Bessie, not so blah

Living dangerously.(You are known by the company that you keep.) “The Cattle Thief” by artist O. Gail Poole (PD /Commons.wikimedia.org)

Why are so many cows named Bessie?

Ours were just called Meat.

Now calling them Bossy would be understandable. Do not stand between a Bos taurus and her hay. Their social graces are, well, a bit rough around the hoof.

Cow moves, however are not totally unfamiliar. 

Ones with horns tend to keep greater distances between themselves and others which results in fewer bumps, bruises, and “you touched me” rages than in hornless cattle mobs. More personal space creates more stable social relationships within any type of herd.

Where’s the connection? Ever seen  middle school kids with their giant backpacks or purses? What works, works.

“Why must you always try to horn in on personal space? Now apologize to Bessie.” (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

There are standouts in the cow parade. Real celebrity cows who are more than famous for just being famous.

Elsie the Cow would be nothing without the media and her product PR team.

 There are cows with attributes more than just big eyes and a pretty face.

Like Dasher, Dancer, and Prancer of Santa’s famous reindeer team, almost everyone remembers some celebrity cows.

• Mrs. O’Leary’s fiery tempered cow from Chicago, that hotbed of social change. Rumor is that she was taking a strongly anti-gambling stand.
• And, of course, there’s the Marvel “Bessie” simply not fitting her mood or fate. No mild milk mannered one was Hellcow as she searched for her blood-thirsty vengeance and diet.
• Then there was the Bessie who dared step out of her field – possibly protesting the spread of urban development. She cross the line to peacefully raise awareness of cows’ needs and rights only to be met by police. Some say as many as 15 police cars were there, but who knows as they closed the road like in Oregon. Mourned by many.

Elm Farm Ollie was such one bovine supreme.

Oh, Ok, Nellie Jay, the Guernsey cow from Bismark, Missouri, was talked into changing her name –  just like Hollywood starlets. Can’t blame a farm girl for feeling hopefully frisky.

As part of the International Air Exposition in St. Louis, on Feb. 18, 1930, she became the first cow to fly on a plane. Her 72 mile flight from Bismark to St Louis, was touted as “blazing a trail for transportation of livestock by air”.

What a barn burner event.

Bessie, uh Nellie, would be blown away.(Mav/Commons.wikimedia.org)

WAIT! There’s more! Not only was she the first flying cow, she was the first cow milked in flight! 

It wasn’t just a publicity stunt. Scientists were doing researching concerning the effects of mid-air flight on livestock.  Seriously. They said that.

The 24 or so quarts of milk that were sealed in paper cartons and dropped by parachutes to attendees was simply serendipity.

The fact that Charles Lindbergh was there and drank some milk was purely coincidental.

In any case, Nellie Jay was  quite proper to adopt the nickname of “Sky Queen” after the flight.

Inspired so many cows. Both the high flyers and those trouble maker cows who fiddled around stirring things up then taking off before being caught. (USPS/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Not wanting to step on any hooves or toes, Bessie is an informal diminutive form of Elizabeth. A term of endearment.

A name that was in the top 25 most popular names lists from 1880 to 1906.

Famous Bessies include Bessie Coleman, the first African-American aviator, and Bessie Smith, the legendary blues singer (“Empress of the Blues“).

Bessie. No queen could ask for more. (Now you can have a cow about that.)

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge

Now this is bossy. So was our bull James Arness.(Gary Halvorston,Oregon State Archives/ Commons.wikimedia.org))

 

 

 

 

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