Video: Christmas Is Special, But No Day Off On The Farm

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LAMAR COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – Whether you’re watching a favorite Christmas movie or baking cookies, family traditions are a part of the holiday season. For one Sulligent family, their family tradition continues after six decades.

Watching “A Christmas Story”  or “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”  is a holiday tradition in many households but the Gilmer family spends their Christmas a little different… milking cows.

“Growing up as a kid Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I always knew that we were going to be here on the farm because dad of course had to be here working my grandfather had set that standard when he started the dairy back in the early 50’s so it’s just been a family tradition.”

On a normal day, will and his family spend eight hours a day milking cows and the job doesn’t change on Christmas.

“If you’ve got livestock they’ve got to be tended to in our case they have to be milked, got to be fed, that’s everyday rain or shine holidays or not.”

Milking cows may not seem like a way to spend Christmas, but will says at least he had extra milk to go with Santa’s cookies.

“I did think that sometimes what we put under the tree might have come straight from the farm.”

Both David and Will every year try and make the best out of working on Christmas.

“Things just have to be done and we knew that coming into this business and we accept it and it’s just what we do.”

“Milking cows here on Gilmer Dairy Farm is as much of a Christmas tradition as opening gifts and saying the Nativity story around the table, and we just encourage everybody to give Santa a little extra under the tree tonight.”

So, when you pour that glass of milk for Santa, just remember the hard working traditions of the Gilmer family.

The Gilmers say in spite of  their work schedule they still get to spend plenty of time with their family.

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