A Meat and Dairy Article from All-Creatures.org

Story's Story

From The Gentle Barn
September 2023

Story had spent her life pregnant, and after loving each baby with her entire heart, she grieved heavily as each one was taken from her after only a few months. When she was older, could no longer get pregnant, and was therefore useless to the farmer, we were asked to take her in. Thank goodness the farmer heard about us before sending her to slaughter. We named her Story, as she has survived things unimaginable to most of us and has lived to talk about them.

A year ago this month, we were asked to take in a cow at our Missouri location. She had spent her life pregnant, and after loving each baby with her entire heart, she grieved heavily as each one was taken from her after only a few months. When she was older, could no longer get pregnant, and was therefore useless to the farmer, we were asked to take her in. Thank goodness the farmer heard about us before sending her to slaughter. We named her Story, as she has survived things unimaginable to most of us and has lived to talk about them.

Cows usually live anywhere from 10 to 20 years depending on their size. The smaller they are, the longer they live. Being on the small side, Story was 25 years old, which is old for a cow of any size. Her age, together with a lifetime of incessant breeding, produced a matriarch with sore hips, tight shoulders, and arthritic joints.

We immediately set to work providing her with not only organic, nutrient-rich hay and fresh clean water, but also acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic treatment, Sun Chlorella Algae Superfood to boost her immune system, Jill and Joan CBD to decrease inflammation, Puremedy salve on any sores, and many other supplements.

Story had not been used to gentle hands, bedtime cookies, and constant attention, but she was open, receptive, and literally ate it up. In turn, Story was gentle to the tiniest of guests and cooperative with all our staff. She has made friends with our pot-belly pig. She shares a yard with our goats, chickens, turkeys, and Guinea fowl. On days where we don’t have tours, Story gets to explore and graze in the front pasture with our donkeys. She gets brushed from head to toe each morning and put to bed each evening on a fresh, clean, soft bed. For the rest of her life, we will tell Story’s story, remember her many stolen children, and apologize to her in the name of all humans who have not yet awakened to gentleness.

Story’s eyes are liquid pools of love. Her energy is one of peace and grace. She would not fight back against her oppressors, and could not protect her babies even though she desperately wanted to. It is not our right to exploit the innocent, but our responsibility to protect them. Each time I am lucky enough to be in Story’s presence, I sit next to her, rest my side against her shoulder, wrap my arms around her neck, and whisper in her teddy bear ear that Jay and I and our staff and volunteers will keep working to create a world where the only thing we ever do with cows is love and hug them! With your help, one day, we will get there!

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