Jerry Gilbert of Smokey Hollow Farm, rural Poynette, is submitting his Belgian horse, Big Jake, to the Guiness Book of World Records in an attempt to be recognized as the world’s tallest living horse. In the photos below, Big Jake is pictured with Jerry at the measurement. Big Jake unofficially measured 20 hands 2.75 inches or 82.75 inches from the bottom of his left front hoof along a line from just behind that leg to the top of his shoulder. If certified by Guiness, Big Jake would beat the record by some 2.5 inches.
The thirty equine residents of St Francis Horse Rescue and Retirement Farm in Rosholt, Wisconsin were awakened early Christmas Eve morning by an energetic group of ‘Santa’s Helpers’ who worked non-stop to muck out stalls, unload hay, and clean out the barn. They did not slow down until late afternoon.
Working to fulfill their commitment to community service, the fifteen ‘helpers’ were students from nearby Pacelli High School who were fulfilling their commitment to community service, a commitment they had kept with St. Francis for the last four years.
“We truly appreciate the efforts of these students who give up their Christmas Eve day each year to help out with the animals,” said Ms. Hetzel. “With thirty horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules to care for, the work here is almost non-stop.”
Born and raised in Northern Wisconsin, the Hetzels spent their early years with farm animals and, by 1996, they had married and acquired four horses of their own.
Yet the idea to establish a horse rescue would not be a part of their life plan until Mrs. Hetzel purchased a cookbook from Midwest Horse Rescue in 1996. Read more »
The nation’s top two greyhound racing industry organizations have announced that they will provide whatever assistance is needed to ensure that greyhounds awaiting transfer from Dairyland Greyhound Park after the track’s December 31 closing receive proper care until adoption groups can find suitable homes for
them.
American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA) President Karen Keelan and National Greyhound Association (NGA) Executive Director Gary Guccione said their organizations will work through the American Greyhound Council (AGC), the industry’s greyhound welfare and adoption organization, to provide support in the form of special adoption grants, greyhound transportation, and, if needed, temporary housing and care for greyhounds at NGA’s Abilene, KS, headquarters.
Keelan said that, under state law, all greyhounds leaving Dairyland must be transferred to other tracks to resume their racing careers, returned to their owners, or placed in an approved adoption program.
Guccione said that adoption groups around the country are accustomed to dealing with track closings and seasonal increases in the number of dogs needing adoptive homes.
“There are hundreds of very dedicated volunteers working day and night to make sure that every adoptable greyhound is placed in a loving home,” Guccione said. “We will do everything we can to support that effort.”
People interested in adopting a greyhound may call the Greyhound Pets of America toll-free adoption hotline, 1-800-366-1472, visit http://www.gpawisconsin.org, or contact the Dairyland Adoption Center, 262-612-8256.
How is this for a bear story? It could have had a very different ending. I am driving home on Sunday evening. I am trying to sell my house in Poynette and I spent two days holding an open house and waiting for a buyer to show up and I don’t even get one looker. Not one. I am having a serious anxiety attack all the way home. What to do?
It is raining a bit, pitch black and I am traveling Hwy. 13 north between Butternut and my place. Almost home. I have been driving for more than four hours and I am beat and more than a little crabby. My eyes are tired and my worn windshield wipers are not exactly doing a stellar job at clearing the window.
No one is coming southbound so I have my bright lights on (for this I will be very thankful). Suddenly I see a shiny black mass moving across the fog line on the right hand side of the highway. A BEAR! Yikes! The bear is partially in my lane and he is moving slowly, I can see its gleaming wet coat as it ambles towards the edge of the highway.
I turn my wheel as quickly as I can and just as I am about to cross the center line – there’s ANOTHER bear. This one is a big guy and I can see it pull up and swerve and turn its shoulders away from the center of the road. Some how … I drove right between those two bears, one just over the center line and one with its back legs right on the road – just starting to cross over the fog line. I believe I came within a bear’s hair of hitting either one or both – hit neither and just blew through the middle and kept on driving – arriving home about five minutes later, where I went in the house to change my underwear.
It was not my time. I do believe that everyone has a window and when the window opens out you go. Before that – things just somehow work out. So – I didn’t sell the house and that still looms as a huge problem before me. But, I didn’t hit those burly bears; I missed them by a snitch and lived to tell about it. Hitting one bear would probably have been the end of my vehicle and maybe me and my puppy Ivy, who was traveling in her crate on my front seat. But, hitting two bear would have meant a trip to the pearly gates for sure – I imagine it to be something like hitting a stone wall.
