True Cow Tales: Literary Sketches and Stories by Farmers, Ranchers, and Dairy Princesses [Paperback]

C.R. Lindemer (Editor), Sara Rath (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2009

For the love of Bessie, grab a glass of milk, pull up a comfy chair, and partake of a cow tale or two!
These 40 stories by farmers and ranchers in the U.S. and Canada will open your eyes to what really goes on in those pastoral scenes with Holsteins, Jerseys, and other cattle breeds. Read about a 101-year-old cowgirl, close calls with bulls, cows and cops, steer roping, cattle branding, herds escaping, and the lovely dairy princesses promoting the healthful dairy industry.
Be an armchair traveler with "Miss Lait" (Miss Milk) on her 1954 trip to France, meet a cow called "Grandma," read up on milking cows with baseball players, and see how butter magically turns into the likenesses of princesses. Meet "Patty" and "Paige" - - the Mother's Day cows, follow "Ferdy" the friendly bull, and learn about "Lulu" - - on the loose.
"True Cow Tales is a true joy to read. If you have an association with livestock agriculture you will enjoy these short stories and poems. These brought back many memories of growing up on our family farm. True Cow Tales ought to be a part of everyone's family library and should be shared over and over."
- Ken Rahjes, Farm Broadcaster for KRVN Radio, Lexington, Nebraska

"As the world is further removed from agriculture, it's increasingly important to learn more about your sources of food, fiber and fuel. True Cow Tales is a truly moo-ving tribute to the beef and dairy industries, from the joy of buying your first cow and naming her Patty - yes, Cow Patty - to the wonder of watching a cow nurse an orphaned calf to the sorrow of no longer being able to financially support your farm. This anthology vividly depicts the importance of agriculture through a collection of stories and poems about the lives of farm animals and the dedicated people who care for them."
- James Henry, AgriNews Publications Executive Editor

"This anthology is an interesting gathering of a wide variety of stories and reminiscences regarding acquaintances and encounters with cattle."
- Heather Smith Thomas, rancher and author of Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle (1998); Essential Guide to Calving (2008); Cattle Health Handbook (2009); and more than 9000 stories and articles about cattle and horses.

Ever moo to a cow - - or try not to? You may love cows more than you even realized.
For a laugh, check out "Cattle Sillies." Need some adventure? Then turn to "Bovine Drama." Favorite cows are the theme of a chapter by that name. For a walk down "memory lane," flip to "Bovine Wistfulness." And for something quite different, enter the world of "Dairy Princesses" and meet the beautiful young women who love cows and spend an entire year of their lives promoting the dairy industry and handing out milk and cheese samples. Cheddar anyone?
Follow your "inner moo." Read these stories for old time's sake, or just come along for the ride. And don't forget to drink your milk!

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Dog Ear Publishing, LLC (August 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1608440613
• ISBN-13: 978-1608440610
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,568,931 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgic, warm, fun and full of memories October 12, 2009

By Lisa A. Maddock

True Cow Tales has stirred up happy memories from my childhood, and of people who are no longer with me, but were such an important part of my life. I think that says a lot about the book.

Let me start by saying that I do not live on a dairy farm. I have never lived on a dairy farm. But I do have a connection. Don't we all, though, really? Doesn't everyone have some connection to the world of farming, if we go back far enough in history? I would be willing to bet that the majority of our ancestors, those brave hearty folks who made their way across the prairies, were farmers. As for me, my connection goes back to my grandparents. Both of my parents and their multiple brothers and sisters grew up on farms in Minnesota, farms which continue on to this day, passed on through the generations.

My own memories of summer stays at my grandparents' and uncle's farm are so sweet and are some of the best of my whole life. I can still remember that satisfying feeling of completing a hard-day's work, pulling weeds out of the soybeans, painting barns, or working in the garden. This was sweaty, honest, sometimes very dirty work, but boy oh boy did I ever sleep well those nights, and food never tasted so good afterwards. How about those wonderful fresh vegetables served at dinner every night, fresh applesauce, strawberries, freshly baked bread, all in a big kitchen full of people.

And then there were the stories, so many stories to be told. The kind of stories that you can hear only if you sit quietly and listen. Because the storytellers are not always the most boisterous of people, sometimes they are soft-spoken. This is what I see while reading the stories in True Cow Tales. It brings me back almost 40 years to my grandma's kitchen and the red and white checked tablecloth. This is not just a book with a bunch of stories about cows (though it certainly is full of stories about cows!) What makes each story special is the storyteller. I am sure that these are all tales that were told, time and time again, around those farmhouse kitchen tables. Tales told by good, solid, hard-working life-loving people, to their kids, grandkids, friends, and now to all of us. Perhaps we can't pull up a chair at any of their kitchen tables and listen to the stories first-hand, but we can hear the stories by opening the book to any page at all and starting to read.

Why not take a break from this world of computers, IPODs, cell phones, TV and all of the other plug-ins of modern daily life, and delve into some stories about a way of life that truly was our heritage? What could be more wholesome to the core than a story about good honest hard work and beloved animals? And what animals are more sweet and yet so understated than cows? They exude gentleness and giving, though I do understand that they are not pushovers--I have heard stories told by my uncles about being kicked by certain unhappy cows... ouch.

What a great book to share with family and friends who have roots in the world of farming! Or for those who don't - what a fun way to learn more about it! I can think of a bunch of people in my (large) extended family that would enjoy the stories very much. Thank you C.R. Lindemer for putting together this book full of warmth, memories, and charming True Cow Tales.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars True cow tales February 15, 2010

By Theresa M. Breymeyer

Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book. I grew up on a farm and still help my Dad with his cattle operation so many of these stories brought back great memories. Dad will be selling out in the next few years and I will miss the cattle so you can bet I will reread this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A top pick and very highly recommended January 16, 2010

By Midwest Book Review

Beef, milk, cheese, cows are a big part of one's life even if one is a city slicker. "True Cow Tales: Literary Sketches and Stories by Farmers, Ranchers, and Dairy Princesses" tells the story of cows and the people who manage them. Exciting and unique, it beats the myth that all cowhands do is milk cows and lead so called boring lives. With plenty of excitement and strangeness in these tales, "True Cow Tales" is a top pick and very highly recommended.