As a dairy farmer... this was a fantastic video. The explanation of dealing with having to send them off was perfect and classy. Love the channel Pete!
I quite enjoy the appraoch you guys take with the farm, Its nice to see the animals have a good life for the time they are alive. The food, the open air, the various shelters, and the casual human interaction, all makes it quite clear that you care for them, despite their intended end. Giving them have a carefree and stressless life seems like the best compromise you can make when you enjoy the food they provide, and I do enjoy the food^^. Hopefully people can recognise that.
@@sadjaxx You can never "responsibly" murder sentient beings. It's like the twilight zone in this comment section. Since when does feeding an animal this over that before stealing their life make it moral to steal their life?
As a child, I felt bad getting cattle into the cattle truck. I came to a better understanding when the family sat down to eat the beef that we raised. It was okay to feel bad, and it was okay to enjoy the dinner.
Well stated by a genuine farmer. I grew up in a farming environment in the Midwest and recall the difficulty in explaining your wise principles of the livestock business to my city friends. Most of them also had almost zero understanding of the ultimate origin of their food. All they could see were the packages surrounding the food in a supermarket. Thanks for your comments and videos, Pete. Very entertaining and instructive at the same time. Hope you and your family have a good Christmas and healthy winter.
What you talked about today is why your channel is so important. It is way too easy for those of us who live in cities and shop in supermarkets to forget that when we buy a chicken there was a farmer somewhere who raised it. Thank you Pete for what you do. You matter. Keep reminding us that when caring people work hard and profit from their labor all of us are better off.
Pete , as an aging (old) woman I feel I could shed some livestock light in the world.  My grandparents had cattle, my uncle has cattle, my dad had acres and herds. I remember grandma's dairy cattle that she hand milked. Grandma and Red (dairy cows) came to our place after the auction that moved my grandparents to town. I could name every cow we milked and the bulls also to this day. I remember the big Brahma that was on open range when we pastured them and her yearly calves. She did not have our brand but we named her. Ti was my big steer on open range and if he fallowed me so did the rest of them. Perhaps you can see humor in some 8-year-old being fallowed about by 1000 lb. bottle babies. Your herd fallows you the same. We took them to the stock yards back then. Feeding was 4 am and again at 4pm. Not that much has changed I suppose. I do have an old hen that does not lay any eggs and she is 9. That could be considered a pet, maybe. Hope you enjoy the holidays
That's awesome! I love your story! People always ask me why I name my animals if I'm only going to send them to slaughter and I reply that they deserve to have a good life while they're here! I have 4 dairy goats That I milk every day and I love them! They are like my friends! I have been there during their birth of their babies And they trust me. I am an animal lover however I understand that there is a greater purpose.Just last month we sent 2 of our good steer to slaughter ; they were both bottle calves like you I had to feed them three times a day and then two times a day. I appreciate the great food that we get from them And the healthy sustenance they provide! 😊
Pete I watch your videos all the time, I love your approach to farming and more importantly to life. Thank you for always sharing the more thoughtful aspects of a farm.
Agricultural Truth 101. Thanks, Pete! This will be great to watch with the guys when they're back in school on Monday. They helped with turkey processing this year and it will help them to connect the dots of the why and how we do this. It's taken a year and a half of going slow with them to get them to this point, but one actually got to use a knife when we were parting some out for vacuum packing. I've been told by other teachers that this is astounding stuff, but the best is yet to come I'm thinking. Thank you both for sticking with it and YES, thanks for including Ezra! I am 100% sure they're gonna name who you were looking for before you found him, ha!
Very kind and honest video! I read, in an old farm book from the mid 1800s, that you should "move among your flock as if it is you who are in the way. Never pass through the flock loudly while scattering the chickens. Your reward will be a peaceful flock that lay well.". You have that same peaceful demeanor. Your animals live such good lives. You explained farm life with compassion. I hope your video will help some people understand.
Happy thanksgiving Pete it’s a blessing to have you on this platform, you always bring inspiration and ideas to the table, I am a livestock farmer and you speak for all of us in these types of videos, thank you for that voice.
Pete, you just gave a wonderful and clear explanation of the cycle of life on a livestock farm. The better you take care of your animals the better they will provide for you & your family. It is without a doubt an ongoing and unique partnership.
There is nobody on the earth that cares more for animals than a farmer does, whether you are just milking cows or butchering the animals you raised. There are a lot of people that will never understand this and it’s sad they don’t, but such is life. They will never know what truly giving thanks really means!
Your wise sharing here, Pete, reminds me of a similar lesson I learned on our farm as a child. Dad had to put a little piglet out of its misery when the mother sow had stepped on and broken its back. I asked Dad about bringing out the veterinarian, but my father helped me see a similar wisdom (like yours) that dollar-wise and purpose wise........we couldn't afford the cost of time, dollars and effort to end up with an animal that could not fulfill its "job" of making our farm successful. LOVE your channel, Pete!!! I look forward to EVERY episode!! ;o)
Hi Elliot, we run into the same difficult decision often. Fortunately we only need a vet to look at something once every few years or so. Usually, the problems are with older animals, and we know it's time for them to go rather than racking up vet bills.
plus it's actually a critically necessary skill to be able to dispatch an animal quickly and as humanely as possible because things happen... predator attacks, accidents, you name it... sometimes vets can't come out the same day or they will take hours to get to you. So you have to be prepared to put the animal out of its misery.
