HARMILDA THE COW
Perry and Robert Jones of Lawrence donated a fiber-glass life-sized cow to the City of Harvard in 1966.
The brothers ordered the Holstein from Truitt Fiber Glass Company, and cost $250,000. She was set on four fence posts with a steel post underneath, and put on the Masonic Temple grounds.
On the 25th anniversary Milk Day celebration, people saw her for the first time at her new location in front of the Chamber of Commerce. She was set on a concrete and stone base, Don Ruhff placed a green carpet beneath her to represent a pasture. Here she can be seen from all directions at the entrance of Harvard's business section.
On April 8, 1970, the Harvard Herald announced a Name the Cow contest, winners would be announced during the Milk Days and would receive a U.S. Savings Bond.
Dorothy Mathews of Harvard and Josie Smith of Capron were the winners. Mrs. Mathews also wrote a poem about the cow.
In 1977 the Joneses purchased a replacement cow and the original Harmilda was stored in the city garage and used to promote Harvard's Milk Days, being taken to other cities on a float in their parades. The replacement cow was also life-sized but the cost had risen considerably. Only during Christmas and Halloween does she leave temporarily.