hello from redland agricultural district, south florida

[tandosmama]

Hello Everyone,

I joined to find other folks who raise Dexter cattle. We have a tiny 2.3 acre farm in south Florida and want to add a family cow to our holdings. We have a large flock of heritage laying chickens, 5 hair sheep, a market garden, some fruit trees, and a pair of guardian dogs: 1 Boerboel and 1 American Bulldog. And two awesome children who are 7 yr old sister/brother twins. I'm hoping to find some other folks in Florida who raise Dexters.

Tori & Ray Cotta
Pepperweed Farm
Redland Agricultural District, South Florida

[midhilldexters]

Welcome.
Hang around and I'm sure Holly will make contact with you, she's also in Florida.

Carol K

[zephyrhillsusan]

Welcome to the forum!  hollydzie and littlecowfl are both Floridians who have Dexters.  I know that Florida is a particular environment that's different from what a lot of us have, so they would probably be your best sources of information specific to Florida.  As far as the rest, we'll be glad to give you any information we can to help you.  We're all pretty partial to Dexters here. 

[tandosmama]

Thanks for the sweet welcome! I sent pm to hollydzie and littlecowfl. I'm so excited to be here!
Tori

[hollydzie]

Hi Tori, I just sent you a PM with info. on what I have. Glad you found us. Look forward to hearing from you.

Holly Dzielak
Little Heritage Farm
Punta Gorda FL

[zephyrhillsusan]

hollydzie, if you are willing to share some of your info on here publicly, it might be helpful to others who would be searching.    And I'd be interested, just because. 

[hollydzie]

Hey Susan, we had a great calving year. We had 3 heifers and one bull calf. I started to think that Waldo only produced black heifers. But our last calf of the season was a red bull calf. He will be kept for beef and 2 of the heifers will be for sale, as well as 1 of the momma's. I want to keep my herd at 5 girls and 1 bull. So I have had to make some difficult decisions. To me they are all precious.

Holly

[zephyrhillsusan]

Congratulations, Holly! I had to laugh at the photo with the red bull calf--it looks like his mama can't believe she had a bull calf, either! This coming calving season will bring the first calves from your new bull, right? I can imagine it's hard to decide between them.

[hollydzie]

Yes it does look like she is surprised, she is getting a good close look to be sure. We will keep the red bull (steer) calf for beef and I think I am keeping the heifer in the second picture the one with her head down. Her name is Tootie McGregor. I have her full sister from last year and I love her.

When does your calving season start?

Holly

PS this is not about Dexters but do you remember a girl from collage named Marcia Fikkert. I saw a write up in the Alumni about you and your Dexters. She is my daughters tutor. Her married name is Vander Pol small world....

[zephyrhillsusan]

We start in April, then have one in May. I sold the heifer that Royal bred, so we're only expecting two this year. I love your heifer's name!

If I knew you had a connection with Covenant College, I forgot. Yes, I know Marcia Fikkert. What a small world! I thought we needed some Dexters in the Alumni magazine! I figured I was probably the first alum to have their photograph holding a calf in their lap in a pick-up truck!

Tandosmama (sorry, but my tagging won't work), what is a Boerboel?  Never heard of it.

[hollydzie]

Susan, this is what breed of dog she has www.americanboerboelclub.com/about-boerboels/ .
I had no knowledge of your college. But I took Maria to Ms. Marcia's for class one day and she was all excited. She knows that I breed Dexters. So she shows me this picture of the lady with the calf, and I immediately said I KNOW Susan. We had a good laugh. We love Marcia, she has made a world of difference for my daughter. She told me the story about her family staying in Europe with your family. Funny how these little cows bring people together isn't it....


This is who Tootie is named after. The town where I was born and have lived my entire life.
www.gulfreturns.com/2014/05/tootie-mcgregor-left-a-legacy-in-fort-myers.html

Our other little heifer is named Miss Mina, after Thomas Edison's wife, they were friends of the McGregor's and wintered in Ft. Myers. I wonder if these famous people would mind having heifers named after them LOL

[Fran]

Welcome Tandosmama!

Holly - those are some beautiful animals!!!