Cow Pie Moo-lette was a Shermerfest highlight

One of the more unusual - yet enjoyable - events that I've had the privilege of covering since being assigned to cover the Glenbrook area during the last 20 months was Cow Pie Moo-lette during Shermerfest at Northbrook's Village Green Park in September.

While passing through Northbrook before Shermerfest, I noticed a sign on a vintage truck announcing the Cow Pie Moo-lette competition. Not knowing exactly what was involved, I was immediately intrigued.

For a half-hour, a brown-and-white cow named Hattie wandered around an enclosed grassy area marked with 289 three-foot squares; visitors could buy tickets for a chance to win $1,000 if she deposited a cow pie on a winning grid. As was the case in the 2021 competition, if she didn't happen to deliver, the winning ticket was determined by the location of her right rear hoof when time elapsed.

"It's a lot of fun," said Ron Bernardi, a Northbrook Historical Society board member and Sunset Foods community service representative who served as emcee.

"They get to see a cow. I bet some of them have never seen a cow before," he added, referring to the suburban kids gathered along the fence line.

Though I did take photos of kids petting Hattie midway through the competition, the main photo I selected for publication showed Bernardi and referee Brian Bruce keeping an eye on her "business end" as the final seconds ticked away.

It was a nice ending to a fun event.