When last in Connecticut, I was on the hunt for an interesting place to photograph. My sister suggested we visit Sub Edge Farm in Farmington, home to a small herd of long-haired cows. Having never seen a long-haired cow, I was game.

When we approached the farm, for our good luck, a small group of cows grazed in the pasture. Sure enough, the cows were covered in long, thick coats of hair in various shades of red, black, brown, and tan. My sister pulled over to the side of the narrow country road, I grabbed my camera gear and hopped out of the car onto a narrow swath of grass. Only one of the big guys with horns bothered to look my way.

In constant motion, the cows grazed in companionable silence. To keep up, I had to move swiftly over an uneven, grassy terrain, while steering clear of an electric fence that hung between the cows and me. Only when I stopped to capture photos did I fully notice the quiet landscape. The sound of silence was palpable.

When I look back at these images, these docile, long-haired cows make me smile. I hope they do the same for you.

About the cattle:

The cows are from the Highland breed. Highland cattle lived for centuries in the rugged, remote Scottish Highlands. A double coat of hair (long, coarse outer layer and soft woolly underlayer) reduces the need for expensive barns and shelters. The Highlands tend to be docile and calm and have a long history of living with humans. Apparently, the early Scots would keep the family cow(s) inside their homes during the winter.

About the farm:

Sub Edge farm is located on 289 acres in the Farmington River Valley. According to the owners of Sub Edge farm, the story of the farm began some 20,000 years ago when the glaciers retreated from Connecticut leaving some of the richest soils in the world. This family farm grows ten acres of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and culinary herbs and offers a hundred share Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. The farm humanely raises heritage breed pigs; pasture raised broilers, layer hens, and 100% grass-fed Highland cattle.

Inspiration: Silence.