Merrill Reynolds runs Edgewood Farm in North Bangor, New York, and it’s not your standard operation. After almost five decades of running a dairy and Standardbred horse farm, Merrill has finally reduced his operation down to about 25 Brown Swiss milkers and 15 young stock. He pastures his cattle and supplements their feed with grain because he no longer raises crops, and he calls it a hobby farm now. But that wasn’t always the case.

For many years, Merrill worked as a dairy farmer milking as many as 125 Holsteins every day. He also raised horses and was licensed in the US and Canada as a sulky driver. He spent about half his time off the farm racing at Vernon Downs, Saratoga Springs, in Ottawa, and in Montreal. In fact, Merrill was one of the leading drivers in New York in 1983 navigating his own horses as well as horses for many other owners around the racing ovals throughout the state. That came to an abrupt but temporary end in 1983 when Merrill was involved in an automobile accident and suffered life-threatening injuries. He was unconscious for over a week and broke his back in two places. A year later, however, Merrill was back in the sulky once again, and to the delight of racing fans across the country, he won his very first race upon his return.

Merrill’s wife Tammy is Director of Medical/Surgical Services at Alice Hyde Medical Center and has held various administrative positions through the years. Merrill’s focus has been the farm and on supporting his wife and girls in their love of showing horses. Tammy is always there to pitch in when needed. Their two adult children, Megan and Courtney, followed their mother’s footsteps and work at the hospital, but they grew up training horses and milking cows. In fact, they are both still active on the farm and continue to train horses. Courtney married this past year, and her husband Neil Martin plays an integral role on the farm milking the cows when Merrill is away and helping with breeding the cows.

The Reynolds have many visitors to their farm throughout the year, and they love hosting them. They like to plan ahead and often give their visitors treats of Cabot Cheese. A bus load of elementary school students may arrive one day, and the Reynolds let them feed a calf and pet the horses. If time permits, they show them how the cows are milked. Merrill usually gives the tours himself, and one day it may be a 4-H club, the next a school group, and frequently just a casual passer-by. The visitors are always fascinated by the friendly Brown Swiss cows. Tammy and the girls still raise horses on the farm, and they are always a big hit with the visitors.

Click to learn more about Merrill Reynolds