Vote Now for the Happiest Cow!

A team of cow-crazed Organic Valley employees spent hours watching video footage of cows. They watched jumping cows, sleeping cows, eating cows, serious cows, silly cows — you name it. Their hard “work” paid off. They found their favorite eight videos of Organic Valley cows in various stages of joy and now you get to vote for which is the happiest!

The Happy Cow Showdown celebrates — well, cows — along with the positive impact organic farmers have on animals, the environment and your food. As a bonus, we are committed to planting 1,000 trees when we hit 10,000 votes!

To vote for the cow you think is happiest, click here. 

Be sure to vote between May 1 and May 27. We will announce the winner on May 28.

Now, Let’s Meet the Cows and Their Farmers

As the writer of this piece, I had a difficult time keeping farmers on track when I asked about the cow that made the showdown. Many started comparing the contestant cow to other cows on their farm, chattering on about various cows’ personalities or eating habits. Because of their small herd sizes, an average of less than 70 per farm, Organic Valley farmers spend lots of time with their cows and have many stories. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love hearing cow stories!

We know you’re busy, so we are only providing a summary of the eight fantastic cows and their farmers — and an honorable mention. Here you go:

Daisy at the Settlage Farm, Ohio

Daisy is a flower surrounded by princesses! The Settlages’ 5-year-old daughter, Nora, named Daisy, though she typically gives cows “princess” names. There are seven princess cows thanks to Nora — Princess Peach, Princess Anna, etc.

While Daisy shows up as a happy-go-lucky bovine on camera, Jordan Settlage says she’s not overly excited about being petted. She is a “docile, somewhat loner.” Daisy has claimed a particular place on the pasture to chill and watch the world go by. Some of the best cows don’t need a lot of attention; cows that go about their business without causing trouble, Jordan said. “As I’m standing here, she’s lying down and chewing her cud with her eyes half closed.”

Settlage started his dairy farm in 2014. He enjoys improving soil and pasture health, observing cows' instincts and grazing behavior and understanding their social groups.

Denver at the Leum Farm, Wisconsin

Many farmers have cow name themes. Ask Denver. Denver, a red Holstein, was born at a time the Leum family had a small burst of city and state names. Denver was born the day after Dallas and Texas were born.

Denver is very personable and curious, Lexi Leum said. Denver wants to see what’s going on and she’s not afraid to check things out. Some cows are hesitant. “If you are checking on the fence, she’s like, ‘What are you doing, what are we doing, what are we fixing today?’" Leum said.

She’s exactly what you would want a cow to be — if you had a backyard cow, Leum said. Denver likes being petted, likes giving boops, kisses, licks and is very interactive.

What does a cow kiss feel like? It’s like wet sandpaper, Leum said. “It’s surprisingly gritty but lovely. It kind of feels like, ‘I see you, I’m curious about you,’ and it’s kind of affectionate.”

Lollipop at the Groen Farm, Wisconsin

When the Groen family moved from Washington to Wisconsin to purchase a farm, Lollipop was a bright spot that came with it. They left all they knew and moved 2,000 miles; Lollipop made the transition easier. “The kids are drawn to her because she is so goofy,” Corby Groen said.

Fourteen-year-old Jimena named the sweet Jersey. “She’s the silly cow with the tongue. That’s how Lollipop got her name because she always wags her tongue,” Corby said.

Lollipop comes to the barn on her own and leads the rest of the herd. She’s not the snuggliest of cows. She gets close to you but doesn’t let you be in her space.

Cows have always been Corby’s favorite animals. Though he spends hours and hours caring for them each day, he sometimes takes an hour to simply sit and watch them, especially before dark.

“They are comforting, calm creatures and they are such productive animals. They are slow moving, relaxed and that’s how they were meant to be — very calm,” he said.

Hazel at the Servais Farm, Wisconsin

Everyone in Hazel’s family has brownish-related names. For example, her sister’s name is Penny.

A New Year’s Eve baby, Hazel is “very, very sassy. She’s at her own pace, independent, likes scratches but is standoffish. If she wants you, she’ll come find you and if not, she’ll leave,” Sabrina Servais said. 

Hazel enjoys the automatic brush “for head scratches and butt scratches.” She also likes to escape and go from pasture to pasture, but the small cow always finds her way back to where she started.

Side note: Servais is having a great year. Not only was Hazel chosen as a contestant in the Showdown, Servais was recently awarded Organic Valley’s Heart of the Co-op Award for her commitment to our cooperative’s mission and inspiring others to be part of it.

