In its heyday, Zenda Farms was a working farm teeming with people, animals and activity. For close to 75 years animals have not roamed the rolling fields of this iconic farm. The only sounds surrounding the silver barns were the sweet melodies of the songbirds in the grasslands, the owls in the woodlands and peepers in the vernal potholes. In the late 1940’s the dairy herd was sold off and by the mid-1960’s the beef cattle were moved to other pastures.
Fun at Zenda
Everything changed this past June, when Mary Ann Duffy arrived with a few furry friends and her flock. The goal was simple, bring life back to Zenda. One could say that the farm went “back to her roots” as the sheep became the pinnacle of the Zenda experience. This is the first time since the 1960’s that domestic animals are living on the land on the north side of Zenda Farms.
Sheepdog trials (also known as sheep herding) is a game of strategy and inter-species communication. It has captivated many farming communities around the world for centuries. Mary Ann is a nationally recognized sheepdog herding enthusiast and is now a treasured Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) volunteer at Zenda Farms Preserve. Her border collies, Gwen and Bonnie, are award winning sheepdogs that often place in the Kingston Sheepdog Trials for their agility and tact. Their journey brought them to Zenda, to teach the community about this dynamic sport, and an amazing dog breed, while boosting energy in the fields.
Before Mary Ann arrived with her sheep, TILT stewardship staff got to work. The incoming tenants required some minor upgrades of the dairy barn to be able to sleep comfortably and roam safely. Fencing was installed that allowed the sheep to freely cross over the Zenda Spur Trail into a pasture overlooking the rolling grasslands on the north side of the Preserve.
Using her skills and knowledge of the dog breed, sheep, and training practices, Mary Ann hosted weekly training sessions open to the community every Friday during the sheeps' summer getaway. Well-attended, these trials brought people to the farm to enjoy watching the cleverness of the collie dogs hard at work. People left overjoyed by what they experienced at Zenda.
A Growing Flock
Seventeen community volunteers known as the “Zenda Shepherds” tended to the flock’s daily needs. “When I was asked if I’d be interested in helping with sheep at Zenda, I was an immediate YES. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but I knew I wanted to be part of such a unique opportunity to help bring life back to Zenda. What’s really great is that when people visited the sheep, they smiled. It was good for the soul,” said Tony Augliano, Zenda Shepherd. Volunteers worked to keep the sheep comfortable during their 8-week long stay to ensure their safety. Every morning the sheep were led out to pasture and every evening put back in the barn.
Although the sheep have left for the winter, everyone had fun at Zenda this summer. TILT’s family grew by more than a flock and we look forward to seeing everyone wooly soon again next season.
