Stories, updates, and farm-fresh news from the Farm
We Survived the Winter Storm!
If you’d told us a week ago that we’d be riding out one of the most historic winter storms to hit Texas since Uri in 2021, we might not have believed you. But Winter Storm Fern had other plans for East Texas—and for Five Blessings Farms.
When the Forecast Turned Serious
By Wednesday, January 22nd, the warnings were becoming impossible to ignore. The National Weather Service was tracking a massive system moving our way, and meteorologists weren’t mincing words—this was going to be big. Ice. Snow. Prolonged freezing temperatures. The kind of storm that doesn’t just pass through Henderson; it settles in and makes itself at home.
We immediately shifted into storm prep mode. After 20+ years in corporate life before returning to the land, we thought we’d seen it all. But farming during a major winter storm? That’s a whole different level of responsibility. When you’re stewarding livestock, there’s no calling in sick. The animals depend on you, no matter what Mother Nature throws your way.
Preparing the Farm
The 48 hours before Fern hit were a blur of activity:
Water, water, everywhere: We filled every stock tank to the brim, knowing that once the ice set in, our water sources could freeze solid. Extra buckets were filled and staged in the barn. We learned from Uri—you can never have too much water access when temperatures plummet.
Shelter check: Every shelter got a thorough inspection. Our pigs needed extra bedding—deep piles of dry straw for insulation. Despite what some folks think, pigs don’t love cold weather. They’re comfortable between 50-75°F, and we were looking at temperatures in the teens with brutal wind chills in the single digits. Those silvopasture areas that our pigs usually love to roam? They’d be taking shelter instead.
Hay and feed: We moved extra hay close to feeding areas and made sure we had plenty of supplemental feed on hand. Animals need extra calories in extreme cold to maintain body heat—it’s like they’re burning fuel just to stay warm.
Generator and backup power: After the 2021 blackouts, having backup power wasn’t optional—it was essential. We tested everything, topped off fuel tanks, and said a prayer that the grid would hold.
The Storm Arrives
When Fern rolled in on Thursday, January 23rd, she didn’t disappoint. Or rather, she disappointed in every possible way.
The precipitation started as a mix—that dangerous combination of sleet and freezing rain that coats everything in a thick layer of ice. By Friday morning, our farm looked like it had been dipped in glass. Every fence post, every tree branch, every blade of grass was encased in ice that glistened in the weak morning light.
Then came the cold? The temperatures, combined with brutal wind chills in the single digits, created conditions that tested every system on the farm.
The Daily Grind
For four solid days, our routine became sacred:
Early morning checks (before dawn, because animals don’t care about your sleep schedule): Bundle up in every layer we own. Break ice in water troughs—sometimes multiple times per day. Check on each animal group. Make sure everyone has access to fresh water and plenty of feed.
Midday rounds: More ice breaking. More feed distribution. Watch for any signs of distress—animals standing hunched up, separated from the herd, or showing signs of frostbite on ears or tails.
Evening checks: One more round before dark. Extra bedding where needed. Make sure everyone’s settled in for another brutally cold night.
The hardest part? Our pigs. They’re smart animals, and most of them had the good sense to hunker down in their shelters with that deep bedding we’d provided. But checking on them meant trudging through snow and ice, making sure none had ventured out and gotten into trouble. Snow is particularly challenging for pigs to navigate, and the icy conditions made every step treacherous—for us and for them.
The Community Response
One thing Winter Storm Fern reminded us of is the strength of the East Texas community. Neighbors checked on neighbors. Text messages flew: “Y’all got power?” “Need anything?” “How are your animals holding up?”
Over a million customers across the affected states lost power, and while Henderson had some outages, we were blessed to keep our lights on for the most part. We know many folks weren’t so fortunate.
Lessons Learned (Again)
If there’s a silver lining to storms like Fern, it’s the reminder of what truly matters:
Preparation is everything: You can’t over-prepare for a major weather event. Every bucket of water you fill, every extra bale of hay you stock, every minute spent checking your backup systems—it all matters when the storm hits.
Animals are resilient—with proper care: Our cattle, with their thick winter coats, handled the cold better than the pigs. But with adequate shelter, deep bedding, and plenty of feed, everyone made it through. Not a single loss on our farm, and for that, we’re incredibly grateful.
Pigs venturing out for some water that isn’t frozen
Infrastructure matters: Having proper shelter, backup power, and well-maintained water systems isn’t a luxury in farming—it’s a necessity. Every dollar we’ve invested in solid infrastructure paid dividends during those four brutal days.
The fragility of our systems: This storm affected over 230 million people across more than half of U.S. states. It shut down major highways, cancelled thousands of flights, and brought transportation networks to a standstill. It reminded us why we started this farm in the first place—after COVID-19 showed us how fragile the food supply chain could be, we wanted to have more control over where our food comes from.
By the Numbers
When it was all said and done:
4 days of continuous below-freezing temperatures
Dozens of trips to break ice in water troughs
Hundreds of pounds of extra feed distributed
Zero animal losses (Praise God!)
One very tired but grateful farm family
Moving Forward
As of Sunday evening, January 26th, temperatures finally started climbing above freezing. The ice began its slow melt. The tension in our shoulders started to ease just a bit.
Winter Storm Fern has been called potentially historic, with damage estimates in the billions. Looking around our community, we see downed trees, damaged power lines, and the lingering effects of days without power for many families. The recovery will take time.
But here at Five Blessings Farms, our cattle are grazing again. Our pigs are cautiously emerging from their shelters to explore the muddy, slushy remains of what was a winter wonderland. And we’re back to the normal rhythms of farm life—grateful, exhausted, and already thinking about how we can be even better prepared for the next storm.
Thank You
To everyone who checked on us, to our customers who sent encouraging messages, to the local feed stores and farm supply businesses that stayed open and stocked despite dangerous conditions—thank you. This is what community looks like.
And to our animals, who weathered this storm with patience and resilience—you’re the reason we do what we do.
Winter Storm Fern tested us. But like every challenge that comes with this farming life, it reminded us why we’re here: to raise food with integrity, to steward the land faithfully, and to serve our community with the quality meats that you’ve come to trust from Five Blessings Farms.
We survived Winter Storm Fern. And we’ll be ready for whatever comes next.
Stay safe, East Texas. And if you need to restock your freezer after the storm, we’ve got you covered. Fresh, pastured pork and grass-fed/rain-finished beef—raised right here in Henderson by folks who just proved they’ll go through anything to care for these animals the way God intended.
Thanks for following us and allowing us to serve you. If you have questions, give us a shout! Have a wonderful week!
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