Farm community pulls together after fire

SCIPIO - The community came out to support a Scipio family whose business came to a standstill Wednesday morning after fire destroyed their milking barn and killed more than 60 calves and dairy cows.

Gloria Whitten, an owner of the family-run Valley Mound Farms, at 2480 Sherwood Road, Scipio, said a farmhand who was milking the cows came into the house screaming at about 2 a.m., waking up her and her husband, Gary Whitten.

“At first I thought some cows had just gotten out and she needed help, but when I stood up, I could see the fire from our bedroom,” Gloria said.