baby calf Archives - Franklin Farmers Market

It was another cold day at the FFM

Mother Nature has been a bit grumpy and unpredictable this winter. The chilly wind blowing through the Franklin Farmers Market this past Saturday was proof of that. It’s the sort of weather that calls for a good dose of comfort food and that’s what everyone was getting at the market. Instant warm-ups, like those hot doughnuts from Ellie’s Old Fashion Doughnuts or Jones Mill Farm’s sourdough rolls with Triple L Sausage definitely qualified as comfort food. So did the hot chocolate from Ridiculous Chocolate and warm freshly prepared cornbread, made with Beaverdam Creek Farm’s special mill stone ground cornmeal.

Warm doughnuts and hot coffee from Ellie’s

Stone Ground Cornmeal and Grits from Beaverdam Creek Farm

Veggies, like potatoes and cabbage to make homemade soups. Great meats, like a chuck roast for a warm delicious meal.

Organic Cabbage from Delvin Farms

Delvin Farms Organic Potatoes

Tender tasty fresh beef from Bear Creek Farm

Homemade soups from Lucy’s Kitchen

Kenny’s Cheeses from Moonshadow Farm

And the vivid orange carrots and green Brussels sprouts offered a little tease of spring with their bright colors.

Garlic, Turnips and Tomato Sauce from Delvin Farms

Winter Squash from Delvin Farms

Delvin Farms Brussels Sprouts

Here’s a question for you: You don’t see any flowers growing or green leaves on trees, so how do vegetables grow during the winter? We overheard that very question being asked at the market this past Saturday. Are those veggies grown somewhere else in warmer weather and then shipped in to Tennessee? The answer to that question is no. Some vegetables, such as cabbage grow much better in cooler weather. But when the weather gets a little cold, row covers and hoop houses go over the top of the plants to protect them. The coverings help the plants to get a little more warmth from the sun and protection from frost too. So what you see in the FFM during the winter really is grown on a local farm.

Call me Buttermilk!

And finally, the voting is over and the little calf at Triple L Ranch is no longer without a name. Say hello to Buttermilk. The top seven names in the Name the Calf contest were Ollie, Jasper, Ace, Leo, Oliver, Bartholomew and Buttermilk. Who submitted the winning name? It was actually Ann Lee of Triple L Ranch. Ann put the name Buttermilk in the poll as a little joke, because the calf is neither a heifer nor a dairy cow. But that kind of backfired, because Buttermilk was voted as the favorite name for calf. The runner-up in the contest was the name Bartholomew, which was submitted by Savana Stroud. So the Lee family has awarded the prize of a day at the Triple L Ranch to Savana. Our thanks to everyone who voted in the Name the Calf contest!

The Franklin Farmers Market is community driven Saturday morning farmers market bringing together the best local farmers in the state of Tennessee. Visit our photo gallery and farmer profiles to learn more about Tennessee farm fresh produce and meats.

Fresh lettuces from Paradise Produce

Farm fresh eggs from River Cottage

We need your help to name a newly orphaned baby calf from the Triple L Ranch. It was a rough start in life for this little guy, born at Triple L Ranch 2 months ago. His mother abandoned him, making it a little touch and go at the beginning.

He was only 2 hours old, so Steven Lee watched over him closely

Momma cow kept walking off and rejecting him

Momma Cow with new twin babies, cleaning the first born but not the 2nd baby twin

Calves need to nurse very soon after they are born to get necessary antibodies and nutrients for their immune system. So this little one was bottle-fed the right formula for newborn calves and now he’s doing just fine.

At 2 weeks old, the baby was fed 3 times a day in the calf nursery

Now he’s 40 pounds heavier and still growing

Can’t get that milk fast enough!

He’s still a bottle-baby even though he’s gained 40 pounds since birth. He’s become a four-legged member of the Lee family at Triple L Ranch. But besides all of the attention he’s getting, this little calf needs something else. Stephen Lee of Triple L Ranch explains:

Over the last month, we held a contest to name the calf and we’ve gotten a lot of suggestions here at the Franklin Farmers Market. So many, that we need your help to decide which name is the right one. Vote for what you think the calf should be named. Here’s a list of the top seven entries we liked for the calf’s name. Click on the one you like best to vote.

I’m growing up strong! But what’s my name?

Name the calf poll

Ace (5%, 30 Votes)
Bartholomew (27%, 149 Votes)
Buttermilk (38%, 210 Votes)
Jasper (10%, 56 Votes)
Leo (5%, 27 Votes)
Oliver (6%, 35 Votes)
Ollie (9%, 48 Votes)

Total Voters: 555

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The winning name for the Triple L Ranch calf will be announced on January 19th. Vote now so he has a name to answer to! All voting closes on January 18th at 12 midnight.

Here’s a time line of videos with the first one taken just 2 hours after birth.