By Chris Spangler
Fort Atkinson was very dairy Saturday as the Hoard Historical Museum presented “Dairy Day at the MOOseum.”
The 10th annual event kicked off with a pedal-tractor pull and concluded with a parade of cows. In between were games, crafts, treats, face painting and visits with all seven breeds of milking bovines.
Making a guest appearance was Ashley Hagenow, Wisconsin’s 76th “Alice in Dairyland.” The state’s agriculture ambassador chatted with attendees and welcomed spectators to the cow parade.
The beautiful bovines included an Ayrshire cow named “Ida,” owned by Megan Lundy, and calf, “Daisy Mae,” owned by Lydia Fink; a Brown Swiss cow named “Poppy” and heifer, “Eve,” both owned by Megan and Deb Lundy; a Guersey named “Meadow,” owned by Megan Lundy; a Holstein named “Mystic” and calf, “Crystal,” owned by Lundy Farms; a Jersey named “Pickles,” owned by the Fink family; a Milking Shorthorn cow named “Itty Bitty Bug” and calf, “Blizzard,” owned by Megan Lundy, and a Red-and-White Holstein cow named “Reeses” and polled calf named “Amber,” owned by Lundy Farms.
Winning “Popular Choice” in a cow-decorating contest was “Starry” by Jenny Koch. Plywood cow cutouts were decorated by individuals and groups, with Dairy Day attendees placing a penny vote in the container near their favorite cow cutout.
Guests also voted on a name for a young calf, with the winner being “Buttercup.”
Grilled-cheese sandwiches and ice cream floats were available for purchase. Youngsters could play “pin the udder on the cow,” paint a cow cutout and learn about formulating dairy cow rations by making their own trailmix.
The Foster House was open for tours, as well.
Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Steve Larson, former managing editor of “Hoard’s Dairyman” magazine, and Brian Knox, president of the W.D. Hoard & Sons Company, joined museum director Merrilee Lee in a program about Wisconsin’s Dairyland.
Lee shared Fort Atkinson’s early history, followed by Larson speaking on the importance of Jefferson County — and Fort Atkinson in particular — to dairying in Wisconsin. He also highlighted other local dairy-related industries, such as Nasco, Hoard’s Dairyman magazine, James Manufacturing Co. and Creamery Packaging.
In addition, Larson talked about the National Dairy Shrine, added to the Hoard Historical Museum in 1981. Organized 75 years ago, the Dairy Shrine presents $40,000 in college scholarships, recognizes dairy leaders and preserves dairy’s history.
Knox introduced attendees to Hoard’s Dairyman Farm Creamery and the cheeses it produces with Guersey milk produced on the farm just north of Fort Atkinson. That was followed by a cheese tasting.
Photos from the MOOseum events follow.
Johnny Asmussen, Fort Atkinson, competes in the 6-year-old division of the pedal-tractor pull at Dairy Day at the MOOseum Saturday.
A youngster gives it his all in the 6-year-old division of the pedal-tractor pull Saturday morning.
Tasha Clark, Watertown, becomes acquainted with a calf. MOOseum attendees on Saturday named the young animal “Buttercup.” Clark is joined by other children in the bovine tent who also are interested in the calf.
Lucille Berndt, Lake Mills, sits as paint is applied to her face, giving her the appearance of a cow.
Youngsters place their votes during a calf naming contest held at Dairy Day at the MOOseum. The winning moniker was “Buttercup.”
Brothers Canann, at left, and Jett Geyer, both of Jefferson, make trail mix as they learn about mixing dairy rations.
Ezra Braatz of Waterloo takes brush in hand to paint a cow cutout.
Ashley Hagenow, Wisconsin’s 76th “Alice in Dairyland,” enjoys a quick visit with Delaney Bauer of Lake Mills.
A cow observes parade attendees as it is led down Foster Street as part of the Dairy Day at the MOOseum activities.
“Poppy,” at top, a Brown Swiss cow, marches along Foster Street. She is joined in her march by other bovines, some of which are pictured above. Among owners of the various cows presented under a petting tent and in the parade are members of the Lundy family.
Ayrshires lead off the cow parade at Saturday’s Dairy Day at the MOOseum. The cow, “Ida,” is owned by Megan Lundy, and the calf, “Daisy Mae,” is owned by Lydia Fink.
Mark Lundy parades with “Reeses,” a Red-and-White Holstein cow.
Dairy Day at the MOOseum attendees view entries in the cow-decorating contest. The blue cow cutout with stars, appropriately named “Starry,” won the “Popular Choice” vote. It was created by Jenny Koch.
Visitors get a close-up look at Holstein cows at the 10th annual Dairy Day at the MOOseum Saturday.
An attentive audience listens to Brian Knox, publisher of Hoard’s Dairyman” magazine, share the history of the names of the Hoard’s Dairyman Creamery cheeses during a Friday evening program.
Presenting a slide with a photograph of “The Seven Wise Men of Dairying,” Steve Larson, retired managing editor of Hoard’s Dairyman magazine, outlines local dairying history. Among those pictured, five were from Jefferson County. The center photo depicts W.D. Hoard, founder of Hoard’s Dairyman.
Brian Knox, publisher of Hoard’s Dairyman” magazine, shares the history of the names of the Hoard’s Dairyman Creamery cheeses.
Attendees Friday visit with Hoard’s Dairyman publisher Brian Knox while sampling Hoard’s Dairy Creamery’s cheeses.
Chris Spangler photos.
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