May 31, 2017
What Do You Call a Sleeping Bull?
T
he school bus was abuzz with anticipation for the day’s field trip. The second graders eagerly peered out the windows as the bus turned into the lane of Cinnamon Ridge Farms. A chorus of “Old John Maxwell had a farm” concluded as the bus came to a stop in front of the new blue and white barn. There to greet them, Joan Maxwell hopped on the bus to welcome everyone. As she told them about the wagon ride, the kids cheered.
Giggling and smiling, the kids climbed up onto the wagon and set off for a tour of the fields. On the wagon ride, the class learned about the crops (winter wheat, corn, and soybeans) growing in the fields. When they returned to the blue barn after the ride, all the class gathered around a pen of light brown fuzzy calves. The class learned many new things: calves drink milk, eat corn and oats, have ear tags, and lose their teeth. Some wondered if the tooth fairy comes for the calves. Time with babies isn’t done: a newly hatched chick was carefully held out for each kid to feel its soft down.
Their next stop was the dairy barn. As they watched the robotic milkers milking the cows, the class learned milking cows enjoy a pampered lifestyle. Even their food is specially designed: a delicious ration of many different ingredients mixed together, called a total mix ration or TMR. As buckets were passed around, the kids ran their fingers through the individual ingredients: smooth cottonseeds, powdery soybean meal, hay, brightly colored grain, and hearty silage. Joan taught the kids that cows at Cinnamon Ridge are Jerseys, one of the five dairy breeds. After explaining that most Jerseys have brown hair, she asked what color milk they think Jerseys give. A few were perplexed, but most knew that white milk comes from brown cows.
After more learning and watching the cows, the group enjoyed a Whitey’s ice cream treat. While everyone enjoyed their ice cream, Joan told them a few jokes:
- Why do cows wear bells? (Because their horns don’t work!)
- What do you call a cow that has just given birth? (De-calf-inated)
- What do you call a sleeping bull? (A bulldozer)
Once all the kids were back on the bus, Joan bid them farewell and asked one final question: “Where does milk come from?” “Cows!” shouted the class. Joan smiled and said, “Another successful tour.”
Cinnamon Ridge offers customized tours to all ages. To book a tour, go to www.tourmyfarm.com.
