COW, the loss of a quiet bond

There was a time when the family dairy cow was more than livestock. She was a quiet, steadfast presence woven into the fabric of every day life… a provider of nourishment, a partner in tending the land, and a gentle companion whose rhythm shaped the seasons.

The disappearance of the small family dairy farm marks the fading of a way of life that has shaped hardworking families and rural Vermont communities for generations. As these farms vanish our children are losing outdoor playgrounds once provided by pastures and hay barns…outdoor adventures that nurture creative imagination.  Living alongside dairy cows our children learn the responsibility of caring for the very animals that put food on our tables, they witness the cycles of life, and experience the rewards of hard work and land stewardship. Through the intimate connection with the dairy cow our children learn empathy and compassion, and a deep appreciation for the land and the animals that sustain us.

With each barn that falls silent and each pasture left empty, we lose far more than a farm. We lose a way of living that has taught us who we are and how we belong to the land.

In this body of work, the dairy cow serves as both subject and symbol—representing resilience, labor, memory, and the fragile future of Vermont's agricultural heritage. Through these drawings I invite viewers to pause and reflect on what is at stake. My hope is that greater awareness will inspire appreciation for the farmers who continue this tradition and that we remain engaged in the ongoing conversations about preserving and supporting small-herd dairy farms.