It shows how much you care for your animals well being. Like you said, it's difficult to convey to pet owners how livestock is different, especially the longer lived ones that you interact with much more, like the sows and cows. Caring about what goes on the dinner table starts LONG before the trip to the store.
I deeply appreciate your relationship with the animals. They are certainly very well cared for, and well respected. Happy animals are tasty animals. 😊 🐄 🐖 🐓 🦃 🐈
❤Pete, your description of the working farm here is well done. I was raised around animals, butchered and otherwise. I graduated my BA, ‘77 in Tacoma, WA. There were many, many cattle farms and many chickens, pigs and other farm animals. They were all being prepared for butchering. I watched a Charlet butchered, it was a huge meat source for my friend’s family. The night it was butchered my friend cut a roast, which we roasted and since this happened to fall on my birthday he pulled out a 1968 Moldavia burgundy, which was as delicious as the meat. Lastly, no one bothered my friend about his animals. No one bothered anyone about the way one ate. It was thought rude to do so.
I hope you, Hilarie and the Kids had a nice Thanksgiving.. You guys treat your animals well while you have them. You can't do better than that. I already bought my hat and a commuter cup. Happy Holidays
Your such a good farmer. Your animals live wonderful lives. Small operations like yours are sadly becoming fewer and fewer with factory farms taking over. At least here in Canada they are. Alos I find lots of people don't understand that by raising heritage breeds, like Dexter's and your Heritage mixed pigs, you are keeping those breeds alive! That's one of the things I love about your farm is how you use heritage cows and pigs.
That back-and-forth head motion at the Thanksgiving meal, when asked for seconds, really helps lose weight. Those at the Farmers Market thank you for raising this good food, and good meat and help create a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Just experienced the sadness of sending the first pig to the processor. It was donated to church for part of the Thanksgiving dinner. The joy of this was the many comments about how flavorful the pork was. In this way, it helped overcome the sadness with joy. It made me a better farmer and I prayed over him as the truck drove away. It also made me realize the importance of making their lives happy while they’re here. Thanks, Pete.
My wife and I thought this was a great video. You show great care and concern for your animals, far more than a factory farm. They exist to eventually be harvested but you go far beyond most farms to raise them ethically and let them live comfortably. I hope a great number of people who are not as familiar with livestock farming watch your videos, learn about the whole process and respect it, the animal, and the meat they consume. All of us who eat meat without having to raise it and butcher it should be more grateful for the people who did the work, for the sacrifice of the animal and not waste our meat so readily. Thanks for making great videos!
HAppy thanksgiving Pete and Family. As a man who spent time on an Uncles cattle farm, you spelled it out clear. As Ican see you treat your animals with kindness and respect. Good job. Love the channel.
I was a livestock farmer, growing up in Upstate NY. I miss the farm, but, like it or not, I have to live where I currently live (medical reasons). My job is that, for all the animals in my care, that I will give them a high quality of life. I really like your description of how you feel when you send your animals off .
I commend you for the way you 'hang in there' despite the massive production farming that is destroying the small farm industry. I appreciate you and Hillarie for sharing what you do. As for those who are against the practice; they should not eat meat, wear leather, or use leather, not take prescriptions derived from animals, not play football, not wear makeup, or have a dog....and never go to the zoo. We need animals for all of these resources, but they deserve all you give them; a stress-free life. The answer is for EVERY animal to be raised this way. Everyone worldwide should follow your example. Thank you so much for letting me share my view.
Keep on doing what you do best Pete, people who don't understand what live stock farming is about will be the ones that would say you are heartless. Have a great holiday season you and your family.
We processed our pigs this week for the first time and it was hard emotionally because we left them get over a year old and became attached. I agree with your thoughts on the process and appreciate how you are able to communicate it so well! Thanks Pete!!!
Good thing you're an excellent story-teller. Making other people understand your perspective has been the most contentious issue for humanity since Prometheus gave us cognition.
I grew up raising pigs, chickens, and rabbits for the table. My dad was a cow trader, so when the freezer got low, one piece of merchandise wound up taking the ice block challenge. We kept two milk cows, milked twice a day. Before school, and at 6:30 at night. I was the oldest of 4 kids, so I was in charge of feeding and milking. We all learned that the animals were to be treated well and not allowed to be hungry or thirsty. We learned early on that a steak, pork chop, or chicken leg came from an animal, not a grocery store. We also did our own processing. People now are too far removed from the source of their food.
My brother was a very good Wisconsin dairy farmer until he sold his 120-head herd just a few years ago. All of his dairy-farming life, he pushed genetics and feed quality with the help of another brother or ours who was educated in animal husbandry and worked with dairy farmers throughout the State. Every cow in my brother's barn was a good producer or it was gone, and EVERY cow also seemed to be a PET. It was a very contented and relaxed herd. When he sold his herd, he sold all of the cows to a single farmer who also had a reputation for managing his larger herd much like my brother managed his herd. A year after the sale, my brother drove five hours to visit his old herd at their new farm. He said it brought tears of joy to his eyes to see his cows pretty much hanging together and looking very contented in a fresh green pasture.
Very well said, Pete! While I realize not everyone can, or wants to farm. I do feel that we should all have some connection to our food. That lack is, in my opinion, a big part of the problem. Thank you for showing us a window into the day to day. I really relish these types of videos. You've got a way of spinning the story that is both engaging and thoughtful.
