In Season 3 Episode 1, Where The (Water) Buffalo Roam, you had the pleasure of meeting Faythe and David Diloreto owner and manager of Fading D Farm.
You can tell from the episode and Behind-The-Scenes article just how amazing Fading D Farm is. But, there are two young women who play instrumental roles. You also saw herd manager/farmhand/milk maiden Autumn Kinley in the show and now I’ll introduce you to creamery assistant/animal caretaker Kristie Ward as well. I caught up with Autumn and Kristie in the breakroom at Fading D Farm and had a very unexpected, impromptu and enlightening conversation.
We first met Autumn with resident one-month-old water buffalo Maisie. Autumn initially was a bit shy talking with Chip, but with a twinkle in her eye she quickly warmed up and gave an awesome on-camera interview.
Autumn Kinley
Kristie Ward
Kristie was in the creamery. She was scrubbed up and prepping for gelato making. The creamery was very loud and extra conversation was impossible. But we made up for it in the breakroom!
DONNA SANDERS: Autumn first let me say you are amazing with the water buffalo. It was fascinating watching you work with Maisie and milking Maryanne. Is there a specific degree associated with being a herd manager/farm hand/milk maiden?
AUTUMN: I went to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and majored in Livestock Production and Agriculture Business.
Autumn milking a water buffalo.
DS: Wow, what was it like growing up in a third world country?
KRISTIE: Running water and near-constant electricity were things I wasn’t familiar with until my late teens. The food was different – Nigerian foods tend to be spicy, they use a lot of palm oil, leafy vegetables and tubers. Most forms of animal protein are smoked or dried as refrigeration isn’t readily available. I loved it all. I can often find ingredients at international food markets and still cook up “food from home.”
DS: Autumn, Livestock Production sounds like an interesting major. What exactly is livestock production?
AUTUMN: Livestock Production falls under the Livestock degree. It deals with reproductive systems, diseases, and grass management.
DS: Not really understanding how someone finds a job as a milk maiden and creamery assistant — how did you wind up at Fading D Farm?
AUTUMN: That’s a funny story. My mom is a huge Facebook follower. She told me Fading D Farm was hiring. I applied for the job and got hired immediately. I love Faythe and it was the “right fit.”
Kristie at work in the creamery.
KRISTIE: Faythe and David are family. Their daughter Chelsea is married to my brother Ben. Faythe invited me to come to the farm for a visit. Two or three days into my visit I was able to go into the creamery and learned how to make buffalo mozzarella cheese. I got to be there for the entire process and found it fascinating. I was asked if I would like a full-time job working as a creamery assistant and animal caretaker. The answer was yes and I was hooked.
DS: Autumn, besides working in all your current roles do you have any additional duties?
AUTUMN: I have no other duties. Since I am herd manager I’m always outside never inside. When I’m not here Kristie would be in charge of milking and other outside chores.
There you have it. Two very different and fascinating jobs. Wouldn’t it be great just to hang out with Autumn and Kristie for a day? I could have chatted with both for hours, but they had work to do and then, all too soon, we were on the road again.
