef, pork, lamb, eggs, and other local products. She can be reached at carolesoule60@gmail.com.