Farmer Friday: Wright Family Farm

Wed in late August this year, Andrew and wife, Kendra, are the fourth generation of the Wright family to farm in Randolph, Vermont. Andrew’s parents Derrick and Beverly are also currently involved in running the farm and have been members in the cooperative for nearly 30 years. The Wright Family Farm is comprised of a growing herd of 50 Ayrshire and Jersey cows on 375 sprawling acres.

In addition to being longtime co-op members bringing their farm to plate in the form of Cabot Cheese, Andrew and Kendra have also been recent fixtures in the Young Cooperator program, learning about the cooperative, the dairy industry as a whole, farm management, communications and the cheese business. Kendra even began working at the Cabot Quechee store this summer – so be sure to stop in and say hello if you’re in the area!

In addition to the dairy farm, the family operates a maple syrup business, tapping around 1,000 trees. They love getting out into the woods each spring and sharing their bounty with friends and family.

Andrew and Kendra also enjoy showing their cows at the nearby Tunbridge World’s Fair. This year they took home a slew of ribbons, including five of the blue first-place variety. Without a wedding to plan, they also plan to show at Addison County Field Days and the Cornish Fair next year.

This week we thank Andrew & Kendra for sitting down to answer our questions:

What is your least favorite farm chore?
Andrew: Chipping the walls in the silo in the winter time. It gets old when you do it for days on end -especially if you have a cold snap.

Kendra: Going in the hay-mound in the summer time. I’m not very comfortable once it gets past 75 degrees. It always seems to be hot and humid up there.

What is your favorite time of year on the farm?
Andrew: Late spring/Early summer. Everything starts growing again and the cows get to go outside and graze.

Kendra: Late Summer. I like the cool nights it feels nice to put a sweatshirt on. Also fair season is usually in full swing Andrew and I try to go to a few of the dairy shows to see what Jersey and Ayrshire sires are being used.

What is one thing you would like people who have never experienced farm life to know?
Andrew: That farming takes a lot of work!

Kendra: It’s not always easy but it’s worth the early mornings and late nights to not only provide a good life for yourself but for future generations. Farming life teaches you good life lessons and you shouldn’t take them for granted.

What do you think is your greatest accomplishment on the farm?
Andrew & Kendra: Our greatest accomplishment besides growing our herd (we have 20 cows together and growing) is giving Andrew’s parents the option to have a night off so they can spend more time with their grandchildren or so they can have date night.

What is your family’s favorite meal? Care to share a recipe?
Kendra: The only meal we get to eat together is dinner. I have a few favorite recipes that I like to make such as sausage biscuits and gravy, Corn chowder and mac n cheese. I always seem to look at recipes and put my own spin on it. A true chef never reveals her recipes.

Andrew: As long as Kendra cooks, I’m happy. There hasn’t been a dish I have disliked in the 5 years we have been together!