the cow who gave green milk

The Cow Who Gave Green Milk

On the Jenks farm, the house seemed okay to live in. The main barn was almost standing, but in need of repair. Posts and fencing to the pasture was missing, or almost gone. Fortunately, Tom was skillful, and he did the best he could to keep his 12 milkers healthy, and productive. The Jenks bull, called Morris, was getting old, and not so productive. Tom thought to get a younger bull, but none of the family wanted to let Morris go. Morris was more than just a bull. Morris was family.

Tom lived with his wife, Mary, son Peter and daughter Ellen. One dog, Rex, and two cats, Tiger and LooLoo.

Early Sunday morning. Mary was getting the cows into the barn for milking. Tom joined, and each cow was brought into the milking parlor. Mary had just started to milk, Sara, her favorite Holstein, and she called to Tom.

“Tom, Tom, please come. “

Tom heard the call, and she seemed upset. He was cleaning some stalls and ran to his wife.

“Tom look in the can. Look!”

Tom looked into the milking can, and said, “Oh, God. What’s that?”

Mary started to cry and grabbed her husband. In the can was the milk just gotten from Sara. The milk was green. A brilliant, bright green.

“ This can’t be. “said Tom

“ I know, but that is her milk. I can’t believe what I am seeing.”

“ Mary, move over. Let me milk her.”

Tom took hold of Sara’s teat, and squeezed. Every squeeze gave that same brilliant, bright green milk.

Mary clutched Tom’s arm. She was crying. She was stunned at the sight of the green milk.

“Tom is Sara sick? Tell me. What’s wrong?”

“ Mary, I don’t know. She seems fine. She seems comfortable. I just don’t know.”

“ Mary, should we get the Vet? Should I call Dr. Morris?”

“ No, not now. Let’s finish with Sara, and the rest of the cows. Let’s see at tonight’s milking what happens.”

Several hours later, Tom finished milking, and returned home. He went into the bedroom and saw that Mary was asleep. Tom went into his office and picked up the vet medical book to look for any reference to discolored milk. Tom had been milking for 20 years, and never had such an experience. Only Sara gave green milk. All of his cows had the same grains. They all grazed in the same fields with lush green grass and no chemicals. All the cows were served only by Morris.

After dinner, Tom went to the barn. He immediately brought Sara into the milking parlor. Tom began to milk. Once again, brilliant, green milk. Each squeeze released a full burst of vibrant green milk. Sara stood at ease. Tom continued until the milking was done. He had perhaps one gallon in the can. Tom set the can in the refrigerator.

Tom closed the barn and went into the house.

“Tom, what happened/”

“ Mary, same as this morning. Just bright green milk. I put in the fridge. “What are we going to do? I can’t believe what’s happening.

“I know. Sara seems just fine. I was going to taste the milk, but I figured I’d wait until the morning.”

“ Taste it. Why taste it? It can’t be good. Green and all that. “

“ Mary, let’s get to bed, and maybe it will be normal tomorrow”

The following morning, Tom and Mary went to the barn. Sara mooed as Tom took the milking pail and began to milk Sara. Just as yesterday, bright green milk.

“Tom, what are we to do” she sighed.

“I guess Sara just has green milk. What can we do?”

“ Do you think it is o.k? I mean something to drink.”

“ I don’t know. It looks okay. I’m gonna check the milk from yesterday.”

Tom went to the fridge and took out the milk. On the top it seemed to have a coating of green cream. Tom carefully put his pinky into the milk. He tasted it, and it seemed o.k. Very creamy, and also very green.

As he was removing the container some milk spilled on to the floor. Just behind Tom, his cat Tiger was sitting. Tiger walked over to the spilled milk and started to lick the milk. Tom pulled Tiger away. Tom turned to Mary who was watching, and immediately, Tiger went back to the spill and licked it clean.

Mary screamed, “Tom, she is drinking the milk. Stop her. She will die!”

Tom picked up Tiger. Tiger’s lips were covered with green milk. Tiger t Tom poured some milk onto the barn floor, and Tiger swooped down and ate it all.

Both Tom and Mary were totally perplexed as to what to do. Sara clearly gives green milk, that seems to be o.k. For several days, both cats, Tiger and Loo-Loo have been drinking the green milk and they seem perfectly happy and healthy.

The next day, the two children were introduced to the green milk. When they saw the milk, Peter said, “Ugh”. Ellen just laughed. She said, “Can I try it. Is it okay?”

“No way” said Mary.

“Just a little”, said Tom

They gave Ellen a tablespoon of the milk.

“Tastes real good. And it’s so pretty” said Ellen.

“Not for me”, said Peter.

After several days of milking Sara, and no changes. The family became used to the green milk. They just stored jugs of the milk in the fridge. On Saturday, the salesman from the Ferndale Feed Company came by on his usual visit to the farm. Ellen ran up to Mr. Storrs and told him of the green milk.

Clearly, Mr. Storrs was curious, and he requested to see the green milk.

Tom went to the fridge and opened a jug and poured a glass of the milk. Mr. Storrs was stunned.