GOD gave us dominion over the animals an it's our responsibility to care for them in a humane way !!! You an Hillary do that an more !!! Thank You for teaching us about all aspects of farming!!! GOD BLESS !!!
To be fair you have been the best spokesman for livestock I am aware of. Dad forbade the naming of livestock going to slaughter. Exceptions were dairy cows, the boar, and the sheep ram. I understand that some people don't equat livestock with profitably. Thank you Pete.
I always feel like a part of the "few acres farm" family every time I tune in to watch. Brings back so many great memories as a kid living on a farm with all these same animals.
You and other farmers feed the world. Thank you and God bless you and your family. A farmer's job is hard work, and often hazardous. They deserve our respect and gratitude. You have mine. Stay safe, well and warm. Merry Christmas!
As has been said, There is a time to every purpose. An animal achieves its destiny when its purpose is fulfilled. We, as caretakers, have a duty to provide, as far as possible, humane treatment for the animals under our care, and not deny the animal its purpose and ultimate destiny.
Some of us get it, Pete. Meat doesn't come from the grocery store in a package. This is why we give thanks when we put our knees under the table. We're expressing our thanks for the effort put forth in the raising of our food. We're giving thanks to the Lord for providing everything, including that animal. We're asking the Lord to bless that food to the strength and nourishment of our bodies, and asking Him to help us to represent Him better each day. I just recently purchased 1/2 a steer from a family member who raised it for a couple of years and have about 300 lbs. of wonderful food in my freezer now. I'm thankful for folks like you.
Hi Pete. I don't usually write in comments but this time you gave a master class on ethics, respect and dignity and I really liked that, I even shared it with my students. Thanks.
AFAF,,;PETE HELLO, your videos,reminds me of my childhood years, I spent on anUNCLES DAIRY farm,yes pigs too,chickens/eggs,FLOWERS, were grown,next to the cow shed,AUNTY,,grew flowers to sell, also many ground provions,he used to supply 2Milk cans,& stuff daily to the ST ANNS BAY JA, then off to his PRINTING BUSINESS,with flowers ,+eggs.I WAS the one whom,hand churn BUTTER 1 gall,milk, in those days theat area had no electricity,UNCLE had a,DELCO PLANT,,SO that was low voltage electric,for lighting, it was col there1000feet up, fog in the east daily,until about- 10;00 daily,,it was 19 miles to the bay,they had electricity there,,They all,are gone,last time there was 1972, Great life, HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT THANKS GIVING, GOD BLESS YOU ALL, till next time,🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I’ve never been a farmer, and I have a great appreciation for what you do. It’s an honest and wholesome covenant - to use your word. People should know where their food comes from. Much better from you than factory farming.
Well said. Every animal has a role. Most importantly, while they are alive, you treat them with respect and love. If everyone treated animals like you do, the world would be a better place.
Everyone should turn on the notification bell. I have to do it for all farmers I watch on RUclips. I think when people complain RUclips doesn't push the videos to subscribers home feeds. Amazing job explaining farming Pete, as usual :)
Great video Pete! I can only imagine the comments! I sent this video to my wife (originally from Owego) so she knows the purpose of our livestock that she is sooo attached to. Thanks again 😂 sir
It appears that I was "unsubscribed" by RUclips as well, fixed that issue. It is very apparent that you truly care about the amount your care Pete. Another get video.
About 50 years ago my grandpa got a calf to raise to butcher. We all got so attached to it when he brought the meat home no one could eat it, not even my grandma. So he took all the meat out of the freezer and traded with someone else. We only found out years later that my dear grandpa had drove around the neighborhood with a trunk full of meat and brought it back home. We loved Bucky. Grandpa loved us, a lot.
Pete your methods of running your frm and your humane treatment of alyour animals is awesome. You have such respect or your animals and as I believe that's an important tact to have. Of course on larger scale farming such personal interaction isnt possible but even then with all the care necessary with large scale farming the farmers dedicated themselves to their livestock abundantly too. You havevsome if the most comical farm critters with you and Hilarie....lolol...you are such a joy to have brought into our lives Pete ! God bless you and all of your family 👪
You don’t make „pretty good „ videos, you make excellent videos! They are informative, intelligent and entertaining. Obviously you put a lot of work into them which is probably very time consuming. So thank you😊!
When I was a kid on my dad's farm back in the 1970s. All the farm animals we treated like pets. They were all walk up to you and come to you when you called them. Even though some of them were destined for the dinner table. I really like their chickens I found that you can actually train a chicken to do certain things and be a good pet. Cows and pigs can be very loving pets. They are harder to depart with when it's butcher your time. Your friends here in lockington Ohio keep up the great videos.
Thanks for doing what you do. I know I couldn't do it but I like meat so I am happy to purchase my meat or barter for my meat from local farmers. What I look for is a farm where the animals are raised humanely. Their farmers actually care about them, hurt when they hurt, do what they can to give them a good life. You and Hillary excel! Y'all have kind hearts. Thanks for your videos. Be blessed.
