At the southern end of the Traverse City Commons near the historic barns is a stone marker for the world champion cow Traverse Colantha Walker. Before it became the commons the buildings and the property were the Northern Michigan Asylum. It was a self sufficient asylum with barns and crops to care for the nearly 3500 people within its walls.

It also had livestock that included a herd of cows. The most famous one was Traverse Colantha Walker. She was born in 1916  and produced over 200,000 pounds of milk in her lifetime which is more than two times what most cows can produce. When she died in 1932, she was buried on the asylum’s property.  A banquet was held in her honor and the stone marker erected in her memory, the one that stands to this day.

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These colorful silos stand in Old Town Saginaw along the Saginaw River.  They were painted by Madrid artist Okuda San Miguel with the help of a team of local artist. It is said to be one of the largest murals in the United States. If you want to check it out for yourself you can see it at 105 Lyon St, Saginaw, MI 48602. If you do go to see it be sure to check out some of the local shops, restaurants and bars in the area along Hamilton and court streets. If you have young kids the Saginaw Children’s zoo is not far away.

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I saw this big red round barn south of Traverse City. I don’t know anything about it other than it is nifty looking.

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I was roaming the backroads near Greenville and I came upon this enormous farmhouse. I figured out it was the old Montcalm county poor farm since it was on County Farm Road.  It was a different time in our society when people went to live on the farm and worked to support themselves. The old farm was used as an adult care facility. New owners have been working on the historic structure. You can see more at their Facebook page HERE https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554576433189

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Northwest of Gladwin near the intersection of Bard Road at Eagleson Roads is a massive weather vane. Constructed by a local farmer, it has an antique tractor an plow on it that points in the direction of the wind.  In the west Michigan town of Montague is a weather vane that has claimed to be the largest weather vane. You can see it on my post HERE I am thinking the one in Gladwin is larger.  I am not sure which one is officially larger but both weather vanes in Michigan are impressive and worth a road trip to see.

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Along M-46 next to the McDonalds in Lakeview is a giant corn stalk. It reminds me of the giant sized objects along Route 66 designed to attract tourists. A sign nearby reads that it is for Carr Farms an their roadside sweet corn stand. I took this pic last fall. I seem to pass by it when sweet corn is out of season. I love fresh Michigan sweet corn and hope I am in the area sometime when they are selling it.

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