Word From the Herd: A Florist Tells All
Posted on February 12, 2014
Alright, folks – it’s time for an awesome ideas overload!
Kelly Acock from The Monarch Flower Company has been joining us for our recent Wedding Barn Warmings. Not only is she one of the nicest and most fun people we’ve ever had the privilege to work with, but her creativity is out of this world!
So, needless to say, we are THRILLED that she is joining us today here on the blog to share some of her favorite ideas from our last open house.
So, needless to say, we are THRILLED that she is joining us today here on the blog to share some of her favorite ideas from our last open house.
ENJOY!
Rustic Chic Wedding Ideas
*Burlap is not just for table runners these days ~ Use strips of burlap table runners to create a darling rustic styled chair cover! Simply fold a section of the edge over back of the chair, wrap and tie. Make banners with scrap pieces and layer on the buffet for additional detail. Its vintage charm adds texture to almost any setting while being eco-chic when re-purposed after the event into home décor items such as window treatments and pillows.
*Prop tiny vintage accents on layers for a big impact. ‘Layers’ can be old trays, blocks covered in burlap, wooden crates, vases turned upside down and wood slices.
*Hang mason jars or other tiny vases from candelabra for some fun ~ jars can hold flowers, candles or even candy!
*Burlap doesn’t always have to lay flat. Simply gather and tie the ends with twine to add some texture and depth to tables and buffet.
*If it holds water, it’s a vase! This list includes these darlings shown above…vintage spice and medicine jars that are the perfect little detail.
*Pop a solo cup in a clay jar and voila’ ~ instant vase! You can recreate this lovely layered table with a base of burlap, a few wood slices, and perfectly placed doilies…all completed with a pop of fresh to fit your theme. I chose hydrangea and garden roses…who could resist?!
We love when people add touches of vintage elements to the event décor, especially when those items hold sentimental meaning such as these doilies made by the grandmother.
We love when people add touches of vintage elements to the event décor, especially when those items hold sentimental meaning such as these doilies made by the grandmother.
*For your cake table, think outside the box. For example, wouldn’t this wagon that was salvaged from The Historical Benjamin Ranch make an amazing addition as a cake base, holding food on the buffet or holding treats for your guests?!
*These floating barn doors are just the perfect feature for creating an indoor altar, focal point for any décor or backdrop for photo booth!
*I love to have fun with the buffet display by including old wooden crates, rustic tin buckets and wood slices.
These crates and buckets are the perfect addition to a rustic buffet at Faulkner’s Ranch. …imagine filled with our yummy food!
A big thanks to Kelly Acock of The Monarch Flower Company for these awesome ideas! Be sure to check out her website and more of her floral masterpieces right here!
Then come see her creativity and more for yourself at our next Barn Warming Open House on Wednesday, February 26th from 5pm to 7pm. No reservations required! Just stop on by, enjoy some delicious food and refreshments, and get a first hand look at our unique venue all dressed up! Wedding coordinators will be available to answer your questions and tell you about all that we have to offer when it comes to making your dream wedding come true!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
So, What Do You Do the Rest of the Year?
Posted on November 20, 2013
Each year, the end of October brings the end of our annual Pumpkin Season. It also brings a question that we get asked again and again…
“So, what do you do the rest of the year?”
Well, today we are going to answer that question for ya’ll!
Immediately after we close our gates for Pumpkin Season, we start to deck the halls for our big Holiday Party events! This year we are excited to announce that we have two unique holiday packages. Our Country Christmas Holiday Party Package and our Country Cocktails and Hors D’Oeuvres Package are the perfect ways to treat your employers to a fun-filled evening or afternoon.
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| We love it when Santa comes to parties! |
We also have our Indoor Pony Parties, which are perfect for winter birthdays.
But that’s not all!
All throughout the year Faulkner’s Ranch is hopping’ with private parties such as reunions, anniversaries, and bar/bat mitzvahs.
When we’re not throwing parties, Faulkner’s is the perfect location for your next company meeting or team building retreat!
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| Nothing like a little goat dressing to rally the troops together! |
Plus, did you know that Faulkner’s Ranch is one of Kansas City’s premier wedding ceremony and reception locations?
Summers are filled with Pony Camp, Ranch Round-Up Educational Tours, and of course, lots and lots of company picnics.
So needless to say – we stay busy!
After all, we like to party! ;o)
Need more info?