Indica at the Webb Farm, Vermont

Indica is a unique, funky cow in a sea of Jersey cows, Tyler Webb said. The Jersey, American-milking-shorthorn, Devon cross is a happy cow. “Our best cows are ironically the ones you barely notice,” Webb said. They never cause problems.

Indica has a positive demeanor and is entertaining. She’s “always whopping that tongue back and forth,” like she’s eating a peanut butter sandwich, and the peanut butter is sticking to the roof of her mouth, Webb said. Of course, a happy cow is also one that produces high butter fat (making a happy farmer, too)! Thanks, Indica.

There is a lot going on at Tyler and Melanie Webb’s Stony Pond Farm, between milking cows, making cheese and hosting guests at two on-site cottages. Cows require that you slow down and be present, Tyler said. “Their calm, sort-of-peaceful energy demands that of me.”

Pigtails at the Wedeberg Farm, Wisconsin

Pigtails is a mellow gal, for the most part. She likes to be the first bovine in the barn. She’s curious, calm and doesn’t appear to have any worries, Jake Wedeberg said.

Wedeberg and his 2-year-old daughter, Lauren, headed out to the herd after he had made two pigtails in Lauren’s hair. As they were trying to come up with a fitting name for the Holstein, “Pigtails” stuck.

The Wedeberg family has made significant contributions to the organic movement. Jake Wedeberg farms with his brother John and dad, Jim, one of Organic Valley’s founding farmers. They milk about 105 cows on their organic farm east of the Mississippi River.

Tiger at the Pearson Farm, Washington

Tiger is a Norwegian red Jersey crossbreed whose coat took on a brindle, almost Tiger-stripe pattern when she was younger. Thankfully she is not a tiger because she is a bit of an escape artist!

Like most Jerseys, she is calm, curious and likes getting petted, Travis Pearson said. After we told him that Tiger had been chosen for the Showdown, Pearson went to congratulate her, but she was nowhere to be seen. “Oh no, what happened to my cow?” he thought. He spent an hour looking and found the opportunistic cow was two herds away. Maybe she simply likes the change in scenery, he said.

Pearson and his wife, Karissa, named their farm Charis Way Dairy. Charis (derived from Karissa) means grace and Travis means to cross. “We like the idea of farming in the way of grace. Treat others the way we would want to be treated, treat animals well, treat the land well and show grace to people,” Travis said.

Trixie at the Heidel-Baker Farm, Wisconsin

Thelma Heidel-Baker remembers the day she took the video of Trixie on Bossie Cow Farm. Trixie and her cow buddies were all a little spunky that morning, but Trixie had the best dance.

“It was a beautiful summer morning. The sun was coming up and she was following me and then she did the dance for me. And I thought, ‘Do I really have the camera out when you are doing this?’ I was laughing so hard,” Heidel-Baker said.

Heidel-Baker’s husband Ricky thinks it’s bad luck to name cows, so Thelma named Trixie on the sly to accommodate this competition. However, they do name their pastures! Peeping Cow, Bobolink, Badger Burrow and Woodland View are some areas where cows fill their bellies with fresh greens.

“We are a perennial grassland farm where the cows are part of the system,” Thelma said. Everything the cows eat in the summertime comes from pasture.

Runner-up: Kat at the Corse Farm, Vermont

Kat and Kit were twins and Abbie Corse cherishes the day they were born — it was Father’s Day, and she was fortunate to spend the day with her father Leon, helping Kat and Kit into the world.

“Everyone is very fond of her because she is very placid,” Abbie said of Kat. “There are cows that don’t have a good reputation, but she is very calm and goes about her day not making a fuss.”

While Abbie and Leon Corse helped bring her into the world, Kat’s favorite human is neither of them. Kat has an affinity for Abbie’s mom, Linda.

Surprisingly, Abbie grew up on the farm, disliked cows and had no intention of farming. That is, she disliked cows until she was walking behind them with “my six-month pregnant belly” and suddenly had a clarifying moment. “Becoming a mom was that point I truly came to love the magic of these wonderful creatures.” 

Time to Vote (If You Haven’t)

Thank you for supporting the cows and the 1,600-some Organic Valley farmers responsible for caring for the planet and putting delicious organic products on your table.

Keep tabs on the winning cowtestants through the end of the month. We will announce the winner on May 28. May the happiest cow win.