Organic Valley Cow Takes Home Prize in Contest Like No Other

We have a winner!

Eight Organic Valley cows faced off in the Happy Cow Showdown in May. The friendly challenge invited all consumers to vote for the happiest "cowtestant." And the winner ...

Hazel, a sassy and spunky bovine from Wisconsin. “She lights up the barn and the pasture with her presence,” said Sabrina Servais, Organic Valley farmer and Hazel’s owner.

Hazel lives at Hamburg Hills Farm, owned by the Servais family. A fellow Organic Valley team member and I headed to the farm on a drizzly day to meet Servais and present Hazel with a bedazzled cow bell in recognition of her victory. 

Trying to give Hazel the blinged-out bell made in her honor took a little time. It seemed to be Servais’ lucky day, though. Servais found three four-leaf clovers as she walked the pasture trying to get Hazel interested.

Hazel had other things in mind — she was busy doing the things that make her happy. The grass was green, and she was grazing among her friends, a mixture of black, white, brown and gray-colored bovines. It was ideal weather for a cow, at 50-some degrees. She was content grazing, socializing and chewing her cud.

The Happy Cow Showdown was a celebration of something special we celebrate daily at Organic Valley — well, cows — along with the positive impact organic farmers have on animals, the environment and your food. 

Standing among the cows and idyllic farm landscape, Servais said it’s a shame there can only be one Happy Cow Showdown winner because Organic Valley’s 1,600 farms are home to a lot of happy cows.

Lexi Leum is a co-op member and employee. Her cow Denver was runner-up. She was glad to see the joy the contest brought to people.

“At the end of the day, all of the cows are very different — they are all special,” Leum said. “As a farmer-member, to have people know Denver’s name and have people talk about Denver is a win.”

Another exciting part of the showdown: For every 10 votes cast, Organic Valley would plant one tree — up to 1,000 trees on our farms. Consumers cast enough votes to make that happen in just a few days!

Thanks for showing our cows some love and helping plant 1,000 trees. Your support of our farms makes a difference to people, the planet and animals!

Congratulations, Hazel!