Published: 1/30/2020 11:28:45 AM

One day last week, the temperature was close to 60. It felt like spring. The grass seemed greener, and the smell of damp-not-frozen soil was in the air. I took off my jacket when feeding the cattle. It was warm. Alas, two days later, with the icy wind piercing my down jacket, it seemed like 20 below zero. Winter was back. Encouragement is needed and when the cold seems never-ending, here comes Ground Hog Day!

The second day of February marks the midway point between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. Its when groundhogs supposedly emerge from their burrows, and if the weather is sunny and they are frightened by their shadows, they dive back into their holes, and winter persists for six more weeks. Its a Pennsylvania Dutch superstition. Over the years, Punxsutawney Phil has come to be the celebrity groundhog, and all eyes are on him.

For farmers with critters to feed, Feb. 2 has serious significance in the adage: Half your hay by Ground Hog Day, meaning if youve used more than half your hay, youre probably going to run out.

Ground Hog Day is not only the half-way point for hay-feeding but this year, its also the precursor for our Feb. 11 first-in-the-nation presidential primary. This is the season when the state is flooded with politicians. They show up at farmers markets, on street corners, in grocery stores, and during the 2016 race Libertarian candidate, Gary Johnson showed up at our farm: twice. Of course, for each politician, there seem to be hundreds of out-of-state supporters, well-known TV personalities, and camera-people trailing the candidates and seeking local color.

If New Hampshire can upend political wisdom by elevating under-dogs, why cant we also topple Punxsutawney Phils monopoly on predicting the end of winter? Scientific observation does not support Phils findings, which means any animal is qualified to forecast the weather and that the exact day doesnt matter. Theres an opportunity knocking on the barn door.

This year our mini-pig, Tazzy D. Moo, has agreed to challenge Phils role as end-of-winter-predictor by dressing up like a ground hog. This is an opportunity Tazzy has been waiting for her whole life. To honor tradition, she will wear a fashionable ground hog costume, but unlike Phil, who doesnt speak, Tazzy will give a speech. This is New Hampshire, and even if she is a pig, her voice matters. Its hard to know who wants to hear what she has to say, but isnt that true of politicians too?

Stop by the farm on Feb. 1between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to see Punxy Tazzy at work. Well also have cows to feed; Curious Bleu, the Scottish Highlander steer, to sit on; calves to brush; and marshmallows to roast. Who knows, maybe the news media will be there looking for local color and someone to quote. If so, Tazzy will be ready.

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Half the hay by Ground Hog Day - Concord Monitor