I love your philosophy! I have a ranch also and I agree with you I always give the animals the kindness and respect and care that they deserve while they're on the ranch but they do have a job. All the animals Have a purpose and their purpose in the end is food. Today I slaughtered 6 of my meat chickens and I always say a little prayer and thank you To the Creator for blessing me with this wonderful food.. I am grateful to be able to eat such clean Healthy food. The animal has served its purpose and returns from Where it came. Thank you Pete and Hillary for your wonderful channel! 😊❤🙏
Our farm usually had at least 15 (and more) cats!!! Dad LOVED his kitty cats that kept down the mouse and rat population! He'd say, "Cats work for their keep, so I'm glad to give them all the milk they want to drink. Dogs? They just bark!!" ;o)
I come from a 'farming' family. Both sets of grandparents, aunts and uncles. They were mostly grain from memory but had cows to milk, pigs & some sheep. Chickens for eggs and butcher. So, I understand your concept as a livestock farmer. As I have aged for some reason, I now cringe at the thought of culling due to thinking of personalities and their thinking process. When animals follow us and crave affection, I wonder. I know it may not be rational, but it bothers me. I would not visit a slaughterhouse but have seen some when young, pig & chickens. You are correct in your philosophy and demonstrate humanity. Very enjoyable presentations. Thank-you in your efforts.
totally understand and stand with you. I grew up on a farm too. I love my animals. I have raised goats for dairy and meat, chickens for meat and eggs. It is a rich and rewarding life. Last year I raised my first steer. His name was Sir Loin. He was spoiled rotten and never had a day of stress. I found the only animal welfare certified processor in our area an hour away. I loved him and still do every time I create the best meal I can from his purpose. I never take our animals for granted. Your animals and mine have the BEST life they can have and they live out their purpose. I appreciate you and your wife.
Brill video, As a kid we had a few hens, but dad worked for a lady that kept geese and pigs for the freezer, he was heartbroken when foxes got the geese, then found out they had been butchered and his boss knew he treated everything like pets and didn't want to upset him. When the pigs were butchered, they gave him a huge hind quarter and he couldn't eat Jemima, so my husband and I did. We grew up knowing where whatever we ate came from and taught our kids the same. Enjoy all your output [including tractor repairs] and thank you for your honesty.
I love how you explained it. My grandfather use to raise a few animals to butcher. The animals were well taken care of, we loved them. When it was time for them to go it was a bit hard for a moment but he made us understand that was their purpose. Happy Holidays to you and your wonderful family!
Wow, the people who don't like the way you take care of your animals should see how the meat they buy at the grocery store is raised. If ignorance was truly bliss, this world would be a happier place. Love your videos Pete, Happy Holidays to you, your family and your farm.
I get some people on my channel asking me how can I kill one of our "pets". My response is usually exactly like what you're saying... all of our animals live an amazing life, but they are here for a reason and it's a part of farm life. Most folks just run into the grocery store and spend money on what they want or need without even thinking about how it was raised or grown, it's just magically in the store when they want it. We still try pretty hard to make all our episodes super fun and enjoyable, but every once in a while there are fewer animals. I watch your channel regularly cause to me you have so much to give and for myself I have so much to learn. We have some barn cats (The Claw Crew) and we love them all and they do an amazing job keeping the rodents down. I gotta keep an eye on our rhode islands cause out of 18 hens they're only giving a few eggs everyday, they're all almost 2 years old now and I have to start thinking like you. You say stew chickens and we love stew but we also make fresh dog food for our sheepdogs and they love it. Happy Thanksgiving Pete & Family. Enjoy some good food and good company. Cheers, Chad from up in Ontario, Canada.
A good explanation of the whys and wherefores of raising livestock. I would not make a good farmer in that I would not be able to handle letting go, but I know it is necessary and am thankful that people like you do it. Making the lives of each as calm and cared for as possible is important. So keep up the good work. After all it is really just a part of life. Take care and hope your Christmas and New Years were blessed.
As a dairy farmer... this was a fantastic video. The explanation of dealing with having to send them off was perfect and classy. Love the channel Pete!
I quite enjoy the appraoch you guys take with the farm, Its nice to see the animals have a good life for the time they are alive. The food, the open air, the various shelters, and the casual human interaction, all makes it quite clear that you care for them, despite their intended end. Giving them have a carefree and stressless life seems like the best compromise you can make when you enjoy the food they provide, and I do enjoy the food^^. Hopefully people can recognise that.
@@sadjaxx You can never "responsibly" murder sentient beings. It's like the twilight zone in this comment section. Since when does feeding an animal this over that before stealing their life make it moral to steal their life?
As a child, I felt bad getting cattle into the cattle truck. I came to a better understanding when the family sat down to eat the beef that we raised. It was okay to feel bad, and it was okay to enjoy the dinner.
Well stated by a genuine farmer. I grew up in a farming environment in the Midwest and recall the difficulty in explaining your wise principles of the livestock business to my city friends. Most of them also had almost zero understanding of the ultimate origin of their food. All they could see were the packages surrounding the food in a supermarket. Thanks for your comments and videos, Pete. Very entertaining and instructive at the same time. Hope you and your family have a good Christmas and healthy winter.
It'll be sad to see Patty go. She's the BOSS!!
My favorite moments on this channel are when patty yells at pete.
What you talked about today is why your channel is so important. It is way too easy for those of us who live in cities and shop in supermarkets to forget that when we buy a chicken there was a farmer somewhere who raised it. Thank you Pete for what you do. You matter. Keep reminding us that when caring people work hard and profit from their labor all of us are better off.
