Maine couple creates state's only working water buffalo farm
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Updated: 5:04 PM EDT Jun 7, 2021
AND MAINE'S ONLY WORKING WATER BUFFALO FARM. --NATS OF FEEDING APPLES TO WATER BUFFALO- - (01-57-42)(JESSICA FARRAR/ME WATER BUFFALO .)CO "WE SAW ONE,, I SAW ONE AND FELL IN LOVE,, IT S WA LOVE AT FIRST SITE." JESSICA FARRAR (FAIR-) ER REMEMBERS THE FIRST TIME SHE EVER ENCOUNTERED A WATER BUFFALO UP CLOSE.... (01-58-03)(JSI) CAES "THE EYES I THINK AND THEIR PERSONALITY VERY, LIKE SOMETNGHI BEHIND THE EYES, VERY KNOWING, VERY CURIOUS." SENO AMERED,, IT WASN'T LONG AFTER THAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND BEGAN RAISG IN THEIR OWN WATER BUFFALO -- STARTING THIS FARM,,, THE MAINE WATER BUFFALO COMPANY.... .. TODAY,, WITH A HEARD OF 17,, THEY PRODUCE MILK PRODUCTS AND MEAT -- BUT MOSTLY THE FARRARS SIMPLY ENJOY THE WATER BUFFALO'S COMPANY AND THEIR ASTONISHINGLY GOOD NATURE.. (02-05-06)(BRIAN FARRAR) "THEY'RE VERY AFFECIONATE, VERY AFFECTIONATE THEY'LLOM C FROM THE POND OR THE WOODS IF THERE ARE WAGONS OUT THERE WITH PEOPLE ON IT, THEY'LL COME TO VEINSTIGATE AND GET THAT ATTENTION." THOSE WAGON RIDES ARE IN FACT A FAVORITE ATTRACTION HERE... THE FARRARS REGULARLY OPEN THE FARM TO VISITORS --- ALLOWING THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO INTERACT AND SEE JUST HOW FRIENDLY AND DOCILE THESE SUCH LARGE ANIMALS ARE --- (02-04-29)(BRIAN) "PEOPLE A RE ASTONISHED ON HOW THE WATER BUFFALO REACTS TO THEM." STILL ,, AS MUCH AS THEY LOVE TO SHOW THE HEARD,,,, THERE IS A WORKING SIDE TO THE FARM AS WELL.,,, --NATS OF MAKING CHEESE-- THE WATER BUFFALO E AR MILKED DAILY -- PRODUCING WHAT JESSICA DESCRIBES AS A MUCH RICHER, SWEETER MILK THAN COWS,,,, AND FROM IT,, SHE MAKEA S LI NE OF SMALL BATCH YOGURT, GELATA AND CHEESE.. (01-41--00) "BUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT COMES THROUGH AND WHAT EVERBY OD SAYS IS WOW, THIS IS SO CREAMY, IT TASTES DECADANT." --NATS IN FIELD-- A COOL POND,, A W FE APPLES,, AND A LOT OF ATTENTION,,,,,,, LIKE BIG CUDDLY HOUSE PETS,, THAT'S HOW THE FARRAR'S DESCRIBE THEIR HEARD OF WATER BUFFALO -- WHICH AS OUT OF PLACE AS THEY MIGHT SEEM IN MAINE..... SEEM TO BE RIGHT AT HOME.. (02-02-17)(JESSICA) "LIKE SOMETIMES THEY'LL COME OUT OF THE POND, THEY'LL BE IN THPOND E OR COME OUT OF THE WOODS AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE,,T JU IST LOOKS SURREAL, YOU WOULDN'T EXPE TCTO FIND IT IN THE BK AC WOODS OF APPLETON." IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE WATER BUFFALO UP CLOSE FOR URYOSELF,,TH
Maine couple creates state's only working water buffalo farm
![WMTW logo]()
Updated: 5:04 PM EDT Jun 7, 2021
Maine’s only working water buffalo farm can be found in the small Midcoast town of Appleton.Owner Jessica Farrar remembered the first time she ever encountered a water buffalo up close. "We saw one, I saw one and fell in love. It was love at first sight,” Jessica Farrar said. “The eyes I think and their personality very, like something behind the eyes, very knowing, very curious.”.It wasn’t long after that encounter that Farrar and her husband, Brian Farrar, began raising their own water buffalo and started their farm, ME Water Buffalo Co.With a herd of 17, they produce milk products and meat, but the Farrar’s said they simply enjoy the company of the water buffalos and their good nature.“They're very affectionate, very affectionate. They'll come from the pond or the woods if there are wagons out there with people on it. They'll come to investigate and get that attention,” Brian Farrar said.The wagon rides are a favorite attraction at the farm as the Farrar’s regularly open the farm to visitors to allow them to interact and see how friendly and docile the animals are.“People are astonished on how the water buffalo reacts to them,” Farrar said.As much as they love to show off their herd, the Farrar’s said there is a working side to the farm.The water buffalo are milked daily. Jessica Farrar said they produce richer, sweeter milk than cow’s milk. She uses the milk to make a line of small-batch yogurt, gelato and cheese.“The really important thing that comes through and what everybody says is, ‘Wow, this is so creamy. It tastes decadent,” Jessica Farrar said.As out of place as the water buffalo might seem to be in Maine, the Farrar’s said they are right at home on their farm.“Like sometimes, they'll come out of the pond. They'll be in the pond or come out of the woods, and it looks like something out of a movie. It just looks surreal. You wouldn't expect to find it in the backwoods of Appleton,” Jessica Farrar said.
APPLETON, Maine — Maine’s only working water buffalo farm can be found in the small Midcoast town of Appleton.
Owner Jessica Farrar remembered the first time she ever encountered a water buffalo up close.
"We saw one, I saw one and fell in love. It was love at first sight,” Jessica Farrar said. “The eyes I think and their personality very, like something behind the eyes, very knowing, very curious.”.
It wasn’t long after that encounter that Farrar and her husband, Brian Farrar, began raising their own water buffalo and started their farm, ME Water Buffalo Co.
With a herd of 17, they produce milk products and meat, but the Farrar’s said they simply enjoy the company of the water buffalos and their good nature.
“They're very affectionate, very affectionate. They'll come from the pond or the woods if there are wagons out there with people on it. They'll come to investigate and get that attention,” Brian Farrar said.
The wagon rides are a favorite attraction at the farm as the Farrar’s regularly open the farm to visitors to allow them to interact and see how friendly and docile the animals are.
“People are astonished on how the water buffalo reacts to them,” Farrar said.
As much as they love to show off their herd, the Farrar’s said there is a working side to the farm.
The water buffalo are milked daily. Jessica Farrar said they produce richer, sweeter milk than cow’s milk. She uses the milk to make a line of small-batch yogurt, gelato and cheese.
“The really important thing that comes through and what everybody says is, ‘Wow, this is so creamy. It tastes decadent,” Jessica Farrar said.
As out of place as the water buffalo might seem to be in Maine, the Farrar’s said they are right at home on their farm.
“Like sometimes, they'll come out of the pond. They'll be in the pond or come out of the woods, and it looks like something out of a movie. It just looks surreal. You wouldn't expect to find it in the backwoods of Appleton,” Jessica Farrar said.
