Cows are quite possibly one of my favorite animals. Trusting and wise, these animals provide products that are vital in every day life. Along with the ultimate sacrifice for humans, they are gentle and beautiful animals. It is with this love that the 1st Grade Teachers at my school are adopting five little cows for the rest of the school year. Yes. Five. They are arriving sometime this week.
I just informed my principal. I sure hope they don’t make too much of a mess when they arrive in the office. I also hope the other teachers don’t decide to run off with them. Cows are pretty trusting and 3rd grade teachers can talk a good game. It is for that reason I alerted the principal to watch for the arrival of the newest additions to our classroom.
I remember a certain summer night that VST had asked me to join him at a fund raiser at a local dairy. The farmer, quiet and shy as the dairy farmers I know can be, had taken the very old family barn and renovated it into a magnificent party venue. The wooden structure was built by great grandfathers and neighbors. Every board was as perfect as the day it was built. If it didn’t start that way, the farmer had made it new again.
VST never shared the same fascination with animals as me. I was born loving every living creature on our farm. I was always messing with the rabbits, chickens, lambs, dogs, or cats. Wild animals were observed from afar, knowing that some things can’t be tamed. VST was into football, cars, and girls. Animals didn’t make the cut.
Under the brightest full moon while bathed by warm summer air, the evening unfolded with great food and lots of gossip and laughter from our neighbors. Farmers are the salt of the earth. Great men that work hard during the day and seldom get out for frilly parties or fancy events. A night in a barn at the local dairy was an inviting affair in which they could wear their Stetson’s and Levi’s. Throw on a pair of boots and they were dressed for the night.
All of that was really grand, but the real interest for me stood just to the side of the lighted barn. There, the farmer had tubbed and scrubbed six or seven of his prize “Girls” to watch over the partiers. These ladies were the most beautiful cows I’ve seen in my 66 years. Holsteins, they quietly chewing their cud as all cows do. Coming to the fence to check me out, their friendly nature was a bit shocking. Their eye lashes hung heavy as if they were wearing their finest mascara. They looked right through me and decided I was okay. We shared a moment.
I spent awhile just taking in their beauty. These cows were of the finest pedigree and part of the prize winning herd. Solid and huge, the time spent affirmed how much I love cows. They will forever turn my head. Maybe someday, I’ll have one of my own. I love them that much.
VST finally found me by the fence and just shook his head. Taking me by the hand, we walked back to the party while he told me I would not be bidding on the calf to be auctioned off as part of the fund raiser that night. Dang. I’d just met her mother. We’d bonded. His answer remained a solid “NO”. Even living on a farm with lots of space has it’s limitations. Mine was a husband that drew the line on any animal over 200 pounds. Thank goodness the Mastiffs were just under his weight limit.
Well, my calves are on the way now. When they arrive, I hope to instill a love of bovines in my littles. First, our calf will need a name. Then, I’ll need nightly a nightly “Calf-watcher” to care for the little guy. That’s right, the calf will travel home with each child and return the next day. Along with the calf, the child will take it’s journal and record just what the it did that evening. I hope the parents will be onboard. It’s not every day that a teacher sends home a calf for additional care and love. It will be the most fun kind of homework.
In the spring, I’m hoping we can travel to the town just to the East of us (home of the REAL Top Gun program) to visit a dairy there. I want my littles to appreciate just how huge our calf will become. A glass of fresh milk would be pretty nice, too.
That’s the Moo-ving news from Room 56.
Tomorrow my site will be down for improvements, so I’ll return on Wednesday.
Drink Milk. Better yet, Eat Ice Cream. While you do, please pray for our farmers. They need all the prayers we can send.
More on Thursday.