The owner of Green Circle Growers received a Father’s Day gift that truly is the gift that keeps on giving.
John VanWingerden, the founding owner of Green Circle Growers, was given a small herd of Texas Longhorn cattle by his children in 2007, according to the company.
The cattle were purchased from the Dickinson Cattle Company in Barnesville, Ohio and are given 15 acres to roam as they graze, rest and entertain passersby at the intersection of SR 511 and US 20 in the middle of the Green Circle Growers complex.
In 2020, two more steers were added to the herd for a current total of nine steers, which are males that have been neutered.
“Each of the steer have their own personalities, it is almost as if they are indoor pets that come running when you feed them in the morning. Some are more passive and allow the ornery ones to push them around when they are fed. However, you may see them cleaning each other an hour later like they are best friends,” stated a press release.
Now a third generation is involved with the cattle as “John’s grandkids love feeding the animals,” the company stated.
VanWingerden “enjoys seeing the beauty of God’s creation, while he sits on his back porch to watch the cattle graze on the hill,” the release also stated.
The steers are named “Peter, Blinker, Zeus, Hades, Field, Slick, Cookie, and Red,” according to the press release.
The Green Circle Growers landscaping crew assists in the duties of maintaining and monitoring the cattle as they need consistent care everyday.
The steer are considered “free range” cattle which means pasture-fed and also receiving hay and a bovine-supplement.
Katelyn Stone is the steers’ main caretaker.
“She enjoys caring and spending time with Peter, Blinker, Zeus, Hades, Field, Slick, Cookie, and Red,” the press release stated.
“God has carefully designed them to handle the winter months and rain, as they naturally produce a winter coat,” stated the press release.
