Grady the Cow
Encyclopedia
Grady the Cow became famous for being the 1200 pounds (544.3 kg) cow stuck inside a storage silo
on a farm in Yukon, Oklahoma
in 1949.
calf in a small shed next to a silo. Since she was having trouble with the birth, Mach called a veterinarian
, D.L. Crump, to help. Dr. Crump tied Grady to a post so she would hold still. When he was finished taking care of her, she was untied. She then whirled around and started chasing Bill, who jumped on a pile of cottonseed sacks to escape.
The only light in the shed was from the small opening to the silo. Grady dove for the light in the opening. Mach and Dr. Crump looked toward the silo opening and saw a few red hairs clinging to the edge of the heavy steel silo door, which was only 17 inches wide and 25 inches high. Grady was in the silo. They couldn't tear down the silo as it was too valuable and the opening could not be made wider because it was encased in steel.
Bill Mach asked for help through his local newspaper, and the response was overwhelming. People all over the United States offered solutions to the problem. Phone calls, telegrams and letters all flowed in; curious people started showing up in cars and even planes. Grady was featured in Life
, TIME
and newspapers all over the country.
One person suggested tunnelling under the silo. Another suggested bringing an attractive bull to the opening to lure her out. An Air Force
officer said he knew of a helicopter
that would lift 1200 pounds (544.3 kg) but it was in San Marcos, Texas
. Three days after Grady's leap, Bill Mach got a call from Ralph Partridge, the farming editor of The Denver Post
, who told Mach he was coming to Yukon to get Grady out of the silo.
Partridge supervised while a ramp was built from the floor of the silo to the door. The door edges were coated with axle grease. Grady was then outfitted with two heavy halter
s coated with axle grease. Dr. Crumb gave her tranquilizers to make her relax. While men outside the silo pulled on ropes attached to her halters, Partridge and J.O. Dicky Jr., a Yukon vocational
agriculture
teacher, pushed. Grady slid through the door with only a couple of scratches along her back.
Grady went on to become a mother several times, and she was such a tourist attraction that Mach put up a sign on Route 66
noting her home. He kept Grady in a special pen by the road.
Grady the cow died in July 1961 and the old silo was torn down in 2001 to make way for a regional hospital.
Two children's books have been written describing and illustrating the story of Grady the Cow.
Storage silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials. Silos are used in agriculture to store grain or fermented feed known as silage. Silos are more commonly used for bulk storage of grain, coal, cement, carbon black, woodchips, food products and sawdust. Three types of silos are in widespread use...
on a farm in Yukon, Oklahoma
Yukon, Oklahoma
Yukon is a city in Canadian County, Oklahoma, United States and is part of the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area. The population was 22,709 at the 2010 census....
in 1949.
Story
On February 22, 1949, Bill and Alyne Mach's six-year-old Hereford cow, Grady, gave birth to a stillbornStillbirth
A stillbirth occurs when a fetus has died in the uterus. The Australian definition specifies that fetal death is termed a stillbirth after 20 weeks gestation or the fetus weighs more than . Once the fetus has died the mother still has contractions and remains undelivered. The term is often used in...
calf in a small shed next to a silo. Since she was having trouble with the birth, Mach called a veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
, D.L. Crump, to help. Dr. Crump tied Grady to a post so she would hold still. When he was finished taking care of her, she was untied. She then whirled around and started chasing Bill, who jumped on a pile of cottonseed sacks to escape.
The only light in the shed was from the small opening to the silo. Grady dove for the light in the opening. Mach and Dr. Crump looked toward the silo opening and saw a few red hairs clinging to the edge of the heavy steel silo door, which was only 17 inches wide and 25 inches high. Grady was in the silo. They couldn't tear down the silo as it was too valuable and the opening could not be made wider because it was encased in steel.
Bill Mach asked for help through his local newspaper, and the response was overwhelming. People all over the United States offered solutions to the problem. Phone calls, telegrams and letters all flowed in; curious people started showing up in cars and even planes. Grady was featured in Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
, TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
and newspapers all over the country.
One person suggested tunnelling under the silo. Another suggested bringing an attractive bull to the opening to lure her out. An Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
officer said he knew of a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
that would lift 1200 pounds (544.3 kg) but it was in San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, and is the seat of Hays County. Located within the metropolitan area, the city is located on the Interstate 35 corridor—between Austin and San Antonio....
. Three days after Grady's leap, Bill Mach got a call from Ralph Partridge, the farming editor of The Denver Post
The Denver Post
-Ownership:The Post is the flagship newspaper of MediaNews Group Inc., founded in 1983 by William Dean Singleton and Richard Scudder. MediaNews is today one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, publisher of 61 daily newspapers and more than 120 non-daily publications in 13 states. MediaNews...
, who told Mach he was coming to Yukon to get Grady out of the silo.
Partridge supervised while a ramp was built from the floor of the silo to the door. The door edges were coated with axle grease. Grady was then outfitted with two heavy halter
Halter
A halter, headcollar, or, less often, headstall, is headgear that is used to lead or tie up livestock and, occasionally, other animals; it fits behind the ears , and around the muzzle. To handle the animal, usually a lead rope or lead shank is attached...
s coated with axle grease. Dr. Crumb gave her tranquilizers to make her relax. While men outside the silo pulled on ropes attached to her halters, Partridge and J.O. Dicky Jr., a Yukon vocational
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
teacher, pushed. Grady slid through the door with only a couple of scratches along her back.
Grady went on to become a mother several times, and she was such a tourist attraction that Mach put up a sign on Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
noting her home. He kept Grady in a special pen by the road.
Grady the cow died in July 1961 and the old silo was torn down in 2001 to make way for a regional hospital.
Two children's books have been written describing and illustrating the story of Grady the Cow.
External links
- TIME Magazine: Grady & the Postman (March 7, 1949)
- The Cow In The Silo: Grady's Funny Adventure (1950) by Patricia Goodell
- Grady's in the Silo (2003) by Una Belle Townsend (ISBN 1-58980-098-2)