Chris Bainbridge invites you to take a trip with him to the Scottish Highlands right here in North Carolina. Where is this place, you ask? It’s Happy Hens and Highlands Farm, the dream of owners Adam and Emily, whose faith drives them to be stewards of the earth. As stewards, they strive to love, respect and care for the land. They work hard to ensure their animals are happy and have the best life possible. Not to mention, they have the cutest cows you’ve ever seen in your life.

Established in 2014, you’ll find Happy Hens and Highlands Farm nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Adam and Emily, Western North Carolina natives, operate this farm. Their Fold is composed of a few Scottish Highland crosses. Here, Adam and Emily live in harmony with nature.

The Scottish Highlands cattle are the oldest breeds of registered cattle in the world. As their name suggests, they hail from the mountainous region of northern Scotland. Their distinctive horns and long, wavy coats make them unique and a magical sight to behold. And you can’t ignore the hair. Their beautiful bangs called a dossan, and long, shaggy double coats, are designed to keep them warm during cold Highland winters, including the southern Appalachian Mountains.

Adam and Emily initially started their herd to raise grass-fed Highland beef (lower in cholesterol than other forms of beef). But they quickly fell in love and got too attached for that. Thanks to social media, the farm was able to go in another direction, raising AHCA registered highland cattle for breeding stock, pasture stock, and to sell to hobby farms for mowing down pastures.

The social media part is incredible. The cows went viral with their stories making international news for amazing measures to care for these cuddly beasts. One of the cows now has his own children’s book—Baby James, which you can purchase online. Speaking of online purchases, they are a big driver for keeping the farm profitable so they can continue their mission of raising and rescuing these amazing creatures.

You can schedule farm tours and photo sessions online at HappyHensAndHighlands.com. Come up to the mountains for a memorable experience and appreciate these cute cows in person.

To learn more about Ingles Market, visit their website at ingles-markets.com.