Penni Anello grew up helping her parents, Paul and Nadine Atkinson, raise sheep on the family farm in Columbia Falls. As a high school senior, Penni had saved enough money from 4-H projects that she was able to put a down payment on a Ford Escort.
Twenty years later, Penni is back working on her family farm. Only this time she is helping a third generation, her children Cortnee and Lane, prepare their lambs for the upcoming Northwestern Montana Fair in Kalispell.
For the past few months, the kids have been feeding and caring for their sheep, recording what they spend and learning about farm finance. The fair is the culmination of the work the kids have done since October through various projects.
“It’s their chance to show off what they’ve worked so hard for,” says Penni.
Courtnee and Lane have carried on the family tradition, sheering their sheep, Milky and Lambinator, under the watchful eyes of Paul and Penni.
“It’s really all in the family,” says Penni.
