Congratulations to Dylan Adams from Northwood Elementary School in Napa who received first place in the “Imagine this” 2008 writing contest offered by the California Foundation for Agriculture In the Classroom.
Please read his story:
Who's More Important... Betsy or Todd?
One glorious spring day in Napa, there was a cow and a man on a farm. They had work to do in order to be fed.
The man, whose name was Todd, woke up early in the morning to go milk his favorite cow, Betsy. Todd walked a half mile to his barn and spent 30 minutes getting all of his milking equipment ready for the day.
Unfortunately, Betsy was still asleep. So, Todd rubbed Betsy gently on her shoulder to wake her up. Betsy woke up all right, but she was still very tired and a little grumpy. She wanted to sleep more, but Todd wanted to get his job done. So, he brought the milking equipment over to Betsy, who was still lying down.
Todd began to hook the plugs up to Betsy's udders. However, Betsy mooed "Stop tickling me, I'm trying to sleep!" Todd said, "But people need your healthy, delicious milk. People are more important than animals so please get up and let your udders start working!" This made Betsy upset because she knew that animals, especially cows, were more important than people. With a big "moooooooooooooo," she told Todd just that!
However, Todd disagreed with Betsy. He replied, "No, people are more important than animals because we respect the earth and other living things so both humans and cows can survive! So, how can cows be more important than people?"
"Well," mooed Betsy, "Let's make a bet. Whoever can prove they help each other and the earth more, wins." Todd said, "Okay, but what does that winner win?" Betsy mooed, "A day off of work." The bet was on!
Betsy mooed, "What I do to help people and Mother Earth is first, I get up early in the morning and let you take my milk to feed humans. In order to do this, I eat healthy, natural things in my environment, which helps me give you healthy, delicious milk. I also help you fertilize your lawn and your farm with what I digest. To do all of this, I don't even use any gas or electricity!"
Todd replied, "That is true. However, I am the one who provides the food you eat and the water that you drink. It takes water and seed to grow your food, gas and machines to harvest your food, and my energy to clean up your digestion so I can use it for fertilizer!"
"Hmmm," mooed Betsy. "Hmmm," said Todd.
They looked at each other and mooed/said at the same time, "we are both important to each other and to Mother Earth!" They both realized they need each other in order to survive.
Todd gently rubbed Betsy on the shoulder and said, "Come on girl."
Besty stood up and Todd hooked up the milking machine. They both looked at each other with a wink in their eyes and a smile on their faces. They both knew they were very important to earth and to each other, and neither one wanted to take the day off. They were both winners!
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By Dylan Adams | 3rd Grade| Northwood Elementary, Napa | Helen Reavis, Teacher
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