LizDick Farm
With this calf I thee wed
Lucas and Kristina Vaughan took over responsibility for the family dairy farm in 2009 from Lucas’s parents. The farm is named after his grandparents, Elizabeth and Richard, who purchased the operation in 1955. The herd is primarily made up of Holsteins with a dozen Ayrshire cows with distinctive red and white markings. When Lucas first proposed to Kristina, he offered her an Ayrshire calf as a gift. It was a little big to wear on her finger, but she loved it.
Tractor love
Lucas always planned to be a dairy farmer, but he did spend ten years as a mechanic with a John Deere dealership. If there’s one thing he’s (almost) as excited about as farming and family, it has to be tractors. He’s been buying vintage John Deere tractors since he was a youngster. His passion is to repair and restore these old beauties to their past glory. All told the family owns nine vintage tractors dating from 1927 to 1955.
Sweet tradition
Three generations of the family take part in the annual Vermont tradition of sugaring and making maple syrup. They have about 450 taps and sell the syrup from their farm, which sits on a hilltop at the end of a quiet road. The Vaughans feel lucky to be able to raise their two daughters there. “Lizzie and Amy help out in the barn every day. They’re comfortable with the animals and love to run around the farm,” Lucas says. “We love to pause the workday to share a family picnic lunch in the middle of the hayfield. Every day is take your kids to work day.”
