This is NOT your typical road trip. But, will be a brief look at a 20-minute period of time that happened on the farm around noontime last Wednesday!

We were working around the plant so we were very close to our home. Beth had already went back to our house and I was out back talking to the contractors just before they broke for lunch.

I had started walking to the house to join Beth for lunch...when my phone rang. Time 11:42. Hello, this is Ben. The male voice on the other end said, "I'm on Memorial Church Road and there are a lot of cows out over here and you are the only one I thought they might belong to."

The urgent factor went sky high! There were all kinds of thoughts going through my head like which way are they going.... How many are out? 

11:43 I called Beth and said lets go - we have cows out on Memorial Church Road. We jumped on the RTV and headed east on McKenzie Road not really knowing what we might find.

As we approached our eastern property line we could see cows in our neighbors yard (2 on the map). More about this in a few minutes.

By the time we arrived at the intersection of Memorial Church Road (MCR) the herd was well on there way south (3 on the map).

Not a minute to spare I dropped Beth off at #4 and said your job is to turn them up McKenzie Road!!! If they continue past McKenzie Road then we have BIG troubles because less than a quarter mile is the Old River Road and a lot of traffic.

Did I mention we had prayer!

I then turned the RTV around headed back towards home and started calling them.

The herd is very familiar with the RTV because that is what I use to feed them their hay. And, they know my voice call. IF we could just get the first few to turn up McKenzie Road then the others will most likely follow.

As I headed back toward home I turned around to see how many were following me. Not only were they following, but many had started running to catch up with me. And many were starting to pass around me.

Before long the whole herd was headed in the right direction... all 120+ were strung out along the road a good half mile long. 

By now, it was time for me to take the lead back and see that the gate was open for them to go into. So, I sped up and eventually got around the lead steers. I parked the RTV to help "turn" them, unlocked the gate (#5 on the map) and opened it into the road to act as a barrier and help turn them.

Now, this pasture is across the road from our home and was the first pasture planted last fall before it turned off very dry. So, the grass was very lush.

All we needed now was for traffic to hold off (did not need any impatient drivers) and to direct the lead steers into the lush pasture and the rest would follow.

And, that is what happened. By the time a few stragglers arrived and the gate was closed the time was 12:05. All safe and sound.

Did they stay together/ Do we have all of them back?

But, that is not the end of the story. 

At 12:07 another neighbor called to tell me he just received pictures from his trail camera (time 11:24) of my cows around his deer feeder. The feeder was located close to the red X which is where they broke out. Using this information I was able to draw the red line that should be very close to their path taken before arriving in my neighbors yard.

About 2:30 Beth happened to look out the kitchen window and coming up McKenzie Road were three more steers!!!

This time she called me. "We have more yearling come up the road". Within minutes we were out at the gate to greet them. Opened the gate and let them in.

So, their trip started from the pasture marked with the #1. They exited at the red X. Visited the neighbors deer feeder and had their picture taken. Then continued to another neighbors yard. Exited onto MCR where we meet them at the #3. Thankfully, was able to turn them up McKenzie Road at #4. All the while they walked down the middle of the road back home.

Oh, the neighbors yard... at 5:11 the neighbors son texted me. Seems his momma had an interesting day. She had tried to call him 3 times to get my number. She started to open the gate to their pasture and put them there. However, she called the Perry County Sherriff instead so they could get in touch we me. He said she has laughed about this all day. "She don't get much excitement." HaHa By the way, I gave her your number for future reference.

Just another day here on the farm....

At Nature's Gourmet Farm, our intent is to create a community that will evolve around one of the most intrinsically important things of the ages, and that’s the provision of sustenance. That's our passion - to raise healthy food to nourish families and strengthen immune systems.

** Product Availability Update **

Chicken - Restocked Wednesday, February 14th. Next harvest date is Feb 28th with restock the following day. Processing will continue for twice per month for the balance of the year.

Eggs - Eggs have improved drastically and you will see the difference in availability. Please note that eggs will be added to our website the Wednesday PRIOR top your delivery date by 6pm. We are so glad to FINALLY be able to meet our customers needs. 

Beef - Our processor had issues early in the week that delayed our beef. However, we restocked late on Feb 25th. Organ burger & bacon burger will be made this morning (Feb 25th) and restocked. Beef bacon will follow a week later.

Pork - Restock fresh pork cuts Monday, February 20th. Smoked bacon restocked Feb 23rd. Hams will be added Saturday, Feb 25th after we package them.

Lamb - Last restock was Friday Nov 25th. Had a call Friday about buying lamb and will follow up next week to see if we can make a deal. Hope to have fresh lamb by late March