Check out any home decor aisle or craft store and you’ll probably find yourself face to face with a fluffy, bovine friend. Scottish Highland Cattle have become all the rage in recent popular culture, but some people in the breed’s tight knit community have recognized the simple grander of these beautiful creatures all along.
Father-son farming duo William and Sean Hilverding have been involved in the cattle world for most of their lives. William, a first-generation cattle farmer, fell in love with the lifestyle years ago. He passed the joys of farming along to Sean, and the two are now joint owners of Highland Acres Cattle in Spraggs. The farm was established in 2009 as a family effort with one bull and six cows and has expanded into today’s operation of 60-70 cows annually.
“It started as a hobby [to have] self-sustained beef personally and sell halves and wholes to a few locals,” Sean says.
The farm gained popularity, as did the specific breed of cattle, and in 2023, Sean took on more of the farm duties.
“People really like them,” William says of the Highland Cattle. “They’re a docile breed, and the only breed that’s never been genetically altered since the 1500s when they came to Canada,” he explains. “They are the oldest registered breed. Bulls must have DNA tests, and they’re the only breed to require that.”
While Sean is hands-on caring for the cattle full-time, William heads up property management and machinery. “I’m living the dream, that’s what I’m doing.” he shares. “Sean has done a fantastic job.”
Many members of the Hilverding herd have a very special lineage, with a few cattle even tracing their roots back to the Queen’s Herd of England.
“Some stock are ‘unseen genetics’ on our farm,” says Sean in regard to the unique roots of many of the cattle. The family has even raised some Grand Champions and Reserve Grand Champions during their time in the business.
Genetics first piqued Sean’s interest at a sale a few years ago. “We needed a new bull,” he remembers, “but didn’t know much about genetics yet.” After making the purchase, a particular calf caught his attention. “She had one horn up, one down.” Sean soon realized just how unique this animal was: “Her bull calf was from the 2015 Grand Champ.”
The family knew that to stay in touch with the authenticity of the breed, genetics would serve as the puzzle pieces to stitch each cow’s past together.
Sean states, “This is our first year extensively showing. Four of us are going to the Big East show in Springfield, Massachusetts,” as well as a myriad of other showing and selling locations. This year will also serve as the jumping-off point for artificial breeding, which has led the family to partner with friends in the trade and their veterinarian.
Sean, William, and the whole family are interested in connecting other families in the community with their farm by offering photography opportunities with the livestock for occasions like Christmas and graduations. This year, they also offered Easter pictures, with the rabbits that Sean’s wife, Kayla, raises. “People are always welcome to look at, pet, [and] visit the cattle,” William says.
The cows will also be spreading spring greetings off the farm at Evergreen Personal Care– the first of many more outreach programs the Hilverdings would like to see in our community.
There’s a lot more to love just over the West Virginia border at Hundred Acres Farm in its namesake town. An EMS worker and Highland Cattle farmer, Lauren Weaver has taken her place among the breed’s tight-knit community as the primary owner of the farm.
Having grown up on her parents’ farm, Lauren was able to purchase some cattle from her father in 2019 to start her own. Invited by friends to begin showing, Lauren soon discovered Highland Cattle for all they had to offer.
“They’re great animals to raise,” she says emphatically. “They have lean meat, easy calving, and longer, two-layered hair [making them] a hardy breed. They don’t carry as much winter fat and they eat brush, so they clean up well,” she continued.
Lauren shared that her farming journey has involved a lot of growth. “I bought the first cow for $1,000. Now, we sell calves for $8-15,000 based on color and qualities.” While some of her Highlands have been sold at auction, the majority of sales are private. She also raises pigs for butcher, and enjoys the chickens, dogs, cats, and donkeys who also share the farm.
Hundred Acres maintains a herd of about 15-20 head of cattle. The farm is registered with the American Highland Cattle Association, which has been an immense support for entering the show world. “[The association] goes above and beyond in shows. They’re not snooty, but provide awesome feedback,” Lauren explains.
Lauren aims to provide that same support to others who have never shown before. Showing livestock is a family-wide passion for her and her relatives, as well as the many people who have become family in the farming community.
“I’ve been at the top and bottom of the show class. We don’t do it for ribbons, it’s a family fun event. The young ones have gotten more awards,” she says with a laugh. “Now, my two girls show, and cousins, too.”
“Kelley [Morris] took us under her wing and provided animals for us to show,” Lauren shares, gratefully. “She has changed the farming stories of many individuals, young and old, in the area.”
“I have a habit of bringing weird animals home,” she continued, chuckling. Some of these animals include water buffalo used for dairy, Painted Desert sheep, Kiko goats, and endangered breeds of chickens. North American yak…will hopefully join us before this summer,” not to mention the aforementioned cattle breed.
“Highland Cattle were included on the Livestock Conservancy’s Conservation Priority List until the pop culture movement popularized them,” Morris outlines. Now, they are a thriving Heritage Breed, which means they “existed before industrial agriculture and have maintained their unique traits.” However, the need for protecting Highlands and other Heritage Breeds remains essential.
Events for the public provide much of that needed awareness. “Photographers schedule events with animals,” Morris said. ‘Paint & Pets’ are also popular among artists hosting classes. “Agrotourism helps with feed and maintenance costs of a small farm,” she shared.
Among the joys of farming are the humorous interactions between man and beast. Kelley explained, “My herd matriarch likes being curry combed. The first time…she held me against her body to tell me I wasn’t brushing sufficiently. It’s an adjustment to animals with horns,” she reveals.
Kelley has also experimented with co-grazing with a successful result. “Sheep, goats, and cows all graze at different levels. This allows every animal to help the others thrive in this style of farming.
She recommends exploring county extension agencies or school FFA and 4-H programs for youth who are interested in starting in the show world. She is also active in helping kids take the next steps. “I collect kids who want to go out,” Kelley joked.
In the words of Ms. Weaver, “Farming is never easy…you either love it or hate it.” Fortunately, our region is home to a few special people who recognize the beauty of the farm and the four-legged creatures who share our land.
