Bull City sees first cow show in 40 years

The Bull City 4-H Dairy Breeds Show was held to introduce city children to farming. Nearly 50 Jersey Breed and Holstein cows filled the three-acre Old North Durham Park on Foster Street behind the Central Park School for Children.

"It is amazing to see how much our urban county is doing to teach our children and educate our community about agriculture," the show's coordinator Samantha Gasson said.

Children and cows participated in a costume competition, and kids could also learn more about dairy animals and agricultural youth activities in Durham County. Their parents held classes showing what they had learned while their children prepared for the show.

The cow show was the result of an six-year effort by dairy farmer Gary Nance, of Maple Grove Jerseys near Asheboro, and Marti Day, a specialized dairy agent with the Orange County Cooperative Extension.

"With the current excitement about local agriculture in Durham County and the movement towards preserving our remaining farm land, we ere excited about this unusual program," said Kathryn Span, chairwoman of the Durham County Farmland Preservation Advisory Board.