Last August, ten Randall cattle made the long journey north from Story Hill Farm in Delaware to their new home at Hildene Farm. For our Heritage Breed preservation program, it was a milestone a year in the making — and for the cattle, it was the beginning of a test: could animals raised in the milder mid-Atlantic climate handle a true Vermont winter?

The short answer, according to Co-Farm Director Kim Pinsonneault? They handled it better than we did.

“The cows did pretty well. They adapted better than we humans, I think — especially with how cold it was,” Kim says. “They’ve adapted to the New England climate. That’s instinctually in them.”

She’s not exaggerating. The Randall is a landrace breed — meaning it developed over generations through natural adaptation to its local environment rather than through selective breeding for specific traits. And that local environment? Right here in Southern Vermont. The breed originated in Sunderland, just a few miles south of the Hildene Farm, on Kim’s own family’s farm, where she still lives today.

Settling In

The timing of the herd’s arrival turned out to be a real advantage. Coming in August gave them months of gradually cooling weather to acclimate before the deep cold set in. “They had a nice time where it was still pretty warm from what they were used to, and then kind of gradually into the fall,” Kim explains. “It would have been pretty traumatic if they had come in November and were like — whoa.”

Before the new cattle could meet the existing herd, they went through a careful two-week quarantine — kept in their own pasture where they could see the other animals from a distance but couldn’t make direct contact. From there, Kim moved them into adjacent pastures separated by fencing, then gradually mixed small groups of newcomers with the original herd during breeding season. By the time the full herd came together, most of the introductions had already happened.

The bull introductions were a different story. “You’ll see them going head-to-head with each other, pushing each other back and forth,” Kim says. “They did break a fence post.” But with three steers in the mix to ease the tension, the bulls eventually worked things out. Now you’ll find them licking each other and lying side by side in the pasture.

Built for This

When the cold finally arrived — and it arrived hard this year — the Randalls were ready. They grew out thick, fluffy winter coats and took to the snow as if they’d never left Vermont. The team kept them well-supported with high-quality, Vermont-made hay, mineral supplements, and constant access to water, though that last part required some serious effort on the human side.

“We had a lot of hydrants freeze because it was a pretty rough winter,” Kim says. “So, we lugged a lot of buckets of water this winter.” The cows, meanwhile, were perfectly content - tossing hay with their heads when the tractor delivered fresh bales, getting “all crazy” and tearing into the round bales before Kim could even get the feeder around them.

A Breed Worth Saving

The Randall cattle breed tells a remarkable conservation story. In the early 1980s, the population had dwindled to just 15 animals. Today, thanks to the dedicated work of farmers and conservationists, there are roughly 1,000. Kim took over the breed’s registry in 2020 and has overseen approximately 400 new registrations since — tracking the lineage of every animal, collecting DNA samples that get banked, and working to maintain the genetic diversity the breed needs to keep growing.

For Kim, this work is deeply personal. “It was kind of always on the bucket list, the wish list,” she says of bringing Randalls to Hildene. “And to just now see it coming to fruition is just like — whoa. Like, we’re really doing it.”

The Randall is a triple-purpose breed — raised for milk, meat, and draft work — which makes them especially well-suited for the growing homesteading movement. That versatility, combined with their rarity, means demand far outpaces supply. “I’ve got a waiting list a mile long for people that want cows,” Kim says.

Looking Ahead

With the herd nearing capacity at the Hildene Farm, an exciting new chapter is beginning. Kim will soon be able to start selling starter herds to the long list of farmers waiting for their own Randalls. A collaboration with a neighboring farm in Rupert, which received the other half of the Delaware herd, will allow both farms to exchange bulls and genetic material, keeping the breeding program strong and diverse.

As Kim puts it: “Spring chores and muddy boots are just around the corner.”

Meet the Newest Members of the Herd

And speaking of new beginnings — this spring has already brought two brand-new Randall calves to the Hildene Farm. These little ones are the first offspring born from the combined herd, and they’re every bit as charming as you’d hope — sticking close to their mamas, finding their legs, and getting their first taste of a Vermont spring.

They’re a sign of everything this program is working toward — and they’re waiting to meet you. Come down to the Hildene Farm to see the calves and the rest of the Randall herd for yourself. Members always visit for free, and non-members pay regular admission. Just check in at the Welcome Center to get started. For more on Hildene’s conservation work and upcoming events, visit the following link: Preserving a Heritage Breed.