MENLO, Ga. — Rick Engel doesn’t just have a home where the buffalo roam, he’s got one where they pay homage to America.
The mini-herd of American bison that Mr. Engel and his girlfriend, Cheryl Hall, started on their Menlo farm already has animals named Betsy Ross, Star Spangled Banner, Liberty Bell and Old Glory. But the couple is struggling to come up with a good patriotic name for their newest calf, born on Memorial Day.
“In case you hadn’t figured it out, I’m a pretty proud American,” said Mr. Engel, who is known as “Kudzu” around the small Chattooga County town.
The couple also has a Black Angus bull named George Washington and had a bull bison named Justice who died after siring Betsy and the new baby.
BUFFALO VS. BISONQ: What is the difference between bison and buffalo?A: Scientifically, the term “buffalo” is incorrect for the North American species; its proper Latin name is bison. However, common usage has made the term “buffalo” an acceptable synonym for the American bison.Source: The National Bison AssociationTO NAME THE CALF* Submit your suggestions for R&C Farms’ new calf by e-mailing rcfarms@windstream.net.
They said they came up with the idea when they bought the first two bison — Bell and Star — in 2006. They said the fact that they had the freedom to go buy the 1,500-pound pets is reason enough to celebrate their liberties.
“We wanted them and we were free to do it,” Ms. Hall said.
Mr. Engel said visiting other countries while he worked for a mining equipment company makes him appreciate the United States more.
“We’ve got some problems, especially now, but this country’s still a helluva lot better than anywhere else,” he said.
Mr. Engel, a Redding, Pa., native who works sales for a chemical company in Ranger, Ga., bought a lot known as Kudzu Farms in 2000 and began building a log cabin. He moved in 2003 and started to raise livestock while finishing the cabin.
His latest challenge, coming up with the name for the youngest bison, has proven more difficult than spotting the buffalo wings on any member of the herd.
“Do you know how hard it is to come up with a female name about freedom?” said Ms. Hall.