'Farm Day' a special treat for assisted living residents

A menagerie of animals assembled for the 3rd annual "Farm Day," sponsored by the Century Ridge assisted living facility on June 24, evoked memories for many of its residents.

That's because a number of the residents are retired farmers from the Calumet County area.

The special day was organized by Century Ridge activity director Kim Schnell of Kiel. Her husband Andy brought a Holstein cow, calf, and chickens from the family's dairy farm.

Kiel area hobby farmer Harold Shaver supplied ducks and ducklings, a goat, a rabbit, sheep, hen and chicks.

The three-day old rare Sumatra and Turkin breed chicks, which were hatched by a duck, fascinated a number of the attending residents. "Are they sparrows?" one woman asked.

Shaver also brought a pair of Hampshire feeder pigs. "Bacon in the makin'," he declared as he carried one of the pigs along the row of seated residents, inviting them to touch and pet.

Century Ridge employee Courtney Schierl rode her horse Harley. "Is that in place of a motorcycle?", a resident inquired.

A hay bale and model toy tractor were also on display.

A special guest at this year's event was Calumet County Fairest of the Fair Gina Geiser. Her grandfather, Alfred "Fritz" Geiser, a retired dairy farmer and registered Holstein breeder, was among the 35 of the facility's 55 residents who attended the event.

Thirteen of the group of 35 were farmers, Kim Schnell indicated.

Following brief introductory greetings, Gina Geiser helped with the serving of cartons of Dean's "Tru Moo" chocolate milk and cups of very fresh Cheddar cheese curds to the residents.

In tune with the theme for the upcoming county fair on Labor Day weekend, she also gave out "Rock Star" stickers.

A bit later, the residents were treated to ice cream sundaes.

The cheese curds, which were obtained from Henning's Cheese of rural Kiel, and ice cream were provided by the Calumet County Dairy Promotion Committee, which was represented at the event by secretary-treasurer Lanetta Mahlberg and president Rich Buechel.