Eastern Iowa Farmer Fall 2020

old barns
Eastern Iowa Farmer photos / Trevis Mayfield
One brave sheep makes its way to the barnyard while others wait in the doorway. The farm also
has some cattle. Years ago, it also had horses and chickens.
in the winter time.
As one enters one of these barns,
perhaps with a horseshoe nailed over
the door to keep off witches, it is easy
to imagine the work horses snorting and
stamping their feet on the wooden floor in
their section of the barn’s basement, often
on the east to take advantage of the early
morning light, and the milk cows entering
a small milking parlor in the center
bay, with milking stools perched on racks
within handy reach, and perhaps calves
or sheep in a pen occupying the third bay,
with grain boxes and hay mangers for
them filled from supplies stored directly
overhead on the second floor.
It is easy to imagine the hustle and
bustle of the early morning with the
milking and readying the horses for the
day’s work with all the family members
involved, working together immersed in
their tasks, but with low-voiced banter
to ease the work on. And the cats. One
mustn’t forget the cats. After all, they
worked hard to decrease the surplus population
of mice and rats that also found
these barns appealing. The cats deserved
Patented Plastic Lined
Feed Bunks
Fenceline Bunks • “T” Walls
“H” Bunk or yard Bunk
Free sTanding Fence • WaFFle Walls
landscaping Blocks
28 Eastern Iowa Farmer | fall 2020 eifarmer.com