Steers love to be scratched below the chin, Maria was happy to oblige. She was right at home with the animals at Bejosh Farm, and with Carol and Ed, two passionate lovers of animals. Animals do well at Bejosh, it is a classic New York state farm – or farm anywhere – old tractors, tilting outbuildings, drafty barns, animals in every corner. There was even an eight-year-old hen in her own fenced-in enclosure because she is sick and the other healthy chickens might peck at her and harm or kill her.

Maria and the big cows bonded right away.