Green Chimneys Welcomes Scottish Highland Calf

Talent Show with a Therapeutic Twist

February 20, 2020

September 12, 2017

Welcome Fiona! Nearly 3 weeks ago friends from a nearby farm donated a beautiful Scottish Highland calf to Green Chimneys. Soon to turn 4-months-old, Fiona’s growth and development is under close watch by Green Chimneys staff. Students have already begun to participate in her daily care and training.

As a therapeutic day school steeped in nature-based education, providing students with special needs opportunities to be a part of new life, to study biology in class and on the farm, enhances learning. By being involved in the calf’s direct care it is hoped that students will transfer these skills when tending to their own pets at home and when nurturing positive relationships with peers and adults. And since Fiona’s joining the farm during our bustling summer camp season, children throughout the community are meeting and learning about her – and they’re quickly widening her fan base.

Enjoy a few Fiona fun facts:

Locks that rock: As Fiona grows, her hair will follow, transforming her current “fuzzy” appearance into a long, wavy coat. This is one of Scottish Highland’s most distinctive features.

Fiona was born on St. Patrick’s Day! She’s not the only member of our farm to have a March 17 birthday; Jersey cow Paddy and Bactrian camel Phoenix were also born on this day.

You can meet her: The Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Center is free and open to the public on weekends from 10am – 3pm. Learn More

Cow

Blossom is a 1-year-old Holstein cow, and she was born a freemartin. A freemartin calf is a common result of twin calves; the female twin absorbs genetic material from a male twin in utero, and after birth develops male traits and subsequently becomes sterile. Since Blossom can’t produce milk, the dairy farm where she was born asked Green Chimneys if we’d like to have her, and of course, we agreed! Blossom came to us around the same time as another calf named Alfie, and the two have grown up together while being cared for by staff and students alike.