The Horans: Beef Farming in Vermont Dave Horan is a full-time farmer and active member of the Vermont Beef Producers and the New England Hereford Association. He serves on both boards and has been President of NEHA since August, 2005. Dave is also a long-time member of the American Hereford Association. Jody Horan is an 8th grade English teacher at the Richmond Middle School in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a part-time farmer, especially in the summer. Dave and Jody have been married for almost thirty-four years and have four grown children. Northeast Corner Farm is located right on the Connecticut River which separates Vermont and New Hampshire, seven miles upriver from the Ledyard Bridge which links Hanover and Norwich as well as the two states. We began raising sheep and a few beef cattle in 1974 on a much smaller farm in West Windsor, Vermont. We had no background in farming and had much to learn about the land, machines, and animals. We sold hay and freezer beef locally, learned to build good fences (and be a good neighbor), to plow and to seed, and to strengthen the land and expand our herd and flock. We were drawn to polled Herefords for their temperament and natural compatibility with our climate and available grasses, and we bought our first registered animal in 1984: a wonderful brood cow who lived to be sixteen. From that simple beginning, we made a long-range commitment to build an all registered cow-calf operation, annually improving bloodlines through carefully selected sires in order to produce high quality heifers and a few exceptional young bulls. In 1987, we bought our current 200-acre farm in Norwich, Vermont, and by 1994, our herd was fully registered. We converted an old dairy barn to house our cows so they could calve in January and February. With protection from our harsh winters, the calves could nurse for three or four months before taking full advantage of the flush of spring pasture along with their mothers. Our calves routinely reach a weaning weight in the fall of 650-750 pounds. Small beef farmers always have trouble selling well unless they are highly successful in the business of showing animals and are able to travel around the country with their animals. We took advantage of artificial insemination to build the quality of our animals, but had to search hard to find good markets for them. We joined forces with other members of the Vermont Beef Producers and the New England Hereford Association which made us all more successful. In recent years, there have been increasingly successful sales in the fall and spring with consignments from many members. To support the associations which help all farmers in our area, we try to select prime animals for these sales. We have 40-50 calves each year. About half our heifers and cows artificially, with careful attention to raising EPD's and strengthening our stock; the rest are turned out with our select herd bulls. We do not have the time, money, or temperament to show our cattle; nor do we flush or transplant. But we do believe that we produce some of the best calves in the area. We handle our calves while they are in the barn, so they also make exceptional 4-H animals for young farmers or ranchers, and calm temperament is a goal as well as high numbers. Please visit during any season - through this site and on the farm. Vermont Beef Producers New England Hereford Association American Hereford Association