Just send us an e-mail or give us a call today at 816-761-5055!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
Word From the Herd: Bugsy Tribute
Posted on October 24, 2013
It might sound silly to do a tribute to a giant inflatable toy, but “Bugsy the Caterpillar” held a special place in our hearts. Here is Christine with the Word from the Herd on our favorite caterpillar.
When I think of Bugsy, there are so many things that come to mind. He was the the very first “big purchase” my dad and I made together for the Pumpkin Farm. We were up in Canada at a pumpkin convention and I made the plunge and bought him. At the time I was preggers with Glory and I remember being so scared because it was a MAJOR purchase. Little did I know that I would become so emotionally attached.
Here were are now, fifteen years later. Literally thousands of kids have crawled through him millions of times. I have personally sang “This is the way the leaves fall down!” hundreds of times while I scarecrowed field trips as they waited in line to take their turn crawling through his obstacles.
When we pulled him out for this year’s Pumpkin Season, I looked in his eyes and he said, “Christine, I should have retired 10 years ago, but I just love Pumpkin Season so much, I hung on. Y’all stitch me up and put me out year after year and I have been faithful through the elements and so much more. But I think it’s time to retire.” But how could we retire Bugsy?! To us, he is irreplaceable. So, we did the best thing we could think of. We searched online and found one just like him! Same age, less used and less worn. Safer, but still just as wonderful! We sent our go-to guy, Mike Foley, on a road trip all the way to Indiana to pick up our new farm friend. It sounds like he got quite the treatment:
When we pulled him out for this year’s Pumpkin Season, I looked in his eyes and he said, “Christine, I should have retired 10 years ago, but I just love Pumpkin Season so much, I hung on. Y’all stitch me up and put me out year after year and I have been faithful through the elements and so much more. But I think it’s time to retire.” But how could we retire Bugsy?! To us, he is irreplaceable. So, we did the best thing we could think of. We searched online and found one just like him! Same age, less used and less worn. Safer, but still just as wonderful! We sent our go-to guy, Mike Foley, on a road trip all the way to Indiana to pick up our new farm friend. It sounds like he got quite the treatment:
All of our ranch kiddos have grown up with Bugsy as a part of their fall memories, so it brings so much joy to know that this next generation will get to experience Bugsy in all of his glory!
We Love Ya, Bugsy, old and new!
– Cowgirl Christine
Come play in our new Bugsy now through October 31st at the Pumpkin Farm! We’re open everyday from 10am to 6pm!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
Wedding Wednesday: A White Wedding
Posted on June 19, 2013
It’s a beautiful day for a white wedding!
Well, the Masters-White wedding that is!
We have been so excited to share with you this wedding. Besides the fact that we absolutely loved the rustic-chic vibe and the colors they chose, they also had a bunch of details that made it really special. Their attention to the “little things” really made this an event to remember. Russ Lawrence made their vision come to life with his beautiful florals and decor. We tell ya – that man is a genius!
But, before we dive into the gorgeous pictures, here is what Mindi Masters, the mother of the bride, had to say about their evening at Faulkner’s Ranch:
“We had a wonderful wedding experience. My daughter had to plan this long distance wedding. (We are from California) . We needed a facility that was affordable, flexible and all-inclusive as needed. The staff was extremely helpful and accommodating. The Ranch theme fit perfect for her dream to have a relaxed and fun wedding. All our guests complimented us on how much fun they had, especially playing the outside games during the reception. The catering and decorations was wonderful too. For any bride who wants a stress free wedding on a reasonable budget, I highly recommend Faulkner’s Ranch. I have 2 more daughters who are yet to be married, I would definitely seek their services again.”
Thanks Mindi! It was our pleasure!
Now, on to the photos!
