NEPM: Fletcher Farm
Nicole Schwab speaks with Monte Belmonte. Photo courtesy of NEPM.
Fletcher Farm on Gunn Road in Southampton raises primarily Holstein and Jersey dairy cows for milk that goes to the Agrimark plant in West Springfield, which supplies the Cabot Co-op for butter, cheese and yogurt; Hood milk and ice cream; and Friendly ice cream.
Calves at Fletcher Farm. Photo courtesy of NEPM.
Nicole Schwab is grew up on the farm. “I don’t think I would be a farmer if it wasn’t for Mass. 4H,” she says. Schwab talks about life as a farm kid and how summer agriculture fairs are a way for the public to learn what real farming entails, and maybe even inspire young people to consider farming as a vocation.
Schwab says, “All three of us grew up doing 4H at the time when there were a lot more farm kids growing up on dairies, so we just brought our own calves. Right now, there’s a lot more kids leasing calves. Each county has a 4H club. In the Hampshire 4H Club, there’s a few kids that have been leasing for me for about 7 or 8 years now.”
She continues, “What that entails is they come out, we go through the pens, everyone picks their calves, and
Photo courtesy of NEPM
then we train them how to walk the calf on a halter, give baths, and even haircuts. The expectation is that the students spend a good amount of time with their calves to be able to present them at the fairs…The whole point of those programs for HFA is to get kids interested.”
Schwab concludes, “I feel really strongly, that growing up in Mass 4H was one of the best things I did because it shows you there’s more than daily chores. I feel like talking to the 4H kids and visiting and all the fairs is great for the public. Go out and enjoy it!”
