| GRANDMA'S DEXTER FARM |
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| The Grandma's Dexter Farm Story |
Grandma's Dexter Farm is located in Toddville Iowa near Cedar Rapids.
Grandma's Dexter Farm was started by Ferne Rawson and Dan
Butterfield and it has been a wild ride. It was a fluke how we got
started. One day we were watching RFD-TV and "The Cattle Show"
came on. There was Maureen McCready talking about these great little
dexter cows. Grandma was still recovering from a hospital visit and
was not allowed to travel. She said when she was able to travel we
were going to go and buy some dexters!
I used this as a tool for her recovery and a reason to get well soon and
get out of bed each day, within 2 months we had done research, and
she was cleared to travel. I setup an appointment to visit a local farm
and after a very long day trip, we ended up with a herd of 4 wonderful
dexters that were hers.
After a very short time, both of us were fascinated by Dexter Cattle, so
about 2 weeks later we added another one, 3 more weeks we added 2
more. We started having calves and buying more. Then in the spring
2005, I added my first Dexter to the herd.
On August 25th, 2006, Grandma "Ferne" passed away. While only in
Dexters for a couple years, Grandma absolutely loved when interested
people came by to check out Dexters for the first time. She loved
showing off her Dexters. Her hope was to impact new people to instill
"The Dexter Bug" in them. As of her last day with Dexters the herd had
grown to 63.
The Dexter herd, while lower in numbers, than when she passed away,
remains intact, and will continue to flourish, working with some of the
best genetics to move forward in the future.
One thing Grandma loved more than anything was talking to Dexter
owners and visitors alike that stopped by for a visit. She really touched
a number of local breeders lives. She enjoyed this breed so much, it is
almost a tragedy we didn't find out about this breed sooner, so she
could have enjoyed them even longer. That is one of the goals of our
farm is to get the word about these great cattle out to the public.
Please email or call to set up an appointment to visit the farm. We love
to have visitors!
- Dan Butterfield
Grandma's Dexter Farm was started by Ferne Rawson and Dan
Butterfield and it has been a wild ride. It was a fluke how we got
started. One day we were watching RFD-TV and "The Cattle Show"
came on. There was Maureen McCready talking about these great little
dexter cows. Grandma was still recovering from a hospital visit and
was not allowed to travel. She said when she was able to travel we
were going to go and buy some dexters!
I used this as a tool for her recovery and a reason to get well soon and
get out of bed each day, within 2 months we had done research, and
she was cleared to travel. I setup an appointment to visit a local farm
and after a very long day trip, we ended up with a herd of 4 wonderful
dexters that were hers.
After a very short time, both of us were fascinated by Dexter Cattle, so
about 2 weeks later we added another one, 3 more weeks we added 2
more. We started having calves and buying more. Then in the spring
2005, I added my first Dexter to the herd.
On August 25th, 2006, Grandma "Ferne" passed away. While only in
Dexters for a couple years, Grandma absolutely loved when interested
people came by to check out Dexters for the first time. She loved
showing off her Dexters. Her hope was to impact new people to instill
"The Dexter Bug" in them. As of her last day with Dexters the herd had
grown to 63.
The Dexter herd, while lower in numbers, than when she passed away,
remains intact, and will continue to flourish, working with some of the
best genetics to move forward in the future.
One thing Grandma loved more than anything was talking to Dexter
owners and visitors alike that stopped by for a visit. She really touched
a number of local breeders lives. She enjoyed this breed so much, it is
almost a tragedy we didn't find out about this breed sooner, so she
could have enjoyed them even longer. That is one of the goals of our
farm is to get the word about these great cattle out to the public.
Please email or call to set up an appointment to visit the farm. We love
to have visitors!
- Dan Butterfield