So, just when you think things can’t get worse – they very nearly did.
What a wild experience. I tend to believe in guardian angels as I have had more than a few close calls in my 61 years. How else do you explain a narrow opening for me to squeeze through, between those two big fellers right at that precise moment?
Not only did I drive between two bears, I had a similar experience years ago, near Chippewa Falls when I drove right between two deer crossing the road – one in my headlights and one in my taillights. It was summer and I had my window down and I can clearly remember hearing the hooves on the asphalt and let me tell you – that qualified as a close call as well. Bad words were said.
Someday I won’t be so lucky I suppose. I keep my guardian angels busy hanging over the clouds to keep a very close eye on me. I hope I have enough angels that they can split shifts, because one angel would get into some real overtime problems with the union trying to keep me away from the exit door.
I have had three serious medical emergencies (during one I had no pulse) and yet for some strange reason I came through to see another day. So if I indeed have nine lives, I better get real careful real soon because I have already cashed in on five or six lives already. Whew. Maybe I better take some harp lessons now, so I can get a good seat in the orchestra.
A big thanks goes out to my Mom and Dad, Grandparents, Bunka and all my other beloveds on the other side for their diligent work. Angels all.
Thanks to every soul who is protecting me from all things that go bump in the night.
My neighbors come over all the time. They just show up. I am not expecting company, I haven’t invited anyone over, but there they are.
Even early in the morning, when I am not really thinking I’d have any guests! I mean it seems like it is barely light and here they come. Sometimes, I just drive into the driveway in the evening and imagine that! They’re back. I am as neighborly as the next person, but sometimes you have to wonder about new neighbors that would feel so comfortable with you that they don’t worry about the timing of their visits or even the length.
Sometimes their visits go on and on. They don’t seem to be worried about what I am doing or about getting on with the rest of their day.
I like them; I really do, and would be remiss not to mention right off that they are a lovely family. They look so much alike and they all are blessed with the most striking dark eyes. I truly admire their coloring, it is so well, soft and natural, boy, no cosmetics needed in that family.
But, I can tell you that over the years, I’ve had neighbors that have been a bit intrusive (one who came with her own coffee pot) but, these fellow Peeksville neighborhood residents don’t seem to have a clue about common social graces.
At first, there was just one who’d come over pretty regularly, then pretty soon, another friendly family member came along and next there were three (can you imagine the gall?) and sometimes even four.
And eat! These neighbors can really eat. I don’t mind really; if you’re hungry go ahead. But, sheesh, they can eat for a solid hour and barely look up.
You really never know when they’re leaving either. You might think they’re settling in for a long visit and all of a sudden they jump up and off they go. It can be a bit disconcerting, I must say.
I mean I try to be a gracious host. I take time to sit down and pay attention when they’re around. It’s not like I keep running the vacuum or ignore them in anyway. I make a special effort to sit and hold my puppy Ivy on my lap and even as improper as she can be, she also pays extremely close attention with her teensy tail wagging.
We don’t really get much else done, when they’re around. I want to get along with my neighbors and I do enjoy their visits, but beyond the fact they come unannounced, early and late, the most annoying thing is their aversion to making eye contact. Look them right in the eye? I don’t think so.
I will sit and specifically stare right into their faces and they act kind of nervous and twitch and look down or out across the back field, but never into my eyes. What are they hiding? It makes me not want to trust them. I feel like I can’t get to know them very well if we can’t cross that bridge.
And quiet? Can’t get a word out of them. Once in a while, a loud snorting. Like there is some language between them that I can’t understand. I just want to be friends, but snorting? What can a person do when snorted at? Join in? Snort back? If you can’t speak English, well I am not quite sure how to communicate.
That flip of the big white tail when they leave is hard to evaluate as well. What? They come over, eat all my clover, distract me from my chores, and won’t even give me so much as a nod and then all of sudden phew! They’re gone. Haughty, wouldn’t you say?
I feel a bit misaligned. What did I do? For the record, I am blessed that my neighbors who live right next door are so much more pleasant. They are in fact they are the epitome of good neighbors. They’ve helped me carry heavy stuff, brought me tomatoes and fresh fish and even warm goodies from the oven … and they don’t come over near often enough. I love to see them. They’re absolutely great.
