GREENUP —
It doesn’t move and it doesn’t moo, but there is something about a fiberglass cow that draws children like bees to a flower.
When Greenup County Farm Bureau President Kenny Imel opened the trailer door Saturday at the farm bureau’s picnic, exposing the life-sized bovine simulacrum, children at the picnic halted their gambols in the field and scurried over to check it out.
When he slid it out of the trailer, they jostled to be the first to try milking it.
Which is exactly what it is made for.
The cow is fully milkable and has a cap on the back that can be screwed off to add more fluid.
Youngsters can’t resist trying out their milking skills. “I’ve never milked a cow before. I thought I was pretty successful,” said Christian Hamilton, 12.
“You’ve got to squeeze and pull,” said his 11-year-old sister, Jasmine. Milking the cow would be a good experience for nonfarm children, she said. “If they ever had a farm they’d know how to get fresh milk.”
With its purchase of the cow, the farm bureau has completed its mobile classroom, which it will use at schools in the Greenup district to introduce nonfarm children to the science and history of American agriculture.
The classroom, which targets students at the fourth-grade level, includes exhibits on various agricultural areas, from cattle to beekeeping, and can be aligned with whatever subject area the students are studying.
It has been the work of five years putting the classroom together, and Imel said the Greenup bureau is the only one in the state with its own fiberglass cow.
Starting in September, the bureau will take it to schools. Argillite Elementary will be the first on Sept. 14.
It also will be at the Greenup County Fair and at two agriculture day events. Those who attend the events will get the chance to vote on a name for the cow.
The choices on the ballots will include Danleyton Daisy, Argillite Aggie, Greenup Gertie, Tygart Lily, Red Hot Lola and Miss Priss.
The winning name will be revealed in November.
Promoting agriculture is more important than ever because only 2 percent of Americans are farmers, Imel said.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2652.
Local News
No movement, no mow, but farm lessons galore
Greenup children meet fiberglass cow in mobile agricultural classroom
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