Today is our first in a series of Valentine’s posts about each of the individuals in our care.
We are using the month of love to tell you more about everyone so they can gain more Chimpanzee Pals and Bovine Buddies. We hope to have 30 new pal or buddies by the end of the month!
I wanted to kick off the love with a post about Nutmeg, the steer we lost in March of 2024. Today would have been his 11th birthday.
As we share on his bio page, Nutmeg was born at Farm Sanctuary on February 10, 2015. His mom Betsy, along with Honey, were dairy cows purchased for a reality TV series called “Utopia”. When the show ended, after Honey’s daughter Meredith was born on set, the veterinarian and the show’s producer didn’t want to send pregnant Betsy and her new family back into the dairy industry. Seeking an alternative, and lucky for Nutmeg and his family, they found Farm Sanctuary. Like his cow companions, he came to our sanctuary on November 2, 2018 from Farm Sanctuary‘s Northern California shelter when it closed.
Nutmeg was best known for looking intimidating but being a big softie who still relied on his mom for comfort. He had a boyish charm that he shared with other sanctuary residents, which I wrote about in this blog post. Nutmeg was also known for his enviable curly red hairdo.
He liked tractors (seriously) and scratching his big, lovable head:
In the fall, he was most likely to be found picking apples right off the tree in the winter pasture. I will forever think of that particular tree as being Nutmeg’s.
What got Nutmeg out of bed in the morning was probably Betsy or Honey getting out of bed first and him dutifully following their cue.
Nutmeg was the first steer I got to know well, and I am thankful for every moment I was able to spend with him.
Nutmeg currently has two in memoriam Bovine Buddies. Thank you to them for continuing to honor his memory and his influence on the sanctuary. If you’d like to join their herd, you can become his Buddy here: https://chimpsnw.org/you-can-help/be-a-bovine-buddy/
Just like you Diana, I remember him with love and very fond memories. Although he had a short life, you gave him such a wonderful home. He was so gorgeous and I was very envious of his lovely hairdo. It seems fitting that he’s the first in your Valentine series.
I agree with Carol. Nutmeg was a beautiful bovine, and.I am so grateful that he and mother, Honey, and my Bovine best buddy Meredith were able to live at the CSNW.
Thanks for starting off with my favorite Sanctuary animal, Nutmeg. I did some searches and found many other past CSNW blogs of the bovines. I’m so grateful to Diana and J. B. for giving these deserving animals the best home they could ever have!
Betsy’s baby boy, Nutmeg, will remain in our memories forever. He was a big handsome guy with great curly hair.
Dearest Nutmeg. Beautiful, big, with the best bouffant hairdo! That’s what instantly comes to mind when I think about Nutmeg. I love how large he was compared to his mama, Betsy. I have three cows I visit with now and then, they are gorgeous and their bouffant hairdos are impressive, but they can’t compare to Nutmeg’s majestic beauty. It’s fitting that you chose Nutmeg to begin your celebration of love. Everyone loves Nutmeg. (Happy Birthday Nutmeg, wherever you are.)
Thank you for these wonderful memories of handsome Nutmeg, one of my Sanctuary favorites.
Oh, what a wonderful idea, Diana, and yes, Valentine February is the month of love and love is at the heart of your sanctuary. Nutmeg was a beautiful boy bursting with personality and though tragically he left us all to soon he gave out and received so much love with you and his bovine family. His memory lives on in our hearts.:heart::heart: