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Published April 6, 2023 at 7:30 a.m.
It's the busiest time of year for Chester and Kathleen Parsons: Lambing season is in full swing. Known to most as Chet and Kate, the couple own the Parsons' Farm in Richford. They run their small-scale sheep and beef operation mainly by themselves, with limited help from family and farmhands. Now both 77 years old, the Parsons have decided this will be their last summer with animals.
The pair grew up on small Vermont family dairy farms. Kate was raised on a dairy farm in Shoreham; Chet's family farm was founded in 1919 by his grandfather William Galusha Parsons. After they inherited the Parsons' Farm, the couple milked cows until 1985, when they sold the herd and got jobs off the farm. They bought their first flock of sheep that same year, when Chet started teaching sheep management as a livestock specialist at the University of Vermont Extension.
After a lifetime of working with cows and sheep, the couple, who recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, are ready to step back and would be willing to sell to the right person.
Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger caught up with the Parsons in their barn on a sunny spring day and talked to them about their final lambing season. She watched Kate bottle-feed some lambs and even got to feed one herself.
Filming date: 3/29/23
Music: Godmode, “Spring Field”
The pair grew up on small Vermont family dairy farms. Kate was raised on a dairy farm in Shoreham; Chet's family farm was founded in 1919 by his grandfather William Galusha Parsons. After they inherited the Parsons' Farm, the couple milked cows until 1985, when they sold the herd and got jobs off the farm. They bought their first flock of sheep that same year, when Chet started teaching sheep management as a livestock specialist at the University of Vermont Extension.
After a lifetime of working with cows and sheep, the couple, who recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, are ready to step back and would be willing to sell to the right person.
Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger caught up with the Parsons in their barn on a sunny spring day and talked to them about their final lambing season. She watched Kate bottle-feed some lambs and even got to feed one herself.
Filming date: 3/29/23
Music: Godmode, “Spring Field”
This episode of Stuck in Vermont was supported by New England Federal Credit Union.
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About The Author
Eva Sollberger
Bio:
Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger has been making her award-winning video series, "Stuck in Vermont," since 2007. New episodes appear on the Seven Days website every other Thursday and air the following night on the WCAX evening news. Sign up at sevendaysvt.com to receive an email alert each time a new one drops. And check these pages every other week for insights on the episodes.
Seven Days senior multimedia producer Eva Sollberger has been making her award-winning video series, "Stuck in Vermont," since 2007. New episodes appear on the Seven Days website every other Thursday and air the following night on the WCAX evening news. Sign up at sevendaysvt.com to receive an email alert each time a new one drops. And check these pages every other week for insights on the episodes.
