When I was a senior in high school, I specifically remember this conversation with my friends, Julia, Samantha & Emily around Julia’s pool and we were talking about life 10 years down the road.  I specifically remember them saying,

“Lindsay you will TOTALLY be that girls with 12 kids on a farm & long hippie hair and animals…” and I remember thinking…I would totally be okay with that.  I wasn’t sure when and how that was going to happen because I was working in a pizza joint, living at home in suburbia, while the boy I liked was just starting his senior year of high school and was planning on being an engineer.

Well, dreams really do come true!  Um…minus the 12 kids.  That would have just been crazy!  I was thinking about it the other day about how and where we got and acquired what we have.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be a pig owner.  Never.  And, I PROMISE I couldn’t have predicted owning a livestock feed store and the time.  Pinky promise! Someone could have made LOTS of $$ on that bet.

THE COWS

Wineinger Farms started with cattle.  And if we need to get technical, we are talking about two different Wineinger Farms here; there’s the OFFICIAL Wineinger Farms which is Pam & Steve Wineinger and then there’s the Weeney Wineinger Farms which is Nathan and me.  Nathan and I have had heffers off and on… Remember Ginger?…but currently they are all owned in the BIG Wineinger Farms.  We have about 30 in a feed lot where they get nice and fat.

Most, if not all of them, are Angus.  Funny story…well, two actually…Karen & Grandpa Steve often take the girls out there to see them and say hello.  The ladies have grown accustomed to them and like to lick their fingers.  Tessa LOVES it and Ruthie’s not a fan…shocker.  When the time comes, we sell them out as quarters and take them to the locker and they just magically disappear.  When we can’t sell them that way, one of the boys drives them to Tyson up north and Ruthie has come up with her own story, “Daddy drove the cows to Mr. Tyson’s house and then next week he will send us a check.”  We just go with it.  Another time & day for that discussion, because, trust me, there will be LOTS of opportunities!  The other 20ish are bred cows that we keep at Uncle Bubba’s (Josh’s) house.  Some are pregnant, and others just had their calves this summer.  Do you remember Clara Belle?

Well, she definitely isn’t this small anymore and she ended up going back to her momma and feeding, but for a while you could randomly hear her bellowing for a bottle.  She got kind of needy.  Unfortunately for Clara Belle’s demise she is a female from a set of twins that was mixed genders so that means that she is what’s called a “Free Martin” and she’s sterile.  Since we can’t breed her for another baby calf, when she get’s big enough, it’s off to the feed lot she goes.  The cattle biz as a whole at the Wineinger Farms is fun to watch and experience…slightly smelly in the spring but fun.

THE PIGS

I may have talked about these once or twice, but don’t remember.  Pigs were always something Nathan wanted to dabble in once we had the store.  We work with a local pig farm and they often have rejects.  So, lucky us, we got surprised with these two lovely gents.

The skinny one is Oscar (Meyer) & the chubby one there in front is Slim (Jim).  Mind you, this was the picture that we took when we got them in the summer.  Brandon took this picture for me on Friday.

They are about 115 lbs heavier.  CRAZY!  I’ll work on getting a brighter picture…They have been pretty fun to watch.  Tessa loves going and helping feed them.  I honestly don’t know about their time table, but NOW we can say we know a thing or two about pigs.

THE CHICKENS

These lovely ladies are my happy place.  I have had chickens for the past 6 years on an off.  The 4 that I have at the house now are GREAT but getting old.  They may keep laying for another 6 months or so and then the numbers will dwindle and I will sell them.  THEN, because of a slightly ordering fiasco turned fun adventure, Nathan and I own 40 more hens that we house at Pam & Steve’s.  Nathan’s grandfather takes care of them for something to do in return for free eggs.  We provide the feed (obviously), and in return he gets breakfast every morning…well, starting around Christmas once they start laying eggs.

This is where Esther lives now!  I went to see her today.  She still remembers me.  It’s so endearing.  I think I’d like to move her to our house soon.  She’s my boo.

So there you have our Wineinger Farm update.  I am still anxious for goats.  I REALLY would like one.  And of course, Forrest is still patrolling the store (she lives there now), and Charlotte & Mona are my two mousers at home.  Ruthie claims Char & Tessa claims Mona.  And good ‘ol Moose, our steadfast companion.  Guarding us all from rabbits, birds, and other wild things.

My farm is so lovely, and as a sinner that I am, I’m ready for the next step where we can build on some land and make room for horses & goats, I was so humbled when God reminded me this week that He listened carefully and make my dreams come true.
*Thank you, Jesus.*

What animals would you have on your farm?  Of course comment with questions…or if you’re interested in purchasing ANYTHING…eggs, chicken (alive/butchered), beef, pork, pigs, ANYTHING.

PS I’m actually at a Chicken Conference in St. Louis learning ALL about chickens right now, so be prepared for some CRAZY chicken lady posts.  Maybe tomorrow!  I’m in a hotel room with free wifi & no children! WHAT??