What does UpNorth think about Kansas?

francismilker · #1 07/02/07, 04:44 PM

Anyone heard if UpNorth and family are settled in and milking away in Kansas yet? I'm glad to have them a little closer.

Sunraven · #2 07/02/07, 05:55 PM

Didn't know they moved but I've been off the internet a while and slightly out of touch. What part of Kansas did they move to? I really liked the part of Kansas that I visited last month- the Flint Hills are very pretty. I imagine the part of Indiana I live in would look something like that if our hills weren't covered in trees! So did they find a facility with a parlor?

-Nicole

Tango · #3 07/02/07, 06:20 PM

I've been wondering too. It will be one week tomorrow that Mark joined Heather and kids.

Misty · #4 07/02/07, 08:19 PM

I have not heard from them either. I sent an email but haven't gotten a response. I hope it is all going well for them. We will now have to call them "Out East" instead of Up North.

**gone-a-milkin** · #5 07/02/07, 08:21 PM

I have also been thinking of them...hope they are settling in nicely. Quite a lot of work - moving a dairy farm and family.

ksfarmer · #6 07/02/07, 08:35 PM

I hope they aren't flooded. Lots of SE Kansas is a disaster with as much as 18 inches of rain in the last week. I think they may be moving just west of the worse flood area, but Coffeeville, Chanute, all that area is suffering record flood levels.

Gin64 · #7 07/03/07, 04:38 AM

They did get moved and last we talked to them the was getting a lot of rain in their area. The move went well. We decided to go out and help with the setting up of the new dairy. Which was a good thing since poor Mark could not come in with the cattle. Their place is really nice.

francismilker · #8 07/03/07, 08:29 AM

Gin64, that was a great thing you did! I'd like to do the same for them myself. It just seems lately that having a job with a power company during these late floods and storms have prohibited my "Good-Samaritan" notions. Maybe they'll get back on-line with the cows and the computer real soon.

darbyfamily · #9 07/03/07, 11:12 AM

What part of Kansas did they move to? Im in Wichita now, but we're moving south to Ark City area soon and I'd love to meet some other HST folks and learn more hands on about the cows and goats that we hope to get.

I can almost taste the fresh cheese already!

francismilker · #10 07/03/07, 11:23 AM

I think they moved to South Central KS, not too awful far from Wichita but I"m not sure.

KSALguy · #11 07/03/07, 01:13 PM

thats where i am from lol, hence the KS part of my name, i am from South Central Kansas, just an hour west of Wichita in the Kingman/Reno county area, wonderful country, i miss my HomeLand lol

Up North · #12 07/03/07, 02:53 PM

Oh my, we're online again! It's been crazy since we moved. I don't even know what day it is or how long we have actually been down here! All is well though. All 120 head of cattle and 8 pigs made the 867 mile trip well. Had to leave behind a gilt that farrowed 2 days before we left. Had one heifer calf born on the cattle trailer on the way down. She is doing well. We had a great guy hauling our cattle. He payed very close attention to how the cows were placed in the trailer. Special needs or old cows went in their own areas in the pot. He even stopped to make sure the calf born on the trip got some colostrum.

I've gotta thank Gin64 and her hubby who came to help me the first 3 milkings. I'd kiss their feet I am so thankfull for their help.

It was hard work getting the milk cows through the parlor the first couple of times. Mark couldn't be there because he was wrapping things up in WI. We're lucky to have the former owners still living here until August. They have a travel trailer set up in our yard. I'm thankfull for that. They have been helping us with chores and with learning the new milking system. They have been teaching us a lot about the area as well.

All in all, we're glad we're here and it's a beautifull area.

Heather

Up North · #13 07/03/07, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksfarmer

I hope they aren't flooded. Lots of SE Kansas is a disaster with as much as 18 inches of rain in the last week. I think they may be moving just west of the worse flood area, but Coffeeville, Chanute, all that area is suffering record flood levels.

Glad to report that our farm is on high ground! We got anywhere from 9 to 11 inches of rain in a two day period. Pasture yard and lanes are pretty muddy. I was really impressed how well our sod out in the paddocks held up. They didn't start pugging until after 5 inches of rain.

Heather

darbyfamily · #14 07/03/07, 02:57 PM

whereabouts are you, and would you sell a few gallons a week to an individual (ME) rofl....until I can get my own cows? I'd been driving out to Yoder, up near Hutchinson, til recently, but gas is so expensive I'd love to find a place closer to home if I can... and someone said they thought you might be closer

tyusclan · #15 07/03/07, 09:06 PM

Glad to hear that the move went well, and you're settling in. Glad to have you back on here, too.

Keep us posted.

topside1 · #16 07/04/07, 07:44 AM

Great to hear your at your new farm. Whenever you have a free day shoot some photos for us forum folks to enjoy....Welcome home...

Up North · #17 07/04/07, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darbyfamily

whereabouts are you, and would you sell a few gallons a week to an individual (ME) rofl....until I can get my own cows? I'd been driving out to Yoder, up near Hutchinson, til recently, but gas is so expensive I'd love to find a place closer to home if I can... and someone said they thought you might be closer

This subject is my only disappointment of moving down here. Hopefully it will be temporary. I had wanted to start selling milk off the farm but our milk buyer has put it in our contract that they are the only ones who can buy our milk. Looks like they covered the loop holes as well (will have to research more). So for the time being we don't want to rock the boat and will not be selling milk. I do however plan on selling pork, hamburger, poultry products, soap, and whatever other niche I can find, off the farm. Who knows, if I get enough of a customer base I may start selling milk but that would mean I would have to stop selling milk commercially. For the time being we will be sticking with a garanteed milk check.

Heather

Spinner · #18 07/04/07, 09:56 AM

I didn't know we had so many Kansas people here. I grew up in Kansas. It is a beautiful area. Wichita is my old stomping grounds. I still have cousins that live in the area.