April 2023 HSS Regional Social Gathering

Zane and Elaine Sunday of Foxfire Farm in DeFuniak Springs, Florida hosted the second informal regional gathering of Heritage Shorthorn enthusiasts at their farm on April 15, 2023. Guests arrived early and enjoyed visiting while finishing touches were applied to a delicious home-cooked, Southern-style brunch (grits, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, casseroles, fresh fruit, and cinnamon rolls, and homemade butter & cream). Also offered was an assortment of beverages including Foxfire Farm HS A2/A2 milk.

Wrap around design on mug, featuring Foxfire Frosty

Door prizes were contributed by HSS, and the favorite door prize was a mug with a picture of FoxFire Frosty on it—Frosty is a classic old-style horned Shorthorn that continues to capture everyone’s attention because she is so unique.

L. To R.: Don Dawkins, Jason Sunday, Karyn Sunday, Stan Sunday, Zane, Heather Adkison

Jeannine Wargacki, Donna & Rex Cook, Hope Saxon

Everyone enjoyed the food, the fellowship, the opportunity to meet with other breeders of Heritage Shorthorns, and a trip through the pastures to see the Foxfire herd of Heritage Shorthorns. Newcomers were amazed at the calmness of the cattle that allowed strangers to pet them. After returning from the pastures the guests were treated to home-made dessert.

Dessert is served by: Elaine Sunday, Heather Adkison, Brenda Knopes, & Zane

May 2022 HSS Regional Social Gathering

Zane & Elaine Sunday with Foxfire Farm, DeFuniak Springs, Florida decided to organize the first ever current social gathering for a group of Heritage Shorthorn breeders and enthusiasts mainly from southeastern states. On May 14, 2022 a total of 28 guests, 18 of which are directly involved with Heritage Shorthorns (HS), came together from Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

Attendees were: Alan & Sara Leap, David Bender, David & Lydianne Chupp, Bobby Halcomb, James & Linda Halcomb, Rex & Donna Cook, Lance Whitmore, Joe & Hope Saxon, Stephen & Karen Cobb, Zane & Elaine Sunday, and also Penny Lyman who attended via Zoom! Additionally multiple members of the Sunday family were at the gathering to help with the hosting, food preparation & serving, and other “logistics”.

Benchmark Shorthorns, breeders of Heritage Shorthorns, donated a hand-made beautiful inlaid wooden table to be raffled off, with the proceeds raised going toward future HS ads in an eastern U.S. publication. Donna Cook of Colquitt Georgia was the lucky winner of this exquisite table. There were also door prizes given out which had been donated by the Heritage Shorthorn Society.

The Florida weather was a little warmer than desired; however that didn’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the guests. Those who ventured into the pastures to see the Foxfire Farm Heritage Shorthorns were impressed with the calmness of the herd. The cattle paid little attention to the guests who talked and walked through the cattle and petted the cows as they lay in the shade.

Stan Sunday grilling Heritage Shorthorn burgers

At noon a delicious luncheon was prepared and served by the hosts, Zane and Elaine Sunday. Along with other traditional picnic food, the luncheon featured HS burgers, fresh HS milk, and homemade HS ice cream.

L to R: Linda Halcomb, James Halcomb, Bobby Halcomb, Sara & Alan Leap, Katelyn Sunday, Lydianne & David Chupp, Heather Adkinson, Joe & Hope Saxon, Rex Cook

L to R: Joe & Hope Saxon, Rex Cook, Stephen & Karen Cobb, Donna Cook, and David Bender

Everyone agreed that the gathering was beneficial, enjoyable, and should be continued. Thanks to the efforts of committed Heritage Shorthorn breeders, this was an excellent venue to encourage the exchange of ideas for producing and promoting heritage livestock. Plans are already under way for another get-together next year.