REFLECTIONS

From this day forward, I will call Rick Bussler, Steele County Times publisher, Mr. Bussler. He defeated me in the Main Event in cow milking.

I took a little journalistic license in a recent Reflections column and called Bussler “Tricky Ricky.” Well, The Squeeze of the Century is over, and Bussler has been crowned King Milkshake.

Bussler won the contest fairly last Wednesday, Aug. 17, in the FFA Barnyard at the Steele County Free Fair. If you think I am crying over spilled milk, I am just a little bit.

Rick Balzer of the Steele County American Dairy Association did an excellent job of arranging the various other challenges. He had Steele County Sheriff Lon Thiele facing off against Darrin Helget, Thiele’s opponent in this November’s election.

KOWZ Radio personalities also participated and claimed victory during the day’s milking contest. Representatives from the Owatonna and Medford fire departments also faced off.

Back to the feature event between Mr. Bussler and yours truly. We were both assigned the task of milking Muskogee the Holstein cow in one minute. No, we didn’t have to milk her dry but had to squeeze out more milk than the other contestant.

I brought my once-retired personal milk stool to the competition but did not use it because it was too low to the ground.

I tried some strategy from the very beginning by massaging Muskogee’s milk container. It seemed to work, but then she was spooked and tried to make me a casualty during the competition.

No, not really, she had been standing in the hot sun for more than an hour and just seemed to be worn down by the sun shining on her.

I heard the crowd in the background cheering on their favorite, and this encouraged Tricky Ricky (oops, Mr. Bussler) and I to make some larger squirts.

Twice, Muskogee put most of her weight on my shoulder. My wife Judy said I almost fell off my milk stool.

One minute goes fast, but it’s actually a long period of time when you are trying to make your own milkshake.

Congratulations, Mr. Bussler, and I challenge you to a rematch at next year’s Steele County Free Fair.

Videos and photos galore were taken of this Steele County Milk-Off. Bussler and Lestrud made amends after the contest. Both thanked Muskogee for being a GOOD cow.

The loser now has to buy malts for the employees of the Steele County Times. Thanks to fellow staff members for being there to watch this “I wish I were a dairy farmer” contest.

Muskogee is a celebrity of sorts as she also visits the Rochester Honkers at their home games.

The work of our county dairy farmers is truly appreciated. Tell your family and friends who are dairy farmers that they are appreciated.

Squirt! Squirt!