He saw a Highland cow lift her head from a hay bale in a field in Scotland and knew right then that he would own one someday. It took Marc Stewart ten years to find Hamish, but what followed was fifteen years of one of the most heartfelt bonds between a man and his cattle the internet has ever seen. This week Lori sits down with Marc, owner of Thistle Do Farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and founder of a 501c3 Highland cattle sanctuary, to hear the story of Hamish, Kyloe, a quarter of a million Facebook followers and losing it all overnight to a hacker.

This one is for anyone who's ever loved an animal more than they can explain.

Key Takeaways

Steers often make better companions than heifers for people who don't want to breed.

Time spent with your cattle — real time, not ten minutes twice a day — is what builds a true bond.

A 501c3 sanctuary status allows supporters to make tax-deductible donations of animals, not just money.

Protect your social media pages — Meta Verified exists now and is worth the cost.

Don't build your entire audience on one platform.

Episode Highlights

Marc shares how the name Thistle Do Farm came to him — and why it's perfect.

The story of Kylo, the runt steer saved from becoming tiny T-bones, who eventually grew to 1,100 pounds.

How a Facebook hack wiped out 250,000 followers and $900–$1,200 a month in donations overnight — and what happened next.

Lori makes the case for Marc taking in owner-surrendered steers, and the conversation opens up a real avenue for listeners who have animals in need of a good home.

Timestamps

00:01 — Welcome & intro to Thistle Do Farm
03:30 — How the farm got its name
05:35 — A trip to Scotland, a Highland cow, and a ten-year wait
07:30 — Finding Hamish and the first four years
09:51 — Rescuing Kylo: the runt saved from the dinner table
12:02 — Why steers make better companions than you think
14:53 — Building a social following and becoming a 501c3 sanctuary
16:26 — The Facebook hack that wiped out everything overnight
20:01 — How YouTube saved the channel
23:15 — Losing Hamish and Kylo after fifteen years
24:20 — What's next for Thistle Do Farm
31:08 — Owner surrenders and what Marc is looking for

Find Marc and Thistle Do Farm on

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HamishandKyloe/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamish_and_kyloe/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thistle_do_farm

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Website: hornsnhoovesauction.com

Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/