Cattle Call On The Daniels Farm Road

“I always knew I was going to farm,” said Paul Daniels wistfully, as he gazed across the East Albany valley at the five hundred acres he named Diamond Heart Farm more than fifty years ago. Paul’s father made a deal to sell the farm to him when he became 21 years old, so he grew up doing chores on the farm, knowing that it would be his someday. “I began to buy Holstein cattle when I got to High School,” he said, “and I needed a prefix for registering the cattle So I was sitting in freshman study hall when I came up with the name “Diamond Heart,” and I drew the diamond with the heart in the center,” Paul continued. Now, everywhere you look the diamond heart appears, on all the barn doors, above the windows, and on the farm sign.

The picture-perfect farm, with spotless barns, even-mowed lawns, and flower boxes full of the latest blooms, is the result of a lifetime of loving labor. “Nancy takes care of the yard,” smiled Paul. His wife of fifty years joined him on the farm after High School. “I had to wait two years for her to graduate,” he continued, “and live all alone and do my own cooking. I’d drive twenty miles to a restaurant before I’d cook another meal,” laughed Paul. Nancy laughed too, knowing that he’d been well taken care of over their years together. Nancy Daniels is a young-looking great grandmother who still jogs three miles a day, even after taking care of the farm, yard, and chores. “She’s worn out three dogs,” Paul said with a grin. Nancy and Paul have four children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, and “all the kids settled close by, with the farthest away only four miles,” said Paul.

Paul and Nancy still milk forty-five cows every day and ship their milk to St. Albans Cooperative. “We are in the proc.ess of going organic,” said Paul, “for both our beef and dairy animals. But then again, it was easy for us, since we always grazed our animals and fed them on dry hay and pasture”, he continued. All of the milking herd are Dutch Belted cows. “I just like them, and they give a little richer butterfat,” according to Paul. In addition to the milking herd, the Daniels sell 10 to 12 of their new breed each year, as well as “a lot of bull calves for oxen, maybe 35 pair over the years,” he said. Paul described the new breed of cows he developed, beginning in 1994, using a red-belted dairy bull. He had originally started with the Red Angus and South Devons to develop this new, leaner beef breed he named “Diamond Jubilees.” Paul said proudly, “We are now getting a belt on almost all our calves, and no horns.” Paul seems to glow with excitement when he speaks about his animals. “We also keep 22 or 23 Pinzgauers, an Austrian breed. So, altogether the beef heard is made up of 22 Pinzgauers, and we’re up to 60 of the Diamond Jubilees,” he continued with a smile.

Paul and Nancy proudly introduced their grandson, Evan Maxwell, who had just returned from the woods where he was cutting firewood and some cedar. Evan is their youngest daughter Paula’s son who is most interested in continuing the farm some day. Paula takes care of the beef cattle year round at the farm. Evan graduated from Lake Region High School last year, and with brother Eric, tapped 1200 to 1500 maples this past season, making 430 gallons of maple syrup on the farm. “Yew, I really enjoy helping my Grandfather with the chores,” he said quietly. Another Grandson, David Daniels helps out part time whenever he’s needed. In addition to the “Diamond Heart” signs everywhere, the main dairy barn sported a small sign beside the milk room door that said “A Future Farmer Lives Here.” “There’s so much stuff for the young people to do at school these days,” said Paul, “that they don’t have time to do everything.” He was referring to his participation in the FFA as a young man. “I didn’t participate in sports when I was in High School, because I had so much to do on the farm. But if it hadn’t been for FFA, I wouldn’t have stayed in High School,” he said solemnly. “I was in FFA for all four years at Orleans High School, and then State President in 1954-55, and I got my American Farmer Degree in 1956,” Paul said proudly.

Nancy and Paul Daniels show that their fifty-plus years of marriage have been a blessing, with their comfort with each other. In the process of touring the house, Nancy asked Paul if he was going to get out his fiddle. “Oh, I guess,” he said, and proceeded to resin up the bow for a few tunes, including the sweet “Wildwood Flowers.” “About ten years ago he taught himself the fiddle, and now he plays at area nursing homes,” she said proudly. Two or three more tunes and it was time for a story. “I suppose you’ve heard the definition of a real Vermonter,” he said with a grin. “Well,” he said. “It’s a person who is born and lives in his Grandfather’s house, sleeps in the same bed he was born in,” he began to laugh, “only with a different woman.”

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