Country Valley owner John Fairley has thanked the community for their generosity and outpouring of support for his ‘adopt a cow’ initiative.
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The Picton farmer published a post on Facebook on Monday, May 7 asking people to donate money to help pay for feed for his cows until spring.
By adopting a cow or a calf, you will receive a photo of a cow, an adoption certificate and can name the cow.
People can donate any amount of money to adopt a cow or if they want they can donate $135 and the family can go on a farm tour.
“The response has been unbelievable,” Mr Fairley said.
“I had the post written for four weeks and I made the realisation that we would have no feed until September.
“Even if it rains next week and we get crops in, it will get cold and we will still have no feed.
“My 83-year-old Dad said he has never seen it worse than this.
“When I pressed the publish button to post the story I was shaking and taking shallow breaths.
“I had to sit back and take deep breaths.
“Farmers don’t like asking for help.”
The sixth-generation farmer has been inundated with donations and emails.
“A man who I had sat on a panel with 10 years ago and haven’t seen since adopted five cows straight away for his grandchildren,” he said. “I lost it after that.
“I thought because I had been involved in the community for so many years, giving out milkshakes, that some of those locals would help me out.
“I did not expect this level of response. Helping someone in a bad situation is a real Australian thing to do.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated and been so generous.
“The drought has been a huge stress on us.
“It has been wonderful that people have opened their hearts up.
“To receive the money has been a huge relief.”
Mr Fairley said he had received donations from people who lived overseas.
The Picton farmer got the idea to ‘adopt a cow’ from an episode of Seinfeld when Cosmo Kramer adopts a road.
Mr Fairley wants to give money to other shire farmers and “share the love”.
He has donated money to the community-organised Dilly Drought Drive.
The Drive is asking for donations so hay and water can be delivered to seven commercial farmers in the shire.
“The best part is now I can help out my fellow farmers,” Mr Fairley said.
“Anything people can donate will go around to the other farmers.”
Mr Fairley is looking forward to showing people around his family farm.
“I can’t wait to see the kids’ faces liven up and their eyes bulge when they see the size of a cow,” he said.
Mr Fairley estimated it would cost $1350 per cow to feed until the end of September and he has 130 cows to feed.
To donate: account name: JE and SA Fairley, BSB: 082-883, account number: 61-663-5557.
Email: johnfairley@countryvalley.com.au with your details to be registered in the cow diary. Or call 46772223 and ask for Sally or Tom in business hours.
Include your name and contact details so an email with a picture of your new family member can be sent.
Mr Fairley said he and his staff would be churning through the responses and the photos would be sent to donors soon. He has asked people to be patient and said farm tours would start in coming weeks.
