Farm family tied to the land

"I liked chasing the cows," said the 28-year-old. "My brother and I would go play in the brook or on the hills. We always had something to do."

Now, among the cows he once chased and over the hills he once ran, Mike carries on the family tradition of farming. His father Terrance is pleased to have his son on the farm.

"My grandfather purchased this farm 77 years ago," Mr. Hoag said. "Mike is the fourth generation to farm here." The Hoags are parishioners of Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls.

Farm life

His wife Judy agrees that for raising a family, life on the farm has its advantages. "We work seven days a week, long hours," she said. "But we were able to raise our kids and watch them grow."

The Hoag family, in addition to Mike, includes Mark, 26; Marla, 18; and Meredeth, 14.

Daily chores

"We're done between 10 and 11 at night," Terry said.

Mrs. Hoag's day, while just as long, is filled with different responsibilities. She wakes up earlier than her husband and son in order to get the milk house ready. Then she is responsible for feeding 25 calves by pail, three by bottle, and two dozen more with a mixture of hay and grain.

"It takes me as long as it takes them to milk," she said. "The calves are like children. They have different personalities."

Farm wife

At 4 p.m., she returns to feed the calves again. All the while, she squeezes in household chores, maintaining her garden and raising her two teenage daughters. Five days a week, she watches her three-year-old granddaughter, the child of her son Mark and his wife.

"The hours are taxing," she said.

Farm-ily life

"One of the advantages of farming is you're busy, but you're together," he said. "There's more family unity."

The couple is looking forward to their first break from the farm in 13 years. Since the farm chores must be tended to, it is nearly impossible for the couple to have an evening out together, let alone a vacation. In the fall, however, the couple has plans to go away for four days.

Different life

Growing up on the farm kept him sheltered. Although he was a teenager in the '60s, he said, "I never once knew kids who were taking drugs. The '60s were supposed to be a wild time."

His wife added, "It took a long time to get to Hoosick Falls."

While there are advantages to farm life, the couple admits it has its disadvantages, too. There are fewer activities available for children. Little League wasn't an option, and they couldn't just walk to town to go to the library or skating rink.

Tradition

Oldest daughter Marla is off to college in the fall. She will study pre-veterinary science at the State University of New York at Oneonta. Meredeth will remain at home for a few more years.

When asked if he'd like his children to continue to work on the farm, Mr. Hoag said, "You hope so. But with economic trends, you don't know."

Mrs. Hoag said it can be difficult for someone raised on a farm to find a mate. "It's hard to find someone who accepts farm life," she said. "We don't pull up stakes and leave. I grew up on a farm in Schaghticoke. I knew what I was getting into."

Dairy farm

Milk production can be affected by many things, including the weather. When it's warm, cows tend to eat less, which reduces their output. "I'm very discouraged this summer," Mr. Hoag said.

Production is also affected by genetics and the quality of feed. The Hoags grow hay, alfalfa and corn to feed the cows. The better quality of crop, the less expense the farm incurs for feeding. If the nutrient value of the crops is poor, costly supplements must be added. Visits from a nutritionist help the Hoags know what proportions to feed.

"There's a lot more to dairy farming than people think there is," Mrs. Hoag said.

Milking

The Hoags' farm belongs to a dairy cooperative. Milk from the farm is made into cheese, cottage cheese and ice cream. "The majority of it goes to New England," Mr. Hoag said. "It's a better paying market."

Farming is a challenging way to make a living, the Hoags said. In order to compete, farms must get bigger. "When I first started, I made a living with 45 cows," Mr. Hoag said. "Now, we're not making as much with 100."

The average dairy farmer, he said, owes $2,000 for each cow he owns. "You learn to live with that debt," he added.

Balancing size

The size of the farm is a challenge for Mike. "We're bigger than we want to be," he said. "It's not worth it to get big. With big industry, people become numbers. The same thing is true with cattle."

Another challenge for dairy farmers is the market. "For us to make a decent living, someone has to be hungry," Mr. Hoag said. "That's sad."

Nutrition

Dairy products, like other foods, can be enjoyed in moderation, Mrs. Hoag said. "There's no better direct route to get calcium than from milk," she added. "There isn't any food that someone doesn't say, 'It's not good for you' at some point."

The family has a history of longevity, Mrs. Hoag said, and they consume only real butter and drink milk fresh from their cows.

Elemental

This summer's extreme heat and lack of rainfall has caused problems for many farmers. While concerned, the Hoags think they'll be okay.

"We're on the dry side," Mr. Hoag said, "but I'm relatively pleased with the crops. It's dry, but it's liveable. Two years ago, I was scared."

That drought negatively impacted the farm's corn crop. Another local farmer stepped in with an offer of corn that allowed them to feed their cattle, Mr. Hoag said.

Tornado

"We were lucky," Mr. Hoag said. "No one was hurt." But the family didn't find out until after the tornado that the house, shared by Mike and Mark, was not covered by insurance.

"The tornado hit us on a Sunday," Mrs. Hoag said. "The following Saturday, so many people showed up to fix the roof, clean up the trees and the barns."

In addition, a nearby diner that had its power restored delivered food to the family as they were recovering.

Thankful

His wife agreed. "There are a lot of people we think a lot of," she said. "We're self-sufficient people. It's hard to open up to help like that. The tornado made us realize how many good people there are."

Although nature can cause havoc on the farm, it can also serve as a daily reminder of God's presence. Whether it's the beauty of the farm as the leaves change color in the fall or the birth of a calf, the Hoags are appreciative of God's work.

"We see the full circle of life from conception to death," Mrs. Hoag said. "One thing about farm kids is they have a better handle on the cycle of life."

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