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| We loved the use of bunting! It really enhanced the building. |
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| Isn’t it beautiful? So simple, yet it makes such an impact! |
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| The set-up for their first communion was perfect! |
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| Gotta love chalkboards! They are the perfect touch to any rustic-chic event. This was a smart idea too! By asking everyone to leave their address, they will have the current ones on hand for thank you notes. |
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| Guests left their address in Mr. and Mrs. White’s mailbox. Can they get any cuter? |
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| The wedding party looked amazing! We loved the dresses and casual suits (sans coat). A simple sunflower helped tie it all together. |
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| We were especially digging the groomsmen’s shoes! Casual, yet classy! Comfortable too! |
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| Comfortable enough in fact that they could enjoy the zip line before the ceremony. Crazy guys! |
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| Speaking of the ceremony – it was BEAUTIFUL! We love how the draping created a clean, elegant altar. The lanterns on the pavilion ceiling (such a cool idea) were such a neat touch. They looked beautiful all lit up at night too! |
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| Okay, can we talk about this cupCAKE though! It’s like yellow and white tiered heaven! Beautiful AND delicious! |
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| The grooms cake was awesome too! It added a really sweet personal touch. |
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| For any future Faulkner’s Ranch brides, yellow is a really good color to choose as one of your accent colors. It just fits beautifully into the ranch setting. That’s why we loved the pops of yellow in the florals. They were so bright and fun! |
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| In addition to the stunning florals, some of the tables had these neat lit up trees. They really added to the ambiance of the night. |
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| Guests didn’t go home empty handed. Nothing like some sweet treats to thank your guests for celebrating with you! |
Congrats once again to the happy couple!!!
We felt so honored to be able to celebrate your big day with you!
Are you interested in having your wedding at Faulkner’s Ranch or Benjamin Ranch? Visit our wedding page for more details!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
Word From the Herd: Team Building Ya’ll!
Posted on June 3, 2013
Alright ya’ll, can I get a big yee-haw for MMGY Global?!
After all, they deserve it! They were such a GREAT group to kick off our team-building season!
After all, they deserve it! They were such a GREAT group to kick off our team-building season!
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| The Best Dressed Team – Just to give you an idea of the fun that’s in store! |
For me, there were a few of things that made this particular group really extra special.
1. Kim Helwig was here! We went to LSHS together. She graduated one year behind me (so of course I made her sign my 93/94 yearbooks!). It was tons of fun watching her and her co-workers go through our old yearbook checking out just what she was like back in high school. What is even cooler than that? Kim then went on to become my Gamma Phi Beta pledge daughter at Mizzou, cirque 1995/96! She hasn’t changed a bit and still knows how to work hard and play hard! I guess I taught her well 🙂
2. There was also another very special guest at the party, our very long lost cousin Seth Faulkner! Well, there wasn’t actually any real relation, but he was just as fun and friendly as all our other cousins and he fit right in!
3. I have always had a crush on this company. It goes way back to when I was wondering what to do with my life. If I hadn’t ended up at the ranch, I would have loved to have worked in a company like MMGY Global. Coming up with creative ideas for people would be right up my ally! I love all of the personalities in think tank type companies and this company’s creative ideas for the event were flowing way before they even arrived at Faulkner’s Ranch.
Speaking of those creative ideas…
The thought and extra mile that the committee put into planning their outing to Faulkner’s Ranch showed!
1. They arrived on school buses! You know I LOVE a company that transports their people to and from the party! It’s such a nice touch. The planners don’t have to worry about giving directions or parking and the attendees get to sit back and enjoy the ride. Providing transportation unifies the group right off the bat in turn setting the tone for the event.
2. They divided into teams before they arrived. For our team-building events, we can do it either way. However, by pre-dividing into teams before their arrive it allowed them time to get into spirit and costume! I for one loved the signs they were able to print in house and bring for each team. Such a fun idea!
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| Can you guess what team this was? |
3. The prizes were worth competing for!!!! These planners secured gift cards from vendors and clients to places like Amazon, Standard Style Boutique, Anthropology, and Southwest Airlines in amounts ranging from $150 – $500. First place was well worth milking the cow and dressing the goat – one COMP day! A paid day off? Earned by being silly and bonding with my co-workers on a beautiful afternoon at the Ranch? Not a bad day at the office!
I had such a blast with MMGY Global! Can’t wait to party with them again!
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| Gearing up to have some fun! |
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| Mmmmm! |
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| Goat dressing brings everyone together! |
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| Nothing like some cow patty golf! |
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| The horse collar relay is a good way to get to know your fellow employees! |
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| Fun in the sun with some sand volleyball! |
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| A cow on a horse. That’s new! |
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| Nothing like a game that makes everyone look awkward! |
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| Cow milking requires some serious teamwork! |
That’s the Word From the Herd!
~ Christine
Are you interested in having your team building event at Faulkner’s Ranch? Just give us a call at (816) 761-5055 or visit our website for more info! We’d love to tell you all about how we can bring your office together for a rip-roarin’ good time!
Word From the Herd: Kentucky Derby Gala
Posted on May 13, 2013
On May 4th, we were thrilled to host Sugar Creek Equinapy’s Kentucky Derby Party here at the ranch.