The aforementioned group of neighbors, the ones with the big ears – well I am not sure what is up with them, but I wish there was some way I could remind them that it is the DNR that will not allow me to put out some corn. I am not being cheap. The clover and the peace and quiet to enjoy their dining is all I can offer. They needn’t be so rude and flip me off (so to speak) and bound off into the forest without a word.
I know the hunting seasons are going to be opening soon and I know the population must be controlled or next year I’ll have 15 neighbor deer milling around in the backyard, but geez, what can I say? They are my neighbors. I wish them well.
Photographer Gary N-Ski captured these images of Lodi school children as they experienced life on the farm during Lodi High School’s annual Day onthe Farm.
Local grade school students recently made a trip to local farms to learn more about agri-business. In this video by Gary N-Ski, they learn about the joys of pig farming.
Most of you readers have read about or seen photos of the Labrador Retrievers that I’ve raised for over three decades in my articles and stories. Many of you have sent me condolences, emails, and letters when I’ve had Labs pass away or have had to be put down late in their lives and written about the sorrow and grief that one feels. The common bond that dog lovers have seems to transcend breeds. I’ve found that a dog lover is a dog lover whether they own a Lab, a German shepherd, or a mixed breed. There are many differences from breed to breed and dog to dog, but the love and joy that they bring to their owners is something special and very unique. Dogs may be the same breed, but they all have their own personalities and traits.
My last Lab was Bo, who passed away in her sleep last December after 13 wonderful years with me. It was a tough time emotionally and I wasn’t sure if I was up to raising another dog as I get older and fight physical and health problems. The last thing that I wanted was to have a dog outlive me. But, the companionship and pleasure of having a dog exhibit unconditional love is something that only dog owners understand. Bo was and is still in my mind and thoughts. Bo is like my other Labs; Chico, Lucy, Bubba, Tut, and Lulu who will all be remembered as wonderful pets, companions, and friends. They all brought laughter, joy, and sorrow into my life and into lives of all of my friends that they touched over the years. Read more »
Columbia County 4H Horse Speed Show runs all day on July 25th at the Columbia County Fair grounds in Portage Wi. More than a dozen members from Lodi will be competing in the all day program. Admission to the Equestrian events are free.
Dogs don’t get obituaries in the newspaper, even though many dogs are nicer than the people that do. A person may live a life like the devil incarnate, but they will be hailed in their final recognition as somewhere near sainthood. A good, loyal dog passes quietly, without documentation.
I’m not sure why, but when dogs pass away their attributes aren’t usually remembered in any widely read publication, unless of course that dog happens to belong to a staff writer. Then it is rules be damned.
Last week I had to put my mixed terrier to sleep. Anyone who has been through the experience, knows how difficult it is.
There are dogs of every size and shape. Some more likeable than others. My mother was afraid of dogs and so there were no dogs at our house. Later, when I had my own family there were Irish Setters and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. Nice dogs, especially the Irish.
Still later, when I was living in a very tiny cottage I decided I needed a small dog. A big dog wouldn’t have had room to swing its tail. So I got Keillor. Read more »
Many of you readers have sent me wonderful and heart-touching letters and emails over the years when I have had to put a dog down and more recently when my last Labrador, Bo, passed away last December. Dogs and their stories, many of them sad and tear-jerking, strike a common bond with many people from many different walks of life in today’s world.
I have written about my Labs and their escapades both good and bad over the last two decades. My dogs are my family and only dog owners can feel the heartache and joys that they bring to you in a life that is way too short. Throughout all my writing, stories about losing a companion bring me more emails and letters than anything that I do in the world of the outdoors. Dogs of all breeds and kinds are a common thread between so many of us. Losing a life-long pet is one of the worst things that can happen to a dog owner and brings all of us to tears when facing this terrible time. You never completely get over the loss of a dog that you have raised and spent year’s together hunting and enjoying the outdoors. The bond is a strong one and many who don’t have dogs don’t understand this powerful relationship. Read more »
Muskies have been jumping into boats in Southern Wisconsin waters today. Please feel free to donate a brat or burger to your nearest hungry muskie this holiday weekend !
Lodi Valley News serves the Lodi, WI and Lake Wisconsin area with news and information from local writers. We serve Columbia, Dane and Sauk Counties in Wisconsin
Animals, Human Interest, Local | Free Speech | 
February 1, 2010 8:40 AM | 
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