With a lotta help from our friends….

….we were delayed in sharing the credit for the success of our Open House by computer problems but it turns out Thanksgiving is a particularly appropriate day to thank friends like Ken McDowall.  Ken, the man whose Rotokawa herd put Devon back on the map, is a frequent visitor to Thistle Hill and his breeding and management advice has been invaluable.

The Rotokawa herd, which has endured a lot in its journey from New Zealand, is now safe in the capable care of Henry Hauptman in Massachusetts, a responsibility Henry admits he would not have embraced without Ken’s promise to stay involved.

Ken’s unselfish devotion to the breed puts the rest of us to shame.  His refusal to take shortcuts coupled with a keen eye makes his counsel invaluable.  A visitor recently said Thistle Hill had the best Devon herd in the country….an exaggeration but welcome….but if we’re counted in the top tier it’s because of Ken.

There are other friends and advisers we are thankful for too….Bill Roberts of 12 Stones Grasslands Beef, who knows more about animal nutrition than many better-known “experts”, and Dr. Sue Beal, who, along with Bill, is responsible for the health of our herd.  Visitors always comment on the vitality apparent in our animals, and that’s largely due to the combined knowledge and advice of Ken and Bill and Sue.

Finally, thanks to all the Devon breeders we know who have been so generous of their time and counsel.  All these folks have enriched our lives in the pursuit of better Devon.