Newfoundland dogs pulled Christmas trees on sleds from the fields of Plow Farms in Plowville on Dec. 9.
The day was magical as the snow fell onto the Second Annual Newfoundland Dog Meet Up and Tree Pull, hosted by Plow Farms in partnership with the New-Pen-Del Newfoundland Organization.
“The great thing about Plow Farms is doing things in the perfect holiday setting. Coming to Plow Farms shouldn’t just mean finding the perfect tree, it should mean finding your holiday spirit,” said Lindsay Eshelman.
Lindsay is the daughter of owners Gregg and Brenda Eshleman and Farm Public Relation and Marketing Director. She owns her own creative agency in New York City and comes down every weekend from Manhattan to help on the farm.
“Over 500 guests and 35 of the finest Newfoundlands gathered from as far away as New Jersey and Maryland for today’s event that began out of my parent’s love for the breed. It includes their own Newfie, Lillie Bell, a true ambassador of the breed, who displays both the huge size and strength, but who is a gentle giant at heart. She is joined by my brother, Preston’s and his wife, Cortney’s dogs five year-old Stella and one year-old Matilda,” she added.
This Christmas Tree Village and farm had its beginning more than 30 years ago in owners Gregg and Brenda Eshelman’s back barn. This family business now employs the entire immediate family. Grandmother Lois Eshelman Beam, 82, hand makes all the beautiful wreaths and swags; Preston Eshelman, Gregg and Brenda’s son, since graduating from Penn State University has assumed a large role running the day-to-day business for his father; Preston’s wife, Cortney, can be seen driving the tractor on weekends along with their daughter, Kylie, 4, who tries to ‘help’ on the farm but really just drinks all the coco; Scott Eshelman, Lois’s son and Gregg’s brother, a part of the farm from the beginning can be seen on weekends making sure the trees are tied down tightly and that everything is running smoothly.
The cozy holiday shop fully stocked with Christmas ornaments, jewelry, and other gift ideas was packed as were the outdoor stands of custom made wreaths and swags. People were enjoying hot coco and food amid these adorable gentle giants. The Plowville cub and boy scouts from Pack 543 were doing a brisk business running the outdoor food stand selling hot dogs, homemade chili, chicken corn noodle soup, and more to raise money for their charity.
As kids and adults petted the shaggy cuddly dogs, some people started boarding the free hay wagon rides being pulled by tractors into the farm’s growing fields. All seeking that one special tree to chop down. Then the working dogs displayed their traditional draft techniques, pulling laughing children and prized trees from the fields on their custom fitted carts and sleds to waiting vehicles for the ride home.
These are the intelligent and benevolent dogs like Nana in Peter Pan.
The star of the show was Obi, a black Newfie, 19 weeks from Fanwood NJ, who was specially fitted with a cart made of a milk box for her to pull. Obi is owned by Karin Bystol.
The best dressed Newfies of the day had to be Chase, a black and white dressed as Santa, and Betsy a gray dressed as an elf. Betsy is a special Newfie from a breeder in Finland that was brought to the United States as a puppy. Owner Dawn Hockman traveled from Saylorsburg to bring them to the event.
Kathy Webber, who helps run the New-Pen-Del Newfoundland Club and lives in Mohnton, had her Newfie Tucker sporting a red and green collar.
Bear, a large fellow, came with his owners Fran and Robert Miller from Bel Air, MD.
Others included Philo, 4, a Black and White Newfie from New Jersey with owner Amy and the youngest an eight-week-old chocolate puppy.
The biggest boy of the day was Gunther, at 180 pounds, owned by Sarah Ivy from Morgantown. Gunther is from Annisquam Light Newfoundlands. His breeder is Dr. Sheri Russell, from Massachusetts.
“The visitors love Gunther and the others. He is a three-year-old sweet, snuggly, lover! I knew from the day I met him he was mine. He is a house dog but loves to play outside in the snow,” said Ivy who is a member of the New-Pen-Del Newfoundland Organization and Vice President of the Garden State Mastiff Club.
Many families who come to Plow Farms, return two or three times after getting their tree just to see the Newfoundlands. They sponsor this day once a year so that people can experience them and grow to love them like the whole Eshelman family does.
“We know our customers, we look forward to seeing them, and more importantly we look forward to catching up with our neighbors. We wish all a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season from all of us here at the farm,” from the Eshelman Family.
They will be open until Dec. 24, from 12 to 7 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Find them on Facebook at Plow Farms and find the New-Pen-Del Newfoundland Organization at https://newpendelnewfclub.com/.
