Elsie the Cow

Who was the most famous cow in the world?  Well, Elsie the Cow of Borden Milk of course.

Elsie appeared as Borden’s milk cartoon advertising slogan.  In 1939, Borden Milk entered the New York’s World Fair with an automatic milking machine.  Every fair-goer wanted to know which cow was Elsie.

So, they picked a cow named You’ll do Lobelia and renamed her Elsie.

Her good nature and big brown eyes drew admirers from near and far.  By 1940, when the fair closed, Elsie had become its number one attraction.

Sadly, Elsie died in 1941 after suffering severe injuries when a car rear-ended the trailer she was in.  She was returned to her home farm in Plainsboro, NJ where a headstone was erected in her honor.  Her headstone was then moved in 1999, to make room for the development of townhouses.

You can pay homage to the famous old girl at the Plainsboro Museum at 641 Plainsboro Rd., Plainsboro, NJ.  The museum’s hours of operations are every first and third Sunday from 2-4:30 p.m.  or by appointment.  For more information call (609) 799-9040.

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