Photo by Jamie Plain
For Matt and Andrea Scott, raising their children in agriculture was always the plan. Growing up in Knottsville, Matt farmed row crops alongside his father while Andrea raised animals. Now, they’re passing that legacy on to their four children—Elaina (10), Molly (8), and twins Hattie and Harlan (6)—on their small hobby farm in Philpot.
Although the Scotts don’t operate a large farm of their own, the kids are deeply immersed in both small- and large-scale agriculture. At home, they help care for 12 head of cattle, 10 sheep, 2 horses, a miniature horse, and a bustling flock of chickens. Through Matt’s work with his father, the kids also experience corn and soybean farming, giving them a well-rounded view of agriculture. On top of that, all four children are active in 4-H, where they’ve found their passion in showing livestock.
Each child has developed their own role on the farm. Elaina takes on bigger responsibilities like refilling feed tubs and moving hay. She’s also advanced to showing calves and recently earned reserve grand champion for her heifer. “Elaina says she’s learned to stay calm when frustrated, because the animals can sense your tension,” Andrea shared. Molly, lovingly called the family’s “chicken girl,” cares for the poultry and proudly won overall grand champion for her chicken at the fair last year. She’s also showing calves now and won reserve champion with her lamb. Hattie and Harlan are still in the early years, but they are eager helpers with the sheep and horses, learning the ropes and preparing for the day they can each show their own animals.
The family’s routine is structured around the animals. Twice a day, the kids feed, water, and walk livestock between the barn and pasture. For the first time this year, they will keep heifers and lambs to breed, which means caring for them through winter. “It’s exciting for them to look forward to raising their first babies,” Andrea said.
The Scotts believe these responsibilities teach invaluable lessons. The kids have experienced the highs of winning ribbons, riding horses over jumps, and selling animals at the 4-H scholarship auction. They’ve also faced tough days: animals escaping, an emergency vet visit after a horse ate the wrong feed, and plenty of stubbed toes and stepped-on feet. “From all of this, they’ve learned perseverance, responsibility, how to help each other, and how to truly care for the animals,” Andrea explained.
Even in the frustrations, the kids have grown. Molly jokes that getting stitches after a sheep-related accident taught her to be tough. Elaina’s learned patience, while the twins say the best part is all the fun they have with their animals. Favorite memories usually center on bringing home new animals, moments that bring joy and excitement to the whole family.
Outside the farm, the Scotts are equally busy. Elaina competes in archery, plays volleyball, and rides horses in eventing competitions. Molly dances, plays softball, and will soon join archery. The twins play t-ball and take part in 4-H Cloverbuds.
For the Scott kids, farming isn’t just about chores and ribbons—it’s about growing resilience, responsibility, and a deep love for animals. Their days may be full, but every task and challenge is shaping them into confident, capable kids with a strong connection to agriculture.