Pete , as an aging (old) woman I feel I could shed some livestock light in the world.  My grandparents had cattle, my uncle has cattle, my dad had acres and herds. I remember grandma's dairy cattle that she hand milked. Grandma and Red (dairy cows) came to our place after the auction that moved my grandparents to town. I could name every cow we milked and the bulls also to this day. I remember the big Brahma that was on open range when we pastured them and her yearly calves. She did not have our brand but we named her. Ti was my big steer on open range and if he fallowed me so did the rest of them. Perhaps you can see humor in some 8-year-old being fallowed about by 1000 lb. bottle babies. Your herd fallows you the same. We took them to the stock yards back then. Feeding was 4 am and again at 4pm. Not that much has changed I suppose. I do have an old hen that does not lay any eggs and she is 9. That could be considered a pet, maybe. Hope you enjoy the holidays
That's awesome! I love your story! People always ask me why I name my animals if I'm only going to send them to slaughter and I reply that they deserve to have a good life while they're here! I have 4 dairy goats That I milk every day and I love them! They are like my friends! I have been there during their birth of their babies And they trust me. I am an animal lover however I understand that there is a greater purpose.Just last month we sent 2 of our good steer to slaughter ; they were both bottle calves like you I had to feed them three times a day and then two times a day. I appreciate the great food that we get from them And the healthy sustenance they provide! 😊
Pete I watch your videos all the time, I love your approach to farming and more importantly to life. Thank you for always sharing the more thoughtful aspects of a farm.
Agricultural Truth 101. Thanks, Pete! This will be great to watch with the guys when they're back in school on Monday. They helped with turkey processing this year and it will help them to connect the dots of the why and how we do this. It's taken a year and a half of going slow with them to get them to this point, but one actually got to use a knife when we were parting some out for vacuum packing. I've been told by other teachers that this is astounding stuff, but the best is yet to come I'm thinking. Thank you both for sticking with it and YES, thanks for including Ezra! I am 100% sure they're gonna name who you were looking for before you found him, ha!
A Gentleman Farmer. Healthy live Stock is a loved Live Stock.
Very kind and honest video! I read, in an old farm book from the mid 1800s, that you should "move among your flock as if it is you who are in the way. Never pass through the flock loudly while scattering the chickens. Your reward will be a peaceful flock that lay well.". You have that same peaceful demeanor. Your animals live such good lives. You explained farm life with compassion. I hope your video will help some people understand.
Happy thanksgiving Pete it’s a blessing to have you on this platform, you always bring inspiration and ideas to the table, I am a livestock farmer and you speak for all of us in these types of videos, thank you for that voice.
Pete, you just gave a wonderful and clear explanation of the cycle of life on a livestock farm. The better you take care of your animals the better they will provide for you & your family. It is without a doubt an ongoing and unique partnership.
You and your family doing a great job giving the livestock Farmers a face. Thank you 🙏
There is nobody on the earth that cares more for animals than a farmer does, whether you are just milking cows or butchering the animals you raised. There are a lot of people that will never understand this and it’s sad they don’t, but such is life. They will never know what truly giving thanks really means!
Great video, I have lived long enough to know there are two types of farmers, and you & your family are the best kind. Thank you so much.
Your wise sharing here, Pete, reminds me of a similar lesson I learned on our farm as a child. Dad had to put a little piglet out of its misery when the mother sow had stepped on and broken its back. I asked Dad about bringing out the veterinarian, but my father helped me see a similar wisdom (like yours) that dollar-wise and purpose wise........we couldn't afford the cost of time, dollars and effort to end up with an animal that could not fulfill its "job" of making our farm successful. LOVE your channel, Pete!!! I look forward to EVERY episode!! ;o)
Hi Elliot, we run into the same difficult decision often. Fortunately we only need a vet to look at something once every few years or so. Usually, the problems are with older animals, and we know it's time for them to go rather than racking up vet bills.
plus it's actually a critically necessary skill to be able to dispatch an animal quickly and as humanely as possible because things happen... predator attacks, accidents, you name it... sometimes vets can't come out the same day or they will take hours to get to you. So you have to be prepared to put the animal out of its misery.
It shows how much you care for your animals well being. Like you said, it's difficult to convey to pet owners how livestock is different, especially the longer lived ones that you interact with much more, like the sows and cows. Caring about what goes on the dinner table starts LONG before the trip to the store.
I have nothing but respect for your way of life...Thanks Pete!
Happy thanksgiving everybody! I hope you all enjoy your weekend
Another video hit out of the park. Thank you Pete for these much needed teachings!
I deeply appreciate your relationship with the animals. They are certainly very well cared for, and well respected. Happy animals are tasty animals. 😊 🐄 🐖 🐓 🦃 🐈
Exactly well said! 😊
Pete, you are keeping the Dexter Bread alive without commercial breeders like yourself so many rare breads will die out. Hats off to you sir.
❤Pete, your description of the working farm here is well done. I was raised around animals, butchered and otherwise. I graduated my BA, ‘77 in Tacoma, WA. There were many, many cattle farms and many chickens, pigs and other farm animals. They were all being prepared for butchering. I watched a Charlet butchered, it was a huge meat source for my friend’s family. The night it was butchered my friend cut a roast, which we roasted and since this happened to fall on my birthday he pulled out a 1968 Moldavia burgundy, which was as delicious as the meat. Lastly, no one bothered my friend about his animals. No one bothered anyone about the way one ate. It was thought rude to do so.
"....Each has their purpose under heaven." GREAT JOB! Turn! Turn! Turn! The Byrds
Thanks pete for putting a face to farming and what we do to provide people with real quality food.
