Stewards of the Heartland

Chow Time!

Feeding time at Wood Farms

Kent joined John in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the week of January 8, 2017, to photograph at Wood Farms. Farm work included photographing farm staff feeding the cattle and preparing bedding for the cows, steers and calves on a cold winter day at Wood Farms.

The images below testify to the hardiness of farmers who must work in all conditions, including bitter cold, snow, ice, mud, and you name it.

Wood Farms Organic Hay

Bales of Wood Farms organic hay awaiting feeding time.

Farm chores list

The farm chores list

Feed mixer to mix hay with corn stalks

Preparing the feed mixer to mix hay with corn stalks

Feeding time. Feed mixer depositing hay and corn stalks into the feed trough.

Feeding time. Feed mixer depositing hay and corn stalks into the feed trough.

Cathy checking the feed mix in the feeding trough.

Cathy checking the feed mix in the feeding trough.

Chow Time!

Cows and their calves dive into the feed trough for their winter day's dinner.

Angus cattle feeding.

Rearview of dining room.

Cathy Bartz directs the cattle to the feeding trough.

Cathy directing the cattle to feeding time at the trough.

Cattle bedding brought in.

Dom Snyder brings corn stalk bedding for the cattle.

Cathy watches as Dom breaks up a corn stalk bale for the cattle to use as bedding.

Cathy looks on as Dom breaks up the corn stalk bale and spreads it for the cattle waiting nearby.

The Angus cattle settle into their fresh corn stalk bedding.

The Angus cattle settle into their fresh corn stalk bedding.

Cathy closes the gate to the pasture after gathering bale wrapping.

Cathy closes the gate to the pasture after gathering bale wrapping.

The glamor of winter farming.

The glamor of winter farming.

After receiving a delivering of cattle feed from Ernie, Kristen Wood uses his back to write him a check.

After receiving a delivery of cattle feed from Ernie, Kristen Wood uses his back to write him a check.