Sugar Creek Equinapy is not-for-profit charitable organization that serves those who have disabilities through equine-assisted therapy at their therapeutic riding center located in Harrisonville, MO. To give you just a glimpse at the amazing things they do, just read their mission statement:
“Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those who have physically, mentally, emotionally, or debilitating life situation through the use of equinapy, our horse-assisted therapy program. We will strive to make a positive difference in the lives of our staff, volunteers, and our animals, to create an atmosphere that is inclusive to all.”
Needless to say, we were so excited to have them here at the ranch celebrating our mutual love for horses.
This party was a lot of fun! There were so many neat ideas that they incorporated that made us feel like we were at the actual Derby.
For example, like any good Derby Day, there were lots of awesome hats!
In fact, the students created and entered Derby Hats into a competition to be voted on. Here was the winning hat that day:
Pretty cool, huh?
They also had the official Derby drink, Mint Juleps.
Lisa here used mint from her garden and sonic crushed ice to add her own flair to this classic drink. She truly went above and beyond making them – they were delicious!
For food they chose to serve an incredibly yummy spread of our wings, sausage medallions, pulled pork sliders, cheeses, and assorted veggies. Just thinking about it makes us hungry again!
In addition to the delicious food and drinks, they also played games and had a silent and live auction. Here’s one of the unique items that was up for bid…
A piece of Derby Pie!
And of course, we all gathered around the big screen to watch the 139th Kentucky Derby Race take place. They say that it is the most exciting two minutes in history and that is so true!
All in all, this was one great party!
A special thanks to Sugar Creek Equinapy for choosing to celebrate at Faulkner’s!
As you can see, we host a variety of parties here at Faulkner’s Ranch! Are you interested in having your special event with us? Just click here for more info or give us a call today!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
PS – Congrats to Orb on his big win!
Word From the Herd: An Eventful Weekend
Posted on April 23, 2013
Most people know Faulkner’s Ranch for our Pumpkin Season. Others know it for our company picnics and weddings.
But did you know that we actually host a variety of parties and events from benefits to milestone parties to team building and awards ceremonies?
Early in March we hosted two unique (and very fun!) events.
The first was with the Lee’s Summit Basketball Association on March 3rd. They celebrated their board appreciation dinner here at the ranch. One of the most special moments of this event was when they recognized one of their referees for the way he handled himself during a stressful situation at a game. A random fan saw his behavior and felt that it should be commended. They wrote a letter to the board to let them know how this awesome 21 year old stayed composed and set an example for everyone watching.
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| Applause for a job well done. |
The next event was one of our favorites of the year – The Sears Power Rama Training!
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| “Schmitty” polishing up the new lawn mowers. |
This event, which took place over the course of three days, was a lot of fun. Each day, the Sear’s lawn and garden sales associations would come in to train the Sears employees on their products. One of the reasons that we love this event every year is that it signifies one thing – Spring is coming!
The Sears employees and truck drivers are so incredibly nice. They are all so fun and friendly to work with. The truck drivers even went out of their way to give one of the Faulkner grandchildren, Miles, a special tour of their big rig. Wasn’t that nice of them? And not only that, but they also gave him a t-shirt which totally made his day. He even wore it to school the next day!
So, as you can see, we do more than just pumpkins here at Faulkner’s!
Are you interested in having your special event at Faulkner’s Ranch? Just give us a call at 816-761-5055 or visit our website today.
Have a great day, ya’ll!
Word From the Herd: Chili Cook-Off
Posted on April 18, 2013
Recently at the Ranch we hosted a super fun (and super yummy) event…A CHILI COOK-OFF!
That’s right! On March 23rd, we teamed up with Keller Williams Charities (KW Cares) for their chili cooking contest. For just $20, you and your team could enter your special recipe. Tickets to the event were only $5, which also got you a hot dog bar. Hot dogs and chili…mmmm! So good! In addition to the delicious food there were also raffles and door prizes (a great addition to any event).
All of the proceeds went to the charity, so guests weren’t just treating their tummies to some yummy chow; they were also helping out a good cause!
It was a snow day which made for absolutely perfect chili-eatin’ weather…
There were 28 entries in all. So much good food to try!
We even entered our own chili…
It smelled so good! We used pulled pork as our special ingredient.
The Faulkner’s actually had two entries with Cousin Lisa’s entry, Mimi’s Chili.
Unfortunately, we didn’t place, but we did have a ton of fun working the event together that night!
