Herd Mentality
A Market Day for the Herd
Tuesday, July 8th may have been Cow Appreciation Day, but around here, every market day offers a good reason to appreciate the cows behind our favorite foods—whether it’s the milk in your butter, the cream in your cookies, or the beef sizzling at a food truck. Cows have long played a quiet, hardworking role in the history of American agriculture. It’s easy to forget that much of the country was built—quite literally—on the strength of hooves pulling plows.
But last week’s market gave cows a little more time in the spotlight—specifically, in the form of a tiny cow scavenger hunt.
It started with just a few little figurines tucked into vendor tents. It turned into a joyful herd of kids darting between booths, leading their grownups to corners of the market they may not have explored otherwise. While kids returned their cows to the Bethel Park tent, volunteers quietly redistributed them, keeping the hunt fresh. It was equal parts chaos and charm.
There were families translating between languages as they chatted with vendors. Neighbors quietly handing over a few dollars so a little one could buy a treat. Friends picking up produce for someone who couldn’t make it. People came together—not by accident, but by instinct. It was a beautiful reminder that sometimes following the herd doesn’t mean mindless wandering; it can mean shared purpose, collective care, and looking out for one another.
Like any good herd, it takes all of us to keep things moving.
(And don’t worry—we’ve moooved the cows out, but there are still plenty of ways to play.)
Looking Ahead
Believe it or not, we’re nearing the halfway point of the market season and the last full month of summer!
Nominations open Friday, July 18th for the Observer-Reporter’s Best of the Best, and we’d be honored to be part of that celebration. Next year marks 20 years of the Bethel Park Farmers’ Market, and it feels fitting to reflect on the years of hard work that have made this market what it is today. The past managers, the dedicated recreation staff, and this community—they’ve all made it possible.
And the goal? To keep building on that legacy—offering more ways to connect, to support local growers and makers, and to make market day something to look forward to, week after week.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, July 15) is our Parks & Recreation Celebration Day, as a part of National Parks and Rec Month. We’ll be bringing back some playtime fun, especially for those who missed “Kid at Heart” day during last month’s heat wave (we’re looking at you, 115°).
Expect a few surprises, a lot of smiles, and—if the cows taught us anything—a good reason to stick together.
