Video and Story by Brittany Steck

The sun rises in the early morning, a soft warm glow on her brown and white spotted fiber-glass skin. Fifty year old Bessie the Cow is ready to tackle the day’s passer-by. Her owners, Jim and Mary Springer, have just dressed her up in her annual, custom-made Uncle Sam costume, fully equipped with hat, beard and seasonal shirt and pants. A few cars zoom by Mid Rivers Mall Drive heading to work or school. Smiles spread across a few faces as they pass their old friend, and astonished looks of confusion come from others.

“I almost crashed because I was looking at it and admiring its outfit,” Alexis Wiedner said. “But seriously, it makes me smile.”

Standing tall on the side of the road between Calvary Church and Vista Grande, Bessie spread smiles to those driving by.

“When I first caught a glimpse of the cow I turned to my mom and asked ‘Why is there a cow on the side of the road?’ Jessica Stelzer said.

Bessie came into the hands of Jim Springer 25 years ago. The man who had her at the time owed Jim some money. Instead, Jim decided to take Bessie.

In 2004, after years of living in Jim’s basement, Bessie was taken out to play a role in the lives of more than just Jim’s family, thanks to Jim’s wife Mary.

Mary Springer sews the custom made outfits for Bessie, dressing her up for Christmas, Independence Day and just about every holiday in between. While some of the outfits are store bought, most are made by Mary.

“It’s my creative side that I like,” Mary said. “It gives me a challenge and something to do.”

Almost everyone who passes down Mid Rivers Mall Drive knows of Bessie. She even has her own Facebook page with over 12,000 likes.

“Everyone honks,” Jim