A crowd cheered on the winner of a race last night (Thursday) at Frying Pan Farm Park, as she approached the finish line. But Jubilee could only be coaxed to wear her crown and sash for a reluctant minute: for a Jersey cow, alfalfa and grains from local breweries were the true prize.
Jubilee was one of seven bovine contenders who took to the “track” — a smooth path around a corral — during the seventh annual NASCOW FundRACER to help support the animals at the farm (2709 West Ox Road) in the Frying Pan area south of Herndon.
Hosted with support from the nonprofit Friends of Frying Pan Farm Park, the event brought in nearly $8,700 in sponsorships, as of the time of publication, in addition to donations collected at the gate.
While the race only lasted a few minutes at most, the funds generated by the event will have a long-term impact, helping the park pay for items such as equipment, facilities, scholarships, fencing, staff training, and programs to grow food.
Many of the spectators were frequent visitors to the park, but the spectacle of cows running after buckets filled with treats was a first.
“We’ve come here many times, but we’ve never been to this before,” said Rebecca Gonuguntla, who attended with her mother-in-law and husband Sai.
“I want to see how the cows perform,” Sai added with a grin.
As the gates opened around 5:30 p.m., a band played acoustic music, and the Friends of Frying Pan Park served up treats donated by Ned Devine’s Irish Gastro Pub and Restaurant in Herndon. Dozens of spectators took their spots inside the corral; small children ran around or perched on their parents’ shoulders for a better view.
To kick off festivities, the two youngest racing cows, John (the) Deere and Charlise, ran separately. Once they completed their rounds, Fauna, Charlise, Wisteria, returning champion JoJo, Rudolph, and Jubilee had their moment to shine.
Jubilee easily outpaced the rest, though near the end, she and Rudolph took a slight detour to investigate the handful of people gathered at the gate. Jubilee put her face up to a photographer’s lens for a close-up, then ran for her victory treats; the others joined her a few seconds later. Then, Jubilee received her tiara and sash.
“I thought it was wonderful,” D.C. resident Trevor Frye said as he walked around the farm with his young children, brother, and niece. “A good opportunity to get out and support the farm and have a nice night out with the kids before Halloween.”
