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Schei linger works toward creating the Avon Hills Folk School By LIZVOS Staff Writer
On a AVON comfortable summer afternoon, a breeze trickles through the leaves on 64 acres nestled in the heart of the Avon Hills. It's an ideal setting for anyone needing to collect their thoughts, find inspiration or experience
always something they dreamed of. Karen and Francis Schellinger purchased the acreage in 1969 and over time, they raised their family while building structures, traditions and a sense of community. Being raised on the property for much of his life, Chris Schellinger credits his parents with building those components that have thus influenced his life and his plans for the property. He doesn't live far from the land and stops by often to visit with his mom and work on projects around the property. All the while, keeping a goal SCHELLING ER
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Great Scots! Loxtercamps building Scottish Highland herd By DIANE LEUKAM Staff Writer
SAUK CENTRE - When you have a little boy who loves animals, what do you get him for his birthday? An animal, of course. And if you live on acreage in the country, that animal might be a little bigger than a cat or a dog. When Jake Loxtercamp turned 7, he received a gift from his father, Jerry Loxtercamp, and the gift had a name: Emily. Emily was a 2-year-old Scottish Highland heifer from Schon Boden Farms in Osceola, Wis., registered with the American Highland Cattle Association. Emily was pregnant with her first calf, and so began the building of a herd. Soon, the herd became a family project with Jerry and his girlfriend, Courtney Schroeder, Jake, now 13, Carmen, 11 and Luke, 9 Loxtercamp all taking part in the venture. "They all have ownership in the cattle, but Jake is the one that knows everything about
PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM
Jerry Loxtercamp pets Bella, a Scottish Highland cow. Loxtercamp and his children raise highlanders west of Sauk Centre.
them. He knows the name of every animal," Jerry said. Currently, Jake owns nine animals, all from Emily's lineage; Carmen and Luke own three each, and Jerry and Courtney own the rest of the 71-head herd. The family operates on a simple system for ownership. Whoever owns the bull gets the bull calf and whoever owns the cow gets the heifer calf. And they have a lot of fun with the names of the animals born on the farm. "When Emily was pregnant there was a discussion that
if she had a bull, it would be turned into hamburger," Jerry said. "So Jake said 'we'll name it Hamburger,' and that's how the food theme got started." Following that logic, a heifer might be called "Cheeseburger" because it takes milk to make cheese. Each year there is a different theme for names, such as condiments, sauces or this year's theme, pork products. Benita, are "Mine LOXTERCAMP
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PHOTO BY LIZ VOS
Chris Schellinger stands in the Sugar Shack on his family's property in the Avon Hills, which is used for making maple syrup and eventually will be used as an instructional space at the Avon Hills Folk School. The sheathing shown beyond the main timbers was pulled from a barn built in 1889 by Schellinger's grandfather.
PHOTO BY DIANE LEUKAM
Scottish Highland cattle are a hearty breed originating, as their name indicates, in the highlands of Scottland. They are the oldest breed of registered cattle in the world, with the registry, or herd book, dating back to 1885.