Winter is upon us! Now that fall harvest is over for us in Iowa, it’s time to prepare for the next chapter, which includes feeding a lot of livestock and preparing for the ever adorable lambing season. It seems as though there’s always something to do on the farm, but bracing ourselves for cold weather is a must for keeping our sanity through subzero temperatures.
Speaking of lambs, when asking some fellow farmers what their favorite cold weather items are, wool was a very common theme! Whether merino or alpaca, these seem to be popular items.
After asking around through several social media outlet avenues, here is what appears to be the ultimate warm weather outfit:
- wool socks
- neoprene muck boots
- wool and/or under armor base layers
- insulated bibs and Carhartt coat (of course)
- an insulated vest (because you can only take off so many layers)
- good-quality thick gloves, possible battery heated
- Merino or alpaca anything (Did I mention wool??)
- Hats
But, of course, my personal favorite is …
I bought this face mask when I was in Canada, and it’s made by Airhole. I love it, and it’s great that it protects my face from the cold, snow, and wind both on the farm and while I ski. But let’s be honest. I really bought it because it’s covered in cats, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a cat enthusiast. I’ve lived in the Midwest for 28 years, and my dad always said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes!” But alas, life is good, and winter vacations somewhere warm are just as good. The farm life is amazing regardless of winter, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Plus, these cold weather masks are good for a laugh. Check out the other styles which also include scary animal mouths like sharks and tigers.
I must agree with everything on the list above. Another reason I love my insulated Carhartt overalls is the fact that they zip on the sides from the bottom. This gives versatility in the barn if I start to get to warm. I can lift up the zippers to cool off and give some breathing room. Carhartt is one of the most, if not the most, popular brands of clothing in farming.
My boyfriend is a fan of multiple layers. He loves his bibs, multiple sweatshirts, and several layers of wool socks. (Follow me on Instagram for more photos from our farm.) Despite the fact I do laundry often, he’s not picky and can regularly be seen with stains, as shown:
And let’s not forget Ryan Tipps, editor of AGDAILY! His favorite winter clothing item is a pair of fleece-lined firehose work pants from Duluth Trading Co. So very warm when hauling buckets of hot water on those January nights out to the horses — and they have great reviews.
How about you? What is the cold weather clothing item that you just can’t live without? Tell us about it in the comments!
Michelle Miller, the Farm Babe, is an Iowa-based farmer, public speaker and writer, who lives and works with her boyfriend on their farm which consists of row crops, beef cattle, and sheep. She believes education is key in bridging the gap between farmers and consumers.
