Latest news with #McCune
The Star
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
From milk to cow cuddles: British farm pivots amid flood and soaring food prices
Visitor Grace Vandersypen embraces a cow during cow cuddling at Dumble Farm in Arram, Britain.— Photos: PHIL NOBLE/Reuters Years of floods and low food prices have driven a dairy farm in England's northeast to stop milking its cows and instead charge visitors to cuddle them. Dumble Farm started as a dairy farm in the 1970s, but in recent years flooding washed out crops and killed off the type of grass the cows like to eat, while milk prices below cost of production proved an insurmountable challenge. "The amount of flooding and the pressures on our land were just making it unsustainable for us to carry on," said Fiona Wilson, co-owner of the farm. Mother and daughter, Sam and Jess Tinton with a Highland Cow. Agriculture is one of the sectors worst-affected by climate change, with farmers in Europe and elsewhere suffering under increasing heat, drought and flooding. In 2022, Dumble Farm sold all but a few of its dairy cows and, in a scramble to reinvent itself, began offering "cow cuddling" experiences to fund a wildlife conservation scheme. For £95 (RM544), visitors can cuddle, brush and stroke the cows as they lie down on a straw-covered enclosure inside a barn. The experience includes a safari to see Highland cattle. McCune brushes a cow from a herd of Highland Cattle in a field. "It's been so worth it, just to get so close to the cows, and they are so loving and gentle," guest Emma Hutton, 25, said after she spent some time cuddling one of the cows. It took over a year to train the cows to feel comfortable with cuddling, but now the animals have fully adjusted, farmer James McCune said. Visitor Helen Decker takes a selfie with a cow. "They like being pampered. They are like big dogs... It's more of a spa day for the cows," McCune said. The farm uses the proceeds to create habitats to protect wildlife and support declining species, such as lapwing birds. "It's great that we can fund the conservation scheme by having visitors to the farm, and that's really the bigger picture," Wilson said. – By MARISSA DAVISON/Reuters
Dominion Post
04-06-2025
- General
- Dominion Post
University's Brance McCune named OVAC 5A baseball Player of the Year
MORGANTOWN – University High School outfielder Brance McCune was announced as the recipient of the 2025 OVAC 5A Player of the Year award over the weekend after a strong senior campaign for the Hawks. McCune is the second University player to hold the honor in four years, as former third baseman Aaron Forbes did so in 2022. The University graduate and Bethany College signee was a crucial piece of the puzzle for UHS this season in all phases of the game. McCune averaged an outstanding .454 at the plate, tallying 44 hits in 97 at-bats. Ten of those hits came for extra bases (seven 2B and three 3B) with 18 RBI, 26 runs, and 17 walks, only striking out eight times all season. He held a .534 on-base percentage, stealing 14 bases. He was also errorless defensively in the outfield. For Brance, this season was all about having confidence in himself. 'Honestly, I was a little surprised when I first heard the news,' McCune said. 'I had confidence in myself this season and once I got settled in, just tried to go out there and make an impact for my team every chance I could. Having a good season and being recognized for the work you put in is the best part.' McCune earned at least one hit in 26 of the Hawks' 31 games this season with separate hitting streaks of nine and ten games. During his nine-game hitting streak between April 11 and April 28, seven of those games were multi-hit ones. His effort offensively during the second half of the schedule was key for the Hawks, as they saw themselves sitting 6-10 after a 4-0 loss to George Washington in the Mon County Classic. But UHS turned its season around, finishing 11-4 after the loss to GW. McCune earned 27 of his 44 hits, scored 17 runs, stole eight bases, and struck out only twice during the final 15 games. 'I think that weekend (Mon County Classic) we really showed ourselves what we could do,' he said. 'We realized we had to turn something around to make the most of the rest of the season and finish strong.' McCune is a four-year varsity player for UHS and credits his early years as an underclassman for shaping the work ethic he has as a senior. He made the trip to Charleston as the Hawks won the Region I championship in 2023. 'Sophomore year is definitely one of those that I point to as a year that changed my game,' he said. 'Being around that senior class and group of guys, they really pushed me to be a better player and set me up to learn how I could excel going forward while continuing to improve my game.' Brance says one thing he will take away from his time at UHS is the way he learned to be a good teammate and how a positive environment helps him become a better player. 'Being around a bunch of guys and making those bonds, that's something I'll take with me,' he said. 'I feel like that's something I'll be focusing on a lot at the next level.'
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Media Advisory: Check Presentation to Celebrate Housing Assistance for Veterans
TEMPLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2025-- Representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and First Heroes National Bank (First National) will attend a ceremonial check presentation for a U.S. Army Veteran, at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2025. First National and FHLB Dallas awarded Retired U.S. Army Specialist Terry McCune a $25,000 Housing Assistance for Veterans (HAVEN) grant toward downpayment costs for his first home in Temple, Texas. Mr. McCune served in the U.S. Army from 2015-2019 as a mechanic and was medically discharged in 2019. The media is encouraged to attend the check presentation and reception. Learn more about the HAVEN program at FHLB Dallas. Media may RSVP to [email protected]. View source version on CONTACT: Corporate Communications Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (214) 441-8445 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DEFENSE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE FINANCE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY BANKING VETERANS SOURCE: Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/27/2025 06:45 AM/DISC: 05/27/2025 06:44 AM
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Media Advisory: Check Presentation to Celebrate Housing Assistance for Veterans
***11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, 8522 Glade Drive, Temple, Texas, 76502*** TEMPLE, Texas, May 20, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and First Heroes National Bank (First National) will attend a ceremonial check presentation for a U.S. Army Veteran, at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2025. First National and FHLB Dallas awarded Retired U.S. Army Specialist Terry McCune a $25,000 Housing Assistance for Veterans (HAVEN) grant toward downpayment costs for his first home in Temple, Texas. Mr. McCune served in the U.S. Army from 2015-2019 as a mechanic and was medically discharged in 2019. The media is encouraged to attend the check presentation and reception. Learn more about the HAVEN program at FHLB Dallas. WHAT: Ceremonial Check Presentation WHEN: 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2025 WHO: Mark Loya, FHLB Dallas Perry McCune, HAVEN Grant Recipient Steve Stapleton, First Community Mortgage Anthony Gerakos, First Community Mortgage Nikki McDaniel, First Community Mortgage Kari McKillop, First Community Mortgage Katharine Alvarez, First Community Mortgage April Niswonger, First Heroes National Bank Jerry Wright, Builder Mary Ann Daniell, Builder Representative WHERE: 8522 Glade Drive Temple, TX 76502 Media may RSVP to events@ View source version on Contacts Corporate CommunicationsFederal Home Loan Bank of (214) 441-8445
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Media Advisory: Check Presentation to Celebrate Housing Assistance for Veterans
TEMPLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) and First Heroes National Bank (First National) will attend a ceremonial check presentation for a U.S. Army Veteran, at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2025. First National and FHLB Dallas awarded Retired U.S. Army Specialist Terry McCune a $25,000 Housing Assistance for Veterans (HAVEN) grant toward downpayment costs for his first home in Temple, Texas. Mr. McCune served in the U.S. Army from 2015-2019 as a mechanic and was medically discharged in 2019. The media is encouraged to attend the check presentation and reception. Learn more about the HAVEN program at FHLB Dallas. Media may RSVP to events@
