Who knew a duck could lose his webbed feet to frost and survive quite nicely on the stumps? Yes, Hattie the duck stayed out in the frigid cold and left her webbed feet behind on the ice. But don’t fret for Hattie, she is as happy as a duck with the best of mobility.

Local Kennedy Road farmers the Bolender family, Dennis and Lorraine and their three daughters Anikka, Kelsey and Olivia, are true animal lovers living on their 100 acre property. They have cows to milk and rabbits, ducks, pot-bellied pigs, dogs and cats to share this peaceful spot with.

Recently while I was visiting the farm, Lorraine told me of Belbin the duckling, who was scooped up by a large heron as the girls frantically tried to frighten the predator away. Small prey is a target for this prehistoric-looking bird that is frequently seen in our rural skies looking for its next meal. It was a dose of reality for the startled girls as they watched Belbin fly away.

On a happier note, there is Eggo the duckling, who for the longest time thought he was a human and Lorraine was his mama. It is a fact that ducklings become attached to the first thing they see when born. As Eggo’s little duck eyes opened, he saw Lorraine and he promptly followed her every move until the day he realized he was a duck and the stalking of Lorraine ended.

Not to be left out, the pot-bellied pig Monty made quite a name for himself at Markham Fair, where it was decided that maybe Romeo would be a more fitting name for him. Frisky Monty had the female pigs looking over their shoulders as he sought out romance. He will not be attending the fair again.

Dennis, Lorraine and their daughters have embraced the farming lifestyle and all creatures great and small. Anikka, the eldest, is now at university and is considering becoming a large animal veterinarian.

The girls have farming in their blood and all were members of the 4H Club, whose motto is “Learn to do by doing.” This age-old organization goes back to the basics of life skills and farming and you don’t have to have a farm to get involved. Many of the animals on the Bolender farm are there as a result of 4H projects that the girls participated in over the years and that brought a lot of knowledge and understanding to their young minds.

This practical club not only teaches plowing and the raising of animals but can give you the skills to make a killer loaf of bread. In our busy world of fast food and convenience the 4H Club offers leadership and practical skills that empower the young. A huge and delicious turkey, which was the guest of honour at my Thanksgiving dinner, was raised by Olivia as a 4H project.

Living on a farm in not a prerequisite to joining and local farmers can offer youths living in subdivisions a chance to raise an animal and experience farming life. Contact 4-hontario.ca and get growing and learning.

You may not have a Hattie in your life, but you are guaranteed an interesting time.

Categories: Columns, Ramblin' Ruth
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