Day and night, she’s feeding calves at 89 years old, with no plans of retirement in sight.
Marian’s son, Ron Saemrow said, “She’s very caring, very dedicated. She’ll do anything for anybody if she can do it, she’ll do it.”
Marian Saemrow’s cane doesn’t take the usual path of an 89-year-old.
Marian said, “I come out here twice a day.”
Morning and night, seven days a week, walking stick in one hand, cane in the other, she tacks on to the 130 year history of Saemrow Dairy in Morristown
Marian said, “I like to get outdoors and I like to work with the baby calves.”
But her days with calves trail back to 1958, when she first moved to the farm after marrying into the Saemrow family.
Marian said, “It just went from one generation to the next.”
45 years and six children later,
Marian said, “All of our boys run the farm. They work together running the farm. They hire a lot of help.”
Her days are booked on the farm, alongside her five boys, now all grown up with young farmers of their own.
Marian’s grandson, Ty said, “Not too many people get to work with their grandparents and I get to work with my grandma basically everyday-twice a day in the morning and at night.”
A never ending list of chores to some,
Marian said, “Empty these pails, then help fill the bottles and then help see that the baby calves eat theres and then wash the bottles again.”
But to Marian, it’s a way of life.
Marian said, “I guess we work together and God has blessed us all this while that we can stay here and farm.”
And with hundreds of miles on her work boots, she’s taken her motherly role to the barn.
Marian said, “A farmer, I guess.”
Where feeding calves has become second nature.
Instincts that just come natural from a caring mother.
Marian said, “I like feeding the baby calves and getting them to take their first milk.”
And she’s keen on the moods of her calves too.
“They can kick if you don’t watch out.”
Ty said, “I should be able to work twice as hard as her and she’s outdoing me almost everyday.”
Nearly 90, and she still isn’t ready to hang up her cane and walking stick.
Marian said, “I don’t know what I’d do if I’d retire. I hope I can keep on helping.”
Even missing one feeding is unheard of.
Ron said,”Only time she misses is Sunday mornings for church.”
Marian said, “I really don’t care to go on vacations. I just like being here.”
Ron said, “This is what she lives for. She enjoys it. I’m hoping she can do it as long as she can and my goal is to get there too.”
When her calves are fed, she walks from the barn back home at dark, alongside her grandson…on to her next mission of feeding the cats.
(T2, D1)
