Here in Hooterville, every third weekend in September we celebrate Cow Days.
Yes, COW DAYS.
Many small towns here in Kentucky have their own festivals, such as Ham Days, Lincoln Days, the Bourbon Festival, Foothill Days, and The Apple Festival. For us, it’s Cow Days.
It’s a homecoming of sorts. Class reunions are usually planned to coincide with Cow Days and you usually run into someone you never thought you’d see before.
One of the first things you have to do upon arriving is milk Annie. She’s a large fiberglass cow that the kids can milk for grape Koolaid. This is the first year Ella would even come close to her.
I have been tempted to lay down underneath her and squirt the Koolaid right in my mouth but Rico said it wouldn’t be “appropriate.” He’s no fun.
Ella wanted to do the same…she really is MY child.
Next is a ride on the train. Which costs $3.00 per person for a 5 minute ride.
I think I need a new career. You know how many people fell for this rip off?
You can find all kinds of arts and crafts, fall decorations and even buy such things as camouflaged lingerie and this…
a candle called “Boyfriend in a Jar.” And I can speak from experience when I say this candle smells better than any boyfriend I’ve ever had. ‘Nuff said.
You can even let your 3 year old pick out a tattoo.
Then you can run into Farm Chick who always gets the better picture and blogging fodder.
Next is the parade which includes the local high school band, the Shriners, a gazillion tractors and several hundred horses and mules.
And what festival wouldn’t be complete without a beauty pageant?
Rachel decided she wanted to compete for the coveted “Miss Pre-teen Cow Days.” She begged and I hoped this phase would pass. It didn’t and we spent the whole week prior learning to walk in heels.
She looked beautiful and grown up and elegant.
She got 2nd runner up and had a great time.
Cow Days. While it’s certainly not an event for the society pages, it’s suits us just fine.
Laura said,
September 20, 2009 at 10:36 pm:
I hope you weren’t the type of mom shown on Toddlers and Tiaras! Hah!
Looks like you guys had a blast!
Heather P. said,
September 21, 2009 at 12:02 am:
Now see, the Chicken Festival is THE social event of the season here in London. ONLY in KY girl!! ONLY in KY!! LOL!!
Haley said,
September 21, 2009 at 2:13 am:
Awww… the beauty pageant pics are so cute! And Cow Days…hmmm… I’ve never milked a cow. Sounds like a blast!
Futureblackmail said,
September 21, 2009 at 7:21 am:
She looks so grown up! I bet you were awfully proud.
farmchick said,
September 21, 2009 at 11:37 am:
I notice that you didn’t mention the anatomy of a certain inflatable unicorn…
Rachel looks fabulous in that black and white pic. Get a poster made out of it so she can see what a gorgeous person she is growing into. My son, on the other hand, is still running around puffing on his fake cigarette that he bought at Cow Days. I am so proud.
Becky said,
September 21, 2009 at 12:07 pm:
That first picture…..downright scary. But me and cows have a long, not so pretty, history.
Rachel is definitely a beautiful girl.
Congratulations on the win, Rachel!!
Deep Kick Girl said,
September 21, 2009 at 4:30 pm:
My friends used to have a holiday home in a seaside town called Indented Head, here in Victoria, Australia. They had an annual beauty pagent there and you could win the crown of Miss Indented Head. Now there’s something to strive for!
Congratulations to your beautiful Rachel, she looked fabulous!
Buggys said,
September 21, 2009 at 9:47 pm:
Rachel is a lovely girl, congrats to her on the pageant.
What, pray tell, does a boyfriend in a jar smell like?
justanotherdayinparadise said,
September 22, 2009 at 9:15 am:
we used to have Super Cow, but the organizers ran it into the ground. . .you know how small town politics go. Now, we have Agri Appreciation Day.
AiredaleGirl said,
September 22, 2009 at 10:48 am:
Yeah, but can you watch the band suffer through the parade and not wince? (Then again, don’t they step off level with Main Street now, instead of hiking that half-mile uphill on Depot Street first?) I still have flashbacks…
lindsey said,
September 23, 2009 at 10:48 am:
I loved this! I spent much of my childhood living in Glasgow, KY, and have as an adult moved to the sticks where we have something VERY similar to “Cow Days”, in town, 7 miles away, on Main St (the only street with the stoplight!)! Your take on this is so. right. on. I have been laughing for the past 5 minutes and now have a stitch in my side!
p.s. your daughter is beautiful!!
p.p.s. I think we all wanna know how the jar o boyfriend smellt! ?
Sassy Chica said,
September 23, 2009 at 12:20 pm:
Love your pics, looks like a fun event. Congrats to your daughter for being runner up!!
Smooches,
Sassy Chica
Ms. Connie said,
September 23, 2009 at 9:25 pm:
Rachel looks beautiful! I can’t get over how much she’s maturing.
Boyfriend in a Jar?? Gee, I was thinking of something other than a candle….
pissy said,
September 24, 2009 at 11:04 am:
Looks like SO much fun!
Rachel looks so beautiful. Congrats to her!
p.s. my oldest daughter was in the “Miss Boll Weevil” pageant. hee hee!
Kim @ Forever Wherever said,
September 26, 2009 at 5:25 pm:
Love it! The Kool Aid part sounds fun. And congrats to your daughter on 2nd place…she looked beautiful. Naturally beautiful. That’s a good thing.
We have a coconut festival here along with tons of other little festivals. Anything they can think up to have a party around here. We’re one of those small towns with a big drinking problem.
Kim
ali said,
October 19, 2009 at 7:16 am:
I think I need a boyfriend in a jar… and she looked gorgeous!! Nothin wrong with scholarship money in the future….