I hope you, Hilarie and the Kids had a nice Thanksgiving..
You guys treat your animals well while you have them. You can't do better than that.
I already bought my hat and a commuter cup.
Happy Holidays
Your such a good farmer. Your animals live wonderful lives. Small operations like yours are sadly becoming fewer and fewer with factory farms taking over. At least here in Canada they are. Alos I find lots of people don't understand that by raising heritage breeds, like Dexter's and your Heritage mixed pigs, you are keeping those breeds alive! That's one of the things I love about your farm is how you use heritage cows and pigs.
Don’t feel like you have to explain your livelihood Pete. We love what you do and know you genuinely care!
You make GREAT videos Pete ! We feel out west that you’re the best on you tube !
It looked like Billy was taking notes. Red certainly earned some down time. Have a great weekend everyone.
As a full-time beef producer this was such a great video
That back-and-forth head motion at the Thanksgiving meal, when asked for seconds, really helps lose weight. Those at the Farmers Market thank you for raising this good food, and good meat and help create a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Just experienced the sadness of sending the first pig to the processor. It was donated to church for part of the Thanksgiving dinner. The joy of this was the many comments about how flavorful the pork was. In this way, it helped overcome the sadness with joy. It made me a better farmer and I prayed over him as the truck drove away. It also made me realize the importance of making their lives happy while they’re here. Thanks, Pete.
Glad you explained your cattle business to those who don't have or work on a farm
My wife and I thought this was a great video. You show great care and concern for your animals, far more than a factory farm. They exist to eventually be harvested but you go far beyond most farms to raise them ethically and let them live comfortably. I hope a great number of people who are not as familiar with livestock farming watch your videos, learn about the whole process and respect it, the animal, and the meat they consume. All of us who eat meat without having to raise it and butcher it should be more grateful for the people who did the work, for the sacrifice of the animal and not waste our meat so readily. Thanks for making great videos!
You gave them a good safe comfortable life. No reason to feel bad.
HAppy thanksgiving Pete and Family. As a man who spent time on an Uncles cattle farm, you spelled it out clear. As Ican see you treat your animals with kindness and respect. Good job. Love the channel.
I was a livestock farmer, growing up in Upstate NY. I miss the farm, but, like it or not, I have to live where I currently live (medical reasons). My job is that, for all the animals in my care, that I will give them a high quality of life. I really like your description of how you feel when you send your animals off .
I commend you for the way you 'hang in there' despite the massive production farming that is destroying the small farm industry. I appreciate you and Hillarie for sharing what you do. As for those who are against the practice; they should not eat meat, wear leather, or use leather, not take prescriptions derived from animals, not play football, not wear makeup, or have a dog....and never go to the zoo. We need animals for all of these resources, but they deserve all you give them; a stress-free life. The answer is for EVERY animal to be raised this way. Everyone worldwide should follow your example. Thank you so much for letting me share my view.
Livestock are pets with an expiration date.
Keep on doing what you do best Pete, people who don't understand what live stock farming is about will be the ones that would say you are heartless. Have a great holiday season you and your family.
We processed our pigs this week for the first time and it was hard emotionally because we left them get over a year old and became attached. I agree with your thoughts on the process and appreciate how you are able to communicate it so well! Thanks Pete!!!
"OH, I shouldn't put that finger up"
I love a good chuckle....
Good thing you're an excellent story-teller. Making other people understand your perspective has been the most contentious issue for humanity since Prometheus gave us cognition.
I grew up raising pigs, chickens, and rabbits for the table. My dad was a cow trader, so when the freezer got low, one piece of merchandise wound up taking the ice block challenge. We kept two milk cows, milked twice a day. Before school, and at 6:30 at night. I was the oldest of 4 kids, so I was in charge of feeding and milking. We all learned that the animals were to be treated well and not allowed to be hungry or thirsty. We learned early on that a steak, pork chop, or chicken leg came from an animal, not a grocery store. We also did our own processing. People now are too far removed from the source of their food.
It looked like Ezra might have an injury on the side of his head, but I'm sure you're already aware of it. Thanks for another great video, Pete!
Side note... Judy Collins &Pete Seeger sang that song the best. Look at this,two GREAT JOB! On the same day.
My brother was a very good Wisconsin dairy farmer until he sold his 120-head herd just a few years ago. All of his dairy-farming life, he pushed genetics and feed quality with the help of another brother or ours who was educated in animal husbandry and worked with dairy farmers throughout the State. Every cow in my brother's barn was a good producer or it was gone, and EVERY cow also seemed to be a PET. It was a very contented and relaxed herd. When he sold his herd, he sold all of the cows to a single farmer who also had a reputation for managing his larger herd much like my brother managed his herd. A year after the sale, my brother drove five hours to visit his old herd at their new farm. He said it brought tears of joy to his eyes to see his cows pretty much hanging together and looking very contented in a fresh green pasture.
Very well said, Pete! While I realize not everyone can, or wants to farm. I do feel that we should all have some connection to our food. That lack is, in my opinion, a big part of the problem. Thank you for showing us a window into the day to day. I really relish these types of videos. You've got a way of spinning the story that is both engaging and thoughtful.
Thanks Pete for allowing us to see the production of the farm 😊
GOD gave us dominion over the animals an it's our responsibility to care for them in a humane way !!! You an Hillary do that an more !!! Thank You for teaching us about all aspects of farming!!! GOD BLESS !!!
