Full disclosure, I cannot believe I am writing this post.
I was in the middle of feeding calves when a car pulled in the drive. A gentleman stepped out and informed me that cows were on the wrong side of the fence next to the road. Before he finished talking, I could hear a log truck slowing down and another vehicle pulled in to also tell me about the cows being out.
As I went running toward the road, I saw a group of steers walking on the road. I pushed them off the road and went to grab my phone. Like a moth to a flame, they kept going back on the road when I would try to leave to get my phone.
As cars would come up, some would slow down while others wouldn’t. The one thing that really got to me is that people would drive their car through the steers scattering them so they could pass through. One even had the nerve to honk, scaring them thus making my job of herding them off the road even harder.
It was a nightmare. I finally got my phone and contacted a fellow farmer to let him know his steers were out. He showed up to put them back where they belonged.
It happens. Although very rare, our milk cows got out in the middle of the night last week. It was three o’clock in the morning and we were trying to get our cows back to the barn in the dark.
These two incidents got me thinking, maybe people don’t actually know what to do when they see livestock on or near the road.
Between dealing with impatient folks when we are moving tractors/equipment and the occasional mishap with animals thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe we should talk about what folks should (and shouldn’t do) when livestock are out.
So be patient with us and help us out by:
- Stopping by the closest farm to let them know livestock are out. If they are not ours, chances are we know who they belong too.
- Turn on your hazard lights to warn other vehicles.
- Drive slowly around them.
- Please for the love of Pete, do not honk at them.
- Please do not push them down the road or anywhere with your car.
I know you have places to go and people to see but please take a moment to help your neighbor and keep your community safe. A little patience and help could save a life.
Krista Stauffer
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