all hail mom

Today we’re saluting ranching mom, Mary Heffernan.

Life changed drastically for the Heffernan’s when they left Silicon Valley to run a farm in Northern California. Mary, Brian, and their 4 daughters also named Mary, now run this beautiful plot of land in Fort Jones, selling their meat locally and online across the nation.

“Sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to have so many animals in our care. There are no days off in ranching. When we first started doing this I was struggling to find time to get all the chores on the ranch done and still get to the household chores like laundry and cleaning AND cook a good dinner for my family every night. I was worried about having enough time for the girls too. But what I quickly learned was that they could step up to the plate and help with all of these chores and tasks – and we’d be spending all of our time working together as a result. It’s a lot of work around here, but it’s a pretty great life doing all of it together.” –Mary Heffernan

Now let me introduce you to the younger 4 Marys:

MaryFrances, or Francie, is the oldest at 9. She loves dogs, looking after all the animals, and reading books. MaryMarjorie, or Maisie, is 8 years old. You’ll often find her following her dad around the ranch, helping out in any way she can. MaryJane, or JJ, is a fashion-fashion-forward-6-year-old fireball. While sweet little MaryTeresa, also called Tessa or Tiny, is a perpetually happy 4-year-old with a giant smile on her face and typically a tiny animal tucked away in her arms.

I’ll leave you with a word of advice from Mary about being a mom:

“The more you expect from your children, the more capable they become. Letting them solve problems on their own and have some independence is the best gift you can give them.” –Mary Heffernan