Elm Farm Ollie facts for kids
Elm Farm Ollie, also known as "Nellie Jay" and later "Sky Queen," was a special cow who made history. She was the very first cow to ever fly in an airplane! This amazing event happened on February 18, 1930, during a big air show called the International Air Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
On the same flight, which covered about 72 miles in a large Ford Trimotor airplane, Elm Farm Ollie also became the first cow to be milked while flying! This was done for two main reasons: to let scientists study how animals reacted to flying, and to get a lot of attention for air travel. A newspaper in St. Louis excitedly announced that her flight was meant "to blaze a trail for the transportation of livestock by air."
Elm Farm Ollie's Historic Flight
Elm Farm Ollie was known as a very productive Guernsey cow. She needed to be milked three times a day. During her historic flight, she produced an impressive 24 quarts of milk.
Milking in the Sky
A man named Elsworth W. Bunce, who was from Wisconsin, was the first person to milk a cow while it was flying. This happened right there in the airplane!
After the milking, Elm Farm Ollie's fresh milk was put into paper cartons. These cartons were then dropped from the airplane using small parachutes, landing safely for people watching below. It is even said that famous pilot Charles Lindbergh received a glass of this special milk.
Where Her Fame Lives On
Even though Elm Farm Ollie was born and grew up in Bismarck, Missouri, her story is especially popular in the "dairy state" of Wisconsin. Many people there remember her famous flight.
