Friday, May 29, 2009

YAK TRACKS: Welcoming Yaks to our first Bed and Breakfast...

Thanks to Mike and Sandra at the Yellow Farmhouse Inn in downtown Waitsfield for making some pasture available for four of our yaks.

This "yakberry" video indicates much joy in good grass, despite the rain...

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

YAK TRACKS: Yakking About New Yaks!

Big news down on Steadfast Farm!

Vermont Yak Company would like to welcome fourteen new yaks - 11 steers and 3 1-year-old heifers - to the herd.

Watching the veterans greet the newbies (and listening in) proved the most fun.

Jet Black, as always, remained unfazed.

Take a look on the "Yakberry":

Thursday, May 21, 2009

YAK TRACKS: Bottle Feeding "Nox" the Yak ("Yaklet")

I always enjoy arriving at the farm and seeing this sign on the front door.

"New Baby Inside."



Let the bottle feeding begin!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

YAK TRACKS: "It's A Good Day To Be A Yak."

I spent an hour plus walking the land yesterday and introducing the yaks to a wonderful gentleman from New York named Bill - a retired farmer of Scottish Highlanders thinking of getting into yaks.

He wrote about his visit at his own blog - read and see the photos here.

Couldn't ask for a more beautiful day to be a yak - here's a quick glimpse...

Monday, May 18, 2009

YAK TRACKS: Milking Yaks In Asia (Wonderful video!)

We don't milk our yaks here at Vermont Yak Company, but this is a wonderful interview with a herder/milker in Asia.

YAK TRACKS: Yakking About The "Yak-Lets" (Yak Calves)

"Y Tube" ---- > YAK VIDEOS...







Spring down on the yak farm is a wonderful time - the yaks are back out on grass, and darn happy about it, and mamas are giving birth right and left. Here are just a few shots of calves down on the farm...

Our newest "yak let" - (born Sunday, May 17, 2009)



Lady Slipper's calf:




A matched pair:



Another calf:



And again:

Sunday, May 10, 2009

YAK TRACKS: Yakking in D.C.'s "Taste of Vermont" Festival

Here's why Vermont is so darn wonderful.

I woke up early last Thursday morning to fly down to Washington, D.C. to attend the wedding of an old friend.

Before leaving for the airport, I read in the Burlington Free Press when I awoke that Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy had organized an annual "Taste of Vermont" event featuring 50 Vermont food-related businesses, to be held in the Russell Building's caucus room, next door to the Capitol.

So, I did what any enterprising Vermont yak farmer would do. I threw some yak sausage in my luggage, called Senator Leahy's office from the JFK airport, and attended the "Taste of Vermont" event in D.C. that night, thanks to a whole cast of incredibly gracious and welcoming Vermonters who took time out from planning this event to ensure that I was welcome.

More than 400 people attended, including our entire Vermont Congressional delegation.

And the food, needless to say, was phenomenal. Here's a "Yakberry" shot of our friends at American Flatbread serving up the good stuff.



I hope that Vermont Yak Company will be represented at "Taste of Vermont" next year, but in the meantime, deep thanks to Gretchen and the entire Vermont contingent for planning this event, and welcoming us to the table.

Yak on, Vermont!