What happens when a pandemic-era impulse purchase needs a few friends? For Vanessa Crawford, it sparks a booming, multi-state agritourism empire and a groundbreaking mental health initiative.
Located just 30 minutes outside Augusta in Thomson, Georgia, Crawford's Double O Farm began around the time COVID-19 forced Vanessa, a psychotherapist of over 20 years, to transition to virtual work. Having owned horses for decades, she fell in love with a picture of a Scottish Highland cow online. She convinced her husband to let her buy one—but the story didn't stop there.
That first cow kept escaping to visit the neighbor’s Black Angus cattle. Following a veterinarian's advice that her lonely cow "needed friends," Vanessa bought a few more. Today, the farm boasts a herd of upwards of 20 purebred Scottish Highlands. Imported directly from Canada, these heritage animals boast bloodlines that trace directly back to Scotland.
As the public caught wind of these shaggy, docile creatures, people began asking to visit for photos. Vanessa embraced the curiosity, and the farm's offerings quickly snowballed from simple photo ops into:
-Guided farm tours and bottle-feeding sessions
-Elegant birthday parties, elopements, and weddings (where dressed-up cows make guest appearances)
-Luxury overnight stays in climate-controlled yurts featuring concierge food delivery and activities like "llama pizza parties" and ceramic painting.
After going viral on Travel Pirates, Crawford's Double O Farm became ground zero for a larger movement. Vanessa launched Havenfield, a network that now includes five partner farms nationwide—stretching from Colorado to Florida—all offering the same high-quality, free-range animal interactions.
Vanessa is also leveraging the incredibly gentle nature of her herd to innovate in her primary field. While equine therapy is well-established, Vanessa is pioneering bovine-assisted psychotherapy. "Horses can be more reactive," Vanessa explains. "The Scottish Highlands are the world's most docile cows."
Launching structured eight-week group and individual sessions in the fall, Vanessa utilizes cows like Polly as therapeutic tools to help patients process trauma and mood disorders, opening up deep layers of healing.
By sourcing locally from CSRA businesses, like goat soaps from neighboring farms and pizza from Fernando's in Thomson, Crawford's Double O Farm has woven itself deeply into the local community. Whether guests come for an evening movie night under the stars, a relaxing yurt getaway, or a breakthrough therapy session, Vanessa's accidental herd has created a true Georgia sanctuary.
The Scottish Highlands are the world's most docile cows.