Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day

I truly believe there is a day for everything!

Today, February 18, 2020, we celebrate the first cow to fly in an airplane, as well as the first day a cow was milked while flying in an airplane.

On February 18, 1930, a Guernsey cow named Nellie Jay, also known as Elm Farm Ollie, flew from Bismarck, Missouri on a Ford Trimotor plane to the International Aviation Exhibition in St. Louis.

Nellie Jay was a high milk producing cow and had a calm nature. The trip showed the ability of the aircraft and took scientific data about the cow’s behavior. Claude M. Sterling piloted the aircraft while Elsworth W. Bunce of Wisconsin accompanied the cow, and was the first man to milk a cow in flight.

During the 72 mile flight, the milk that Nellie Jay gave was packaged in paper cartons. It was then parachuted to spectators who were watching the flight. Nellie Jay reportedly produced 24 quarts of milk during the flight, and it is even believed that Charles Lindbergh received one of the quarts at the Exhibition. Later, Nellie Jay became known as the Sky Queen.

If you can’t celebrate the day by milking a cow while flying in an airplane (let me know if you ever meet anyone who can do this), visit a farm and milk a cow or drink a quart of milk while reading a book about airplanes.

Nancy Roe
Author

*Article and photo from checkiday.com.