On May 15, Chester the cow paid a visit to Mrs. Kate Lane’s child development class. Chester came to meet the Little Lancers for the first time in the fall of 2018 during “Harvest Week” to teach the preschoolers about farm animals. This week, Chester came back to celebrate “On the Farm Week” and to say hello to his little friends.

When the Little Lancers first met Chester, they were very shy, but after a short time the chidlren grew more comfortable with him. The preschoolers were not the only students who found Chester appealing. High school students were fascinated, too.

“I thought it was really cool to be that close to a real cow. It was a new experience for me and I really enjoyed being able to interact with a farm animal,” said child development student Hannah Ratchford.

Chester is owned by junior Will Lawler and his family on Whispering Pines farm. When Chester was first brought into school, he was only a couple of months old. Although Chester is still not fully grown, he has aged from a young calf to a nine-month-old cow since the Little Lancers last saw him.

Although Chester was the center of attention, Lawler also brought along a duck named Theo and a chicken named Martha. On Whispering Pines farm, the Lawler family also has five steers, seven pigs, 14 laying hens, and 47 meat chickens. Many may not know what it is like to live on a farm, but Lawler is grateful for his experiences.

“I love living on a farm because it teaches responsibility and respect for the animals, as well as some business, when it comes time to sell the animals,” said Lawler.