A Star is Born

Saturday afternoon I made my 4th trip to the State Fair. Many years we didn’t go at all so I think I made up for some of those missed times. Yesterday’s trek was for 2 specific reasons; to check out the photography and visit Paul’s 13 year old granddaughter, Katelyn, who worked this year at the Paul R. Knapp Animal Learning Center. On my way to the Center, her parents were dutifully waiting for her in the Bud Tent..(alright!) saw and flagged me down, so I joined them for a few refreshments. Afterwards we headed to the Center see ‘kid vet’ in action. Her duties included helping one of the Veterinarians, Dr. Hoy, an extremely nice man. (But then, have you ever met a Veterinarian you didn’t like, or a cute little girl following him?)
We spotted them right smack in the thick of things, the Dr. in his green scrubs and Katelyn, becoming as ever in her magenta staff uniform. They had their eye on a mama cow who was preparing to give birth to her first born. Our timing couldn’t have been better for front row positions to witness the blessed event. If you can believe, even at my tender age of 39 (OK, + 21) I’ve never seen a live birth up close and personal so this was going to be a brand spanking new experience for Auntie C.
Mom Cow’s labor process seemed rather odd to me. She quietly stood awhile, then paced some, then focused on the demonic camera man in her pen, stood some more, and paced and focused more. There was no screaming nor swearing obscenities at the poor bull who did it to her, or how she would make his life eternally miserable because of the pain she was having to endure at his doing.
Finally, after about a half an hour she laid down. That was the tip off the birth was eminent. The Dr. kept attentive with the hope nature would take it’s course and he wouldn‘t have to intervene. The wide eyed audience was practically breathing in tandem, teeth clenched, three separate inhales and quietly exhaling PUSHHHH, but in reality, she didn’t appear stressed at all, nothing close to the mental images of human birthing situations.

Then, suddenly, with a big contraction that produced a rounded, white, filmy, translucent sack, we saw a foot. Doc was looking for two and after a few minutes we saw the second little hoof. Soon after, we saw a nose, and not a small one, rather, a large nose that seemed to declare, “yes, I am a NOSE attached to a soon to be living, breathing life force so step aside, I'm coming out!"

At that point, mama was trying her best but things seemed to come to a standstill. So Doc bent down, stuck his fingers through the sack (that one kind of got to me…I’d have needed a hazmat suit) and pulled the two little feet towards him. That’s all it took and suddenly the complete body of a black, wet newborn lay in the hay. Mama was up in a flash and began to clean her small bundle of joy because, as you know, many pairs of eyes as well as two cameras were focused on her new little film star.
Because it was a she and since we were all thinking of Paul and his building, it was decided her name would be Paula. So on 8-21-10, at 4:20 PM,new baby calf Paula presented herself into the world. Today she is surely up, nursing like a pro and no doubt is the prettiest little calf in all the land. Soon she will head home to somewhere in rural Iowa with no realization she is a film star….“that’s a wrap. In the can," as they say!

Kids who grow up in a farming environment see this stuff every day, but as a city slicker, I found it so remarkable. So many people have commented on how much they have enjoyed the building and the attractions within. And because of yesterday’s event, I'm here to tell you that a quick, simple stroll through the building will, in no way, provide the real purpose of the Center. Next year, I encourage anyone who hasn’t seen a live birth to go and spend some time if you want to experience the true essence of the Learning Center. The organizers plan for pregnant animals to be on call, so to speak, therefore, plenty of opportunities exist to see new babies come into the world.

Just all in a day’s work for the animals, Dr's and staff. What a nice finale to my 2010 fair experience.

And speaking of stars, what a great way for starlet Katelyn to begin her community service career. Well done, kiddo!