The Big Cow

Along a rural highway just south of the town of Sligo lives one of Clarion County’s most unique attractions: a giant black-and-white cow (specifically, a Holstein) made of fiberglass and steel and named Blossom.

This striking heifer was built and installed by local farmer Vern E. Over, to advertise his business, Over’s Dairy. While the dairy shut down decades ago, Blossom remains as a reminder of the region’s farming history, and a time when local dairies dotted the countryside and family-owned businesses were more prevalent. She has also become a beloved landmark and a point of both pride and nostalgia for the local community. 

Blossom plays the role of mascot for locals, who dress her with the seasons: scarves in the fall, Santa hats in winter. Around the holidays, she’s often lit up in colorful lights, too. She’s also a handy landmark, as people often direct others to, for example, “turn right at the big cow.” 

For a 50-year-old gal, Blossom is looking pretty fresh: Her paint is well preserved, her ears still perky, her smile mild. While there isn’t a local organization who cares for her, her good condition has led most curious onlookers to believe that there’s someone—or a group of someones—who have taken on her upkeep. So when you pull over on Route 68 to take a photo, you’ll have these mystery elves to thank for keeping Blossom as fresh as she was in the 1970s.