The event sponsored by Bethany Rademaker had several
fun filled stations featuring painting, coloring, fishing, nail
painting, jewelry beads and face painting.
Just outside the Lincoln Stage end of the expo
building was a mobile unit with Louise the cow. Louise’s owner,
Caroline Stigner, said Louise is new to the job.
Stigner told the kids various facts about cows. For
instance, she talked about the cows’ four [compartment] stomachs:
the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. These stomachs help cows
digest their food. As Louise chewed her food, Stigner explained that
the cow was ruminating.
The kids learned with cows, there are beef cows and
dairy cows. Beef cows are used for meat. Stigner said dairy cows are
used for milk. Dairy cows like Holsteins can weigh up to 2000 pounds
and produce ten to twelve gallons of milk per day.
[to top of second column] |
Bram Jersey cows like Louise produce six to eight
gallons of milk a day. Stigner said the milk is extra creamy and
used to make items like cream cheese, sour cream and butter. The
butter is initially white, but Stigner said petals are used to make
it yellow, which is more appealing to people.
Something else kids learned about is how many different vitamins
milk contains.
Next, Stigner did a milking demonstration using a
small milking machine.
The milking demonstration was a big draw for the many kids who came
out to watch it before returning to the other activities.
Attendees got a special treat when 2024 Logan County
fair queen Abby Arnold and Little Miss Olivia Harmsen stopped by to
participate in activities.
Organizers kept the stations running smoothly, giving kids a chance
to have fun and use up some energy on an overcast morning.
[Angela Reiners] |