David Coffelt was the emcee for the night. He did a fantastic job!
And of course, we can’t forget the woman behind it all, Nancy Baalman! She was truly a joy to work with as we planned this event.
Now, I bet you’re all wanting to know who won, right?
Well, the judges had a tough job eating all of that incredibly delicious chili.
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| Accepting bribes? ;o) |
But they finally picked a winner! There he is, the man in red with the red hot chili!
He was a ton of fun. In fact, we knew that he was going to win when we met him. His chili had tri-tip steak (yum!) and he did such a fantastic job of promoting his chili. He really sold it!
Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!
This was such a fun (and delicious) night! Thank you Keller Williams for choosing Faulkner’s Ranch as your party place!
Interested in having your special event at Faulkner’s Ranch? Just click here for more information or give us a call at 816-761-1234!
Have a great day ya’ll!
How to Throw An Awesome Retirement Party in 10 Steps
Posted on April 11, 2013
We LOVE helping people celebrate the important milestones in their life.
That’s why when Sandy Hoffman came to us about celebrating her husband Gary’s retirement at Faulkner’s Ranch we were absolutely thrilled! Sandy works for us part time helping with events and she is by far one of the nicest ladies that you will ever meet.
We had so much fun helping her celebrate this big event. Everything from the decor to the guests to the special touches was executed with perfection.
Here is what she had to say about the big day:
“Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves; the guys were like a bunch of old women! Tall tales galore!”
Wanna know how to throw an awesome retirement party?
Just take a note from this party and follow the steps below!
1. When everyone arrives, ask them to sign in. But don’t just have them sign any old thing! Do what Sandy did and have a framed picture available for them to sign. This not only will serve as a “guest book” down the road, but it will become a beautiful keepsake that they can hang in their home.
2. Get the drinks flowing! Open up the bar right away. Make sure that you have plenty of options. It’s always good to start with soda, beer, and wine, as well as some water, iced tea, and lemonade. That way you have something for everyone!
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| Sandy’s granddaughter is served by her mom and watched by her brother. |
3. Have some fun decor! Choose decorations that pay tribute to the retiree’s line of work. We love the use of construction cones and signs for this party.
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Meet Mr. Electricity! He came complete with hot sticks, boots, lineman belt, and a hard hat!
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4. Now open up that buffet! It’s time to serve the food! Take a note from this party and open up both sides of the buffet at once. That way everyone gets to start chowing down sooner.
5. Once the food has been served, turn on some tunes and let everyone sit down, eat, and talk each other’s ears off.
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Eat and talk….and eat some more!
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| Family Chow Time! |
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| Gary and His Friends |
6. By the way, be sure to invite special people! Include family, friends, co-workers, and other groups that the guest of honor is involved in.
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The Lions Club members all showed up to support Gary.
7. During the party, let the retiree show off his work skills to his party guests.
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Gary shows off the safety demo to interested party goers.
8. Then pay tribute to the person of the night with a video and a display of memorabilia. Include things like pictures, uniforms, awards, and work ID’s.
9. And don’t forget to give a heartfelt speech. You can even ask the guest of honors closest co-workers and friends to each say a little something.
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10. Then just enjoy the rest of the night as your guests chat away and have a great time!
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And who said women were bad about talking?
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We’re so glad that we got to celebrate this special day with the Hoffman’s!
Once again, congratulations to Gary on his retirement!
Way to go, pardner!
Are you interested in throwing a special party for one of your loved ones at Faulkner’s Ranch? Just click here for more information or give us a call at 816-761-1234.
Have a great day, ya’ll!
Word From the Herd: Spring Chicks
Posted on April 8, 2013
It’s Spring, so you know what that means?
Babies, Babies, Babies!
They’re everywhere!
Here on the farm we’ve got lots of adorable new little ones…
We even added a brand new member to the ranch family last night!
Meet Stormy!
This sweet little thing was born during last night’s Spring storm.
We are happy to announce that mama and baby are doing fine!
But wait, there’s more!
We’ve even got some new little chicks in the Faulkner family!
Kelly Jo, our director of social media, brought her baby girl by the farm the other day to say “Howdy!” to her cousins…
Don’t you just love that adorable cowboy hat from Cousin Christy? Yee-haw!!!
And a big congrats to Farmer Loneman, our hayride driver of 11 years, on the birth of his new granddaughter…
Such a sweetie!
Gotta love the cuteness! Spring has officially sprung!
Have a great day, ya’ll!
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