Our family history runs deep at Lakeside Farms, located on beautiful Pogy Lake in Northern Michigan. George McLachlan Sr. purchased the farm's first registered Shorthorn female, Lady Fortune (pictured below), in 1917. Born in 1900, George began farming cash crop potatoes and raising cattle as a teenager. He married Anges Bush in 1928 and started a family. Of their four children, the oldest boy, George Jr., showed the most interest in the operation. George Jr. worked alongside his father growing potatoes and raising cattle to sell at the local market. He actually met his wife, Gail Cregg, after selling cattle to her brother. In 1978, George left the farm and took a position with Michigan State University to manage the Lake City Experiment Station. His father maintained the farm while George was in Lake City.
George and Gail passed on their love for cattle to their children Jennifer, Carla, Sue and Craig. They spent many days on the road showing market steers, Simmental heifers and Shorthorn cattle at national, regional and local shows. George retired from Lake City in 1998 and returned to the farm on Pogy Lake. He was the new owner of three purebred Shorthorn heifers that his kids had given him as a retirement present.
The family also has a strong bond with Michigan State University. George Sr. attended when it was still known as Michigan Agricultural College and George Jr. went when it was Michigan State College. Jennifer, Sue and Carla attended the university as well, and Carla works in the animal science department.