Love your explanation to the people who don't understand the purpose of livestock farming.
To be fair you have been the best spokesman for livestock I am aware of.
Dad forbade the naming of livestock going to slaughter.
Exceptions were dairy cows, the boar, and the sheep ram.
I understand that some people don't equat livestock with profitably.
Thank you Pete.
I am so glad you recorded these videos for future generations. Much love; god bless
I always feel like a part of the "few acres farm" family every time I tune in to watch. Brings back so many great memories as a kid living on a farm with all these same animals.
I felt the same way and Pete really helped me make the jump to get started!
@@hiddenvalleyfarmstead and also, I find animals will always remain loyal to you, cant say that about people.
Thanks, Peter for your video. Love seeing the cows, pigs, chickens and your #1 turkey, Benjamin. Enjoy your day. Be well.🥰🦃
You and other farmers feed the world. Thank you and God bless you and your family. A farmer's job is hard work, and often hazardous. They deserve our respect and gratitude. You have mine. Stay safe, well and warm. Merry Christmas!
As has been said, There is a time to every purpose. An animal achieves its destiny when its purpose is fulfilled. We, as caretakers, have a duty to provide, as far as possible, humane treatment for the animals under our care, and not deny the animal its purpose and ultimate destiny.
Can't wait to see what's next!
Keep Smilin!!!!
Some of us get it, Pete. Meat doesn't come from the grocery store in a package. This is why we give thanks when we put our knees under the table. We're expressing our thanks for the effort put forth in the raising of our food. We're giving thanks to the Lord for providing everything, including that animal. We're asking the Lord to bless that food to the strength and nourishment of our bodies, and asking Him to help us to represent Him better each day.
I just recently purchased 1/2 a steer from a family member who raised it for a couple of years and have about 300 lbs. of wonderful food in my freezer now. I'm thankful for folks like you.
Hi Pete. I don't usually write in comments but this time you gave a master class on ethics, respect and dignity and I really liked that, I even shared it with my students. Thanks.
Thanks Nick!
AFAF,,;PETE HELLO, your videos,reminds me of my childhood years, I spent on anUNCLES DAIRY farm,yes pigs too,chickens/eggs,FLOWERS, were grown,next to the cow shed,AUNTY,,grew flowers to sell, also many ground provions,he used to supply 2Milk cans,& stuff daily to the ST ANNS BAY JA, then off to his PRINTING BUSINESS,with flowers ,+eggs.I WAS the one whom,hand churn BUTTER 1 gall,milk, in those days theat area had no electricity,UNCLE had a,DELCO PLANT,,SO that was low voltage electric,for lighting, it was col there1000feet up, fog in the east daily,until about- 10;00 daily,,it was 19 miles to the bay,they had electricity there,,They all,are gone,last time there was 1972, Great life, HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT THANKS GIVING,
GOD BLESS YOU ALL, till next time,🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Well said. We love our animals and take care of them all the way to the time they go.
I Respect what you and Hillary do Pete! God bless you both!
I’ve never been a farmer, and I have a great appreciation for what you do. It’s an honest and wholesome covenant - to use your word. People should know where their food comes from. Much better from you than factory farming.
Thanks Pete. A great video for children too
I love seeing Ezra being around.
Well said. Every animal has a role. Most importantly, while they are alive, you treat them with respect and love. If everyone treated animals like you do, the world would be a better place.
Love the compassion you have. I especially love Ezra! Wish he had a friend because cats do better with one. Your videos are great!
We are thankful for ours Farmers
Everyone should turn on the notification bell. I have to do it for all farmers I watch on RUclips. I think when people complain RUclips doesn't push the videos to subscribers home feeds. Amazing job explaining farming Pete, as usual :)
Talking about the old hens reminds me of the old WB cartoons of the old hen not being able to lay eggs anymore and the other hens making fun of her.
Great video Pete! I can only imagine the comments! I sent this video to my wife (originally from Owego) so she knows the purpose of our livestock that she is sooo attached to. Thanks again 😂 sir
It appears that I was "unsubscribed" by RUclips as well, fixed that issue. It is very apparent that you truly care about the amount your care Pete. Another get video.
Much respect to you and all other farmers trying to do what you do. Great video Pete...
About 50 years ago my grandpa got a calf to raise to butcher. We all got so attached to it when he brought the meat home no one could eat it, not even my grandma. So he took all the meat out of the freezer and traded with someone else. We only found out years later that my dear grandpa had drove around the neighborhood with a trunk full of meat and brought it back home. We loved Bucky. Grandpa loved us, a lot.
Pete your methods of running your frm and your humane treatment of alyour animals is awesome. You have such respect or your animals and as I believe that's an important tact to have. Of course on larger scale farming such personal interaction isnt possible but even then with all the care necessary with large scale farming the farmers dedicated themselves to their livestock abundantly too. You havevsome if the most comical farm critters with you and Hilarie....lolol...you are such a joy to have brought into our lives Pete ! God bless you and all of your family 👪
You don’t make „pretty good „ videos, you make excellent videos! They are informative, intelligent and entertaining. Obviously you put a lot of work into them which is probably very time consuming. So thank you😊!
When I was a kid on my dad's farm back in the 1970s. All the farm animals we treated like pets. They were all walk up to you and come to you when you called them. Even though some of them were destined for the dinner table. I really like their chickens I found that you can actually train a chicken to do certain things and be a good pet. Cows and pigs can be very loving pets. They are harder to depart with when it's butcher your time. Your friends here in lockington Ohio keep up the great videos.
Thank You Pete, you and Hilary are doing it right, love your organic farm💜
Thanks for doing what you do. I know I couldn't do it but I like meat so I am happy to purchase my meat or barter for my meat from local farmers. What I look for is a farm where the animals are raised humanely. Their farmers actually care about them, hurt when they hurt, do what they can to give them a good life. You and Hillary excel! Y'all have kind hearts. Thanks for your videos. Be blessed.
I love your philosophy! I have a ranch also and I agree with you I always give the animals the kindness and respect and care that they deserve while they're on the ranch but they do have a job. All the animals Have a purpose and their purpose in the end is food. Today I slaughtered 6 of my meat chickens and I always say a little prayer and thank you To the Creator for blessing me with this wonderful food.. I am grateful to be able to eat such clean Healthy food. The animal has served its purpose and returns from Where it came. Thank you Pete and Hillary for your wonderful channel! 😊❤🙏
You really bring not just a human face, but a very good example of a great human to the public. Keep it up, Pete!
Animals are so easy to get attached to when you are with them twice day ..... Thank you for sharing Pete you have AWESOME videos
Our farm usually had at least 15 (and more) cats!!! Dad LOVED his kitty cats that kept down the mouse and rat population! He'd say, "Cats work for their keep, so I'm glad to give them all the milk they want to drink. Dogs? They just bark!!" ;o)
I come from a 'farming' family. Both sets of grandparents, aunts and uncles. They were mostly grain from memory but had cows to milk, pigs & some sheep. Chickens for eggs and butcher. So, I understand your concept as a livestock farmer. As I have aged for some reason, I now cringe at the thought of culling due to thinking of personalities and their thinking process. When animals follow us and crave affection, I wonder. I know it may not be rational, but it bothers me. I would not visit a slaughterhouse but have seen some when young, pig & chickens. You are correct in your philosophy and demonstrate humanity. Very enjoyable presentations. Thank-you in your efforts.
I love Ezra, he seems like such a good cat.
being raised on a family farm with cows, pigs and chickens you hit the nail right square on the head, keep up the fantastic videos
I've noticed that the older I get the harder it is. When I was 50 I never gave it a thought but now at 70 it's a lot different.
totally understand and stand with you. I grew up on a farm too. I love my animals. I have raised goats for dairy and meat, chickens for meat and eggs. It is a rich and rewarding life. Last year I raised my first steer. His name was Sir Loin. He was spoiled rotten and never had a day of stress. I found the only animal welfare certified processor in our area an hour away. I loved him and still do every time I create the best meal I can from his purpose. I never take our animals for granted. Your animals and mine have the BEST life they can have and they live out their purpose. I appreciate you and your wife.
Brill video, As a kid we had a few hens, but dad worked for a lady that kept geese and pigs for the freezer, he was heartbroken when foxes got the geese, then found out they had been butchered and his boss knew he treated everything like pets and didn't want to upset him. When the pigs were butchered, they gave him a huge hind quarter and he couldn't eat Jemima, so my husband and I did. We grew up knowing where whatever we ate came from and taught our kids the same. Enjoy all your output [including tractor repairs] and thank you for your honesty.
I love how you explained it. My grandfather use to raise a few animals to butcher. The animals were well taken care of, we loved them. When it was time for them to go it was a bit hard for a moment but he made us understand that was their purpose. Happy Holidays to you and your wonderful family!
Wow, the people who don't like the way you take care of your animals should see how the meat they buy at the grocery store is raised. If ignorance was truly bliss, this world would be a happier place. Love your videos Pete, Happy Holidays to you, your family and your farm.
You said it so well - these animals wouldn’t exist if it were not for the purposes you mentioned.
Thank goodness for what you do!
Your animals live a great life in natural surroundings. They literally have just one bad day, and that’s more than can be said for most people.
Such a stark difference between the pen when you put them in and what it looks like now!
Love your Videos Pete! Love from Germany!🇩🇪
I get some people on my channel asking me how can I kill one of our "pets". My response is usually exactly like what you're saying... all of our animals live an amazing life, but they are here for a reason and it's a part of farm life. Most folks just run into the grocery store and spend money on what they want or need without even thinking about how it was raised or grown, it's just magically in the store when they want it. We still try pretty hard to make all our episodes super fun and enjoyable, but every once in a while there are fewer animals. I watch your channel regularly cause to me you have so much to give and for myself I have so much to learn. We have some barn cats (The Claw Crew) and we love them all and they do an amazing job keeping the rodents down. I gotta keep an eye on our rhode islands cause out of 18 hens they're only giving a few eggs everyday, they're all almost 2 years old now and I have to start thinking like you. You say stew chickens and we love stew but we also make fresh dog food for our sheepdogs and they love it. Happy Thanksgiving Pete & Family. Enjoy some good food and good company. Cheers, Chad from up in Ontario, Canada.
A good explanation of the whys and wherefores of raising livestock. I would not make a good farmer in that I would not be able to handle letting go, but I know it is necessary and am thankful that people like you do it. Making the lives of each as calm and cared for as possible is important. So keep up the good work. After all it is really just a part of life. Take care and hope your Christmas and New Years were blessed.
Delicious pets, that is how I see them.