The grounds of the Hoard Historical Museum, Fort Atkinson, on Saturday were the site of myriad activities, the highlight of which was a tent filled with dairy cows made available for petting.
In it’s ninth year, the annual event, called “Dairy Day at the MOOseum,” offers an opportunity to meet each of the seven breeds of dairy cows, play old fashioned games, vote for “popular choice” recognition among an array of decorated plywood cow-shaped cutouts, and enjoy face-painting, food, and other activities.
This year, some 14 decorated cow cutouts adorned the grounds, each with a jar to receive pennies, as placed by event-goers, with each representing a vote.
Inside the museum, visitors were treated to a presentation made by Peggy Prilaman Marxen, the author of “The Farm on Badger Creek.”
Food opportunities, including ice cream floats and grilled cheese sandwiches, were provided for purchase by the Jefferson County Agribusiness Club.
The event concluded with a parade of cows along Foster Street.
Photos from the event follow.
A Jersey calf, born May 24, is among bovines visiting the Hoard Historical Museum Saturday as part of an annual event called “Dairy Day at the MOOseum.” The calf was made available for petting by the Fink family of Fort Atkinson.
A colorful array of painted plywood cow-shaped cutouts line the sidewalk behind the Hoard Historical Museum. The cutouts, each with its own jar, were made available as part of a “popular choice” contest. Event-goers were asked cast their votes by placing pennies in the jars.
Megan Lundy unloads a heifer on Foster Street. The animal was one of nine supplied by her family for petting at the Dairy Day at the MOOseum event.
Megan Lundy, at left, and Rachel Simonson, Jefferson, wash a cow’s legs and hooves before leading the animal to the petting tent.
Deb Lundy, a member of a dairy farming family from Jefferson, stands with several cows from her farm. The family milks some 60 cows daily, and keeps some 200 cows, including breeding animals and calves, she said. The family has farmed in Jefferson since 1987 and has been bringing cows for petting to the Dairy Day at the MOOseum event for nine years.
A Dairy Shorthorn cow munches Saturday on some hay in the petting tent at the Hoard Museum.
A Red and White Holstein cow awaits visitors to the petting tent during Dairy Day at the MOOseum.
Duane Marxen, Middleton, pets a cow. His wife, Peggy Prilaman Marxen, who is the author of “The Farm on Badger Creek,” was a featured speaker during the Dairy Day at the MOOseum event.
Mark Lundy brings hay to the bovines in the petting tent that are under his care.
Jefferson High School senior and FFA student Rachel Simonson leads a cow into the petting tent. She participates with members of the Lundy family by showing their cows at exhibitions, including those held at the Jefferson County Fair.
Nicole Luther holds 2-year-old William as they journey into the petting tent. The family lives in Edgerton.
Rachel Simonson takes a moment to acclimate a young calf to her new surroundings.
Two-year-old Antonio Garcia Jose, Fort Atkinson, expresses some concern about approaching and petting a young calf. His mother, Raquel Jose Alvarez, offers support as he considers the situation.
A representative of the Ehrke Farm in Fort Atkinson displays various foods fed to cows, at left, and provides a bag of treats for human consumption, at right. The family-owed farm keeps between 30 and 50 cows which, the representative said, are used primarily for showing by area 4-H and FFA students.
Nora Rohde, 5, Fort Atkinson, at right, is among children petting a young calf in a tent filled with cows of all dairy breeds.
Hans Wagenpfeil holds his son, Parker, 2, both of Oshkosh, as he pets a cow. The father and son arrived at the dairy day event while visiting Hans’ parents who live in Fort Atkinson.
Wilson Fink, 14, at left, and Hank Fink, 18, visit with a cow brought for petting by the Lundy family. The teenagers are members of the family responsible for providing the young calf for petting on Saturday. The teens said they live and work on the family farm in Fort Atkinson which is home to some 50 dairy cows. This is the second year the Fink family has brought animals for petting to the annual Hoard Museum event.
Megan Agnew, Fort Atkinson, supports her son, Owen, who is nearly 3, as he contemplates petting a cow.
Jefferson High School and FFA student Rachel Simonson visits with a cow as she awaits pets from event-goers.
After visiting the face-painting table, 9-year-old Rachel Lee displays her new look. Children visiting the face-painting table were painted with cow motifs.
Emerson Ganz, 7, Fort Atkinson, paints a design on one of several plywood cow cutouts made available for decorating on Saturday.
Emma Rohde, 8, along with her brother, Joe, 9, paints one of several plywood cow cutouts made available for decorating on Saturday.
Sophia Vallecillo, 7, Fort Atkinson, mixes her colors before heading to the plywood cow cutouts waiting to be decorated.
Maggie Tabor, a volunteer from Racine, doctorates the face of 5-year-old Ewan Bertelsen-Finch, Fort Atkinson.
An event-goers tries his hand successfully at a ring toss game. The game was one of several, described by event volunteers as “old fashioned,” made available during Saturday’s Dairy Day at the MOOseum event.
The LaVictor sisters, Grace, 11, standing, and Sophie, 13, are among volunteers manning games Saturday. The girls are both members of the Jefferson Duck Creek 4-H Club.
Along with his family, Owen Agnew, 3, Fort Atkinson, at right, sporting a balloon and Jones Market hat, takes a break in the shade between Dairy Day activities.
Denice Jones, Fort Atkinson, who also is a Fort Atkinson Historical Society board member, from left, and event volunteers, Shari Dunn and Lane Liebergen, both of Fort Atkinson, greet visitors to the Dairy Day at the MOOseum event entering the Hoard Museum property from the Foster Street side. The women said the event was well-attended, noting that just 45 minutes after it began, some 70 people had entered the event from Foster Street, and other volunteers were counting visitors as they entered from the Whitewater Avenue side. The women also were on hand to help event-goers cast votes for a “popular choice” award which would be given to a decorated cow cutout in one of two categories, during the event. Some 14 entries into the contest were available for viewing.
Kat Kalvaitis, 6, Fort Atkinson, casts her vote for a cutout called “Sunny,” decorated by “Shauna E.” Kalvaitis chose the piece because, she said, “It looks like spring.”
Kim McDarison photos.
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