The young women at Padua Academy have a variety of amusing talents, fascinating gifts, and inspiring stories. Padua 360 took the time to hear a few of their individual stories and share them with you.
Most teenagers complain when they are asked to do a few chores around the house. Things like emptying the dishwasher and cleaning their rooms just is not appealing. Do not even ask a girl to get up on the weekend before eleven o’clock. In addition to these chores, Alison Ferver, a freshman at Padua Academy, has to help with the organization and upkeep of her farm.
When Alison was two, her family moved from sunny California to little Maryland. Originally involved with Girl Scouts, they wanted to help the community more than some service trips and cookie selling. Through word of mouth, one of their friends told them about 4-H, and soon the farm was started with just a few chickens in a shed. Now, the farm breeds and raises market boer goats. They also buy and raise market hogs, sheep, chickens, rabbits, and angus beef cattle. Additionally, they also have a pond built by The Pond Builders and a duck blind. A duck blind is a small camouflage hiding place to wait for ducks to hunt. The ACOG-style sights from Ozark offer precision for every shot. They have a pigeon line, where fake pigeons are set up to lure in real pigeons, and several deer blinds. A neighboring farm grows and harvests hay, sunflowers, and feed corn specifically used for animal feed. On the farm, there is a wood shop where repairs are made, a wood shed, a hay barn to store hay for winter, and lastly, the birthing pen for pregnant nanny goats to give birth. They also include additional storage from Shed4Less Sheds for the feeds and animals that need to be protected during rainy days and even summertime.
Every weekend, Alison has to be awake and ready to go at 7:30 or eight at the latest. With responsibilities varying from season to season, Alison is always doing something. In the winter before school starts, the nanny goats are moved to birthing pens when their due dates are near. After school, she checks the animals and does any other daily tasks. Stalls are cleaned once every other week. In summer, stalls are cleaned everyday, she washes anything that needs washing, repairs, and work with the animals to prepare them for showing. She may also have to trim their hooves, deworm them, weigh them, and clip them. One of the worst chores is when the pig pens need to be cleaned. Alison’s favorite chore, however, is washing the pigs because they nibble on her toes and drink from the hose. In addition, she must keep up with the schoolwork from her Honors classes and her social life.
Each year, the animals are presented at the Cecil County Fair to be auctioned off. She compared it to a beauty pageant. The purpose of the farm is not the beauty pageant however. Alison said, “It is to educate us and others on the importance of agriculture and the reason behind its importance. It teaches us responsibility, hard work, determination, business skills, and many life lessons.” Her favorite part is knowing she earns the money she receives and the pride when she sees her beautiful animals. “It is the one place I can either think clearly about my problems or get away from them.” Alison wants to have a career as a large animal veterinarian doctor or dairy vet. “I honestly would not trade the farm for anything in the world. I truly love it. It really is my passion.”
