THE RANCH:
"A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool."
(Source: Wikipedia)
And for us it is home....
8 O'clock Ranch was named by us as newlyweds.
Iit was our time to have a cup of coffee, eat a midmorning snack and sit down (we wake up very early!) - or at night we would be heading to bed by eight o'clock (if not already there!)We are John and Kassandra Barton, wed in 2001.
We were blessed with our first-born Eathon in 2002, and Cole came along in 2003.Our ranch began with us buying a few sheep from a wonderful 'ole codger' of a neighbor who got us started with our first 12 head.
We loved the graceful Suffolk with black head and white body, so familiar from old movies; those plump sheep walking through dewy pastures.
John grew up in York county, PA.
His family was orginally from deeper south and he has the southerner's quick with and gentleman's manners.
Most days you will find him walking.
He goes through several pair of the toughest and most waterproof boots each year and logs approximatly 6-8 miles a day....
Walking fence, checking animals, patrolling for predators, the list never ends.
At one point we had 300 head of sheep with NO FENCE!
Our livestock fence panels had been ordered, however the flock that we purchased arrived before the fence did!Recently we realized that Will Burkett, (our pork famer) would be unable to continue providing us with pigs. So our newest addition to our ranch is a small herd of pigs and 15 head of Holstein bull calves.
Pigs are so much fun to watch! Naturally playful and very smart, they love when we throw them apples and can be found snuggled together in a row - all lined up.
We realized very early on in our farming life that there was no sense in shipping our animals hundreds if not thousands of miles to a central meat processor.
We put in so many hours of work, and have such care for our animals, that we wanted to make sure they were treated right up to the end.
This ranch has allowed us to become sustainable. If in the years to come our sons wish to take over, there will be a future here for them, unlike so many farms that have fallen to Big Agriculture.
This ranch builds upon human interaction, trust and plenty of hard work!
It also could not be possible without our wonderful customers who I LOVE talking with.
Our customers have many times brightened an otherwise dreary or depressing day with thanks and good wishes. We hope this website will be a way for all of you to "visit" us, share our day and enjoy a good meal.
Chris and Dan Huntley keep themselves very busy!
Dan is a graduate of Cornell University and came back to run his family's dairy farm.
He is the 6th generation to stay in farming in Crary Mills, NY.In 1999 they sold their registered herd of Holstein dairy cows, found work off the farm but then started a new beef herd.
They have grown the herd to over 150 head of Hereford and Belted Galloway. (You can see some of them enjoying a shady spot on a hot day in this picture).Together they operate a bed and breakfast, where you can enjoy the beauty of the foothills of the Adirondacks.
They have many trails through several hundred acres of woodland: you can grab your cross country skis in the winter or a picnic basket in the summer.
Through the winter they also have over around 1200 taps on their sugar maple stand, and make around 100 gallons of Maple syrup every year.
Give them a call (315-386-2336) and visit their wonderful ranch!
Grasse River B Ranch is run with a little different goals than most.
Our drive is to get back to farming before the USDA and goverment told us how to do it "properly", the goal being to farm like you would because you enjoy it - not just the thought of making the most money.Jesse & Krista Barton own a little piece of heaven in Madrid, NY where they can raise their family and livestock.
Two horses, a trusty (if not crazy) guard dog, kittens for the kids, just enough beef to get into trouble and our main herd of goats.Our plan (God willing) is having our milking barn and cheese facility up and to be able to have cheeses to offer everyone by Spring of 2009.
We will be posting photos here of our progress, please check back to see how it is going!
HEN RIVER:
Hen River is the example of a young man's desire to own his own business.
Jarrett started by helping his Dad raise and care for the family's chickens.
Eventually he took over and with the help of his sister, Madelyn, they water, feed, gather eggs, wash and sell there precious ' commodity '.He has set up his own bank account and with the help of his 'bookkeeper' (Mom) is saving to add equipment to his small ranch.
Oh... and by the way, Jarrett just turned 9!
(Picture: loading up logs for Jarrett's new Chicken Palace - shirtless in February!!)
8 o'Clock Ranch • 293 Old Canton Rd • DeKalb Junction • NY 13630
877-755-1360