“Is this a joke? Did you put vegetable coloring in milk.?”

“No, this milk is for real. Just milked Sara, and each time green milk.”

“Have you told anybody about the green milk” asked Mr. Storrs.

“No one. Who would believe it?

“Don’t tell a soul.” said Mr. Storrs. “ I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“O.K.” said Tom.

Mr. Storrs left the farm

Next Day:

Mr. Storrs: “Hello Tom. I hope you have not told anyone about your Sara.”

Tom:” No. What did you want to discuss?”

Mr. Storrs: “You have a miracle. You have the most unique animal in all history. Your Sara is gonna make you and your family famous and rich. At the very next Otsego Country fair, Sara is going to be the featured event.

Tom: “What kind of event? Why Sara?”

Mr. Storrs: Why Sara? Are you kidding? Green Milk. No one in the entire world has ever seen Green Milk.

Tom: So?

Mr. Storrs: So? Tom, forget it. We are going to build a special outdoor stall for Sara. You will milk Sara and the Green Milk will be seen by all. What’s more, we give a free two-ounce cup. If they like it, a four-ounce cup will cost 25 cents.

Tom: “No one would believe it. They won’t pay.”

Mr. Storrs:” I will drink, you will drink, and your kids and wife will drink, and your cats will drink.”

Mary: Mr. Storrs, I am worried. What is someone gets sick and blames us.”

Mr.Storrs; “ Covered that. Before we go to the fair, I will bring the Otsego County Health Officer to the farm. He will inspect Sara. He will have milk tested. When all clear, off to the fair.

Two days later, at the Jenks farm, the Health Officer came to the farm.

Health Office Carter: “Tom let’s see that Cow with the Green Milk.”

Tom milks Sara.

Health Officer Carter: “I’ll be damned - if it isn’t green. Real green!”

Tom:” Would you like a taste? Kinda warm, but still good.”

Health Officer Carter: “Don’t mind of I do.” He sips from a ladle.

Mary:”What do you think?”

Health Officer: “It’s milk. Real creamy, a little warm, but milk. I send the results of the testing.”

Two weeks later;

Mary got a letter from the Otsego County Health department and

the tests showed the milk was perfectly good to drink. The letter had an official health certificate.

Next Day: Mr. Storrs came early in the morning to see the test results, and the certificate.

Mr. Storrs:” Tom and Mary, I will contact the Fair officials and tell them at our booth will have the most unique cow in the world. “

Tom: “What if they want to know more?”

Mr. Storrs: No more, but I will tell them that to see the cow its just 25 cents, and we are giving the first day’s cash to the County Fair. That will do it. I’m sure.

At the fair, their booth was on the same aisle as the big Merry-Go-Round. Hanging from the front of the booth was a big color photo of Sara, with the kids. Around the photo was written; ”First time In the World” – “ Never Seen Before” – “ You will be the First” – Unbelievable – But Real” “ No Cow like Sara “.

Behind a tarpaulin Tom was milking Sara. And above was a large sign.

SARA – THE COW WITH GREEN MILK

The fair opened at about 9:30am. Some children stopped and asked questions, but moved on with their parents. One old man stopped and asked:

“Say kids, what’s so special about a cow. I have cows myself. What’s so special.?”

Peter told the man, “Mister, I’m not fooling. My Sara is different than any cow in the whole world. Only 25 cents, and we’re giving it to the Fair.

Old Man;”Okay son, I’ll give it a try. Here’s my quarter.”

In several minutes, the Old Man came running out of the booth. He was laughing and screaming at the same time.

“Oh God. I can’t believe it. Oh, my God. Unbelievable. It’s not possible, but I did it. I did it. “ (He kept running down the fairway screaming and dancing all the way,)

Some people stopped by the booth when they heard the Old Man. A woman with two children asked Peter what happened in the booth.

Peter: “The old man saw Sara, and saw how special she was. That’s all. Mam, you can see for yourself. Just 25 cents, and nothing for the kids.”

The woman and the children went into the booth. When the women came out, her mouth was covered with Sara’s Green Milk. Her two children each held a cup of the milk.

Peter: “Well, mam, what do you think?”

Woman: “I can’t think. I can’t believe how delicious the milk is, and really green. Just so green.”

By now, it was about 11am. and a small line was outside the booth. And by 2:30pm. there was no more milk. Some people offered ten dollars for the Green Milk. The Jenks packed up and went to the farm. Fortunately, Tom had several gallons of the milk in refrigeration ready for the days ahead.

The very next day, Mr. Storrs came by the booth. The line of vistors was about 675 people. Mr. Storrs suggested that Tom charge 50 cents for each 4 ounce cup. At the end of the day, the Jenks had earned almost 400 dollars. The family was overjoyed.

Late in August, the director of the New York State Fair in Syracuse asked the Jenks to show Sara. No charge for the booth. In fact, the Fair would pay the Jenks 100 dollars a day just to have Sara at the fair.

The National Dairy Association paid three thousand dollars a month to have Sara on their Organic Green Milk logo. A new home, and grand barn. Morris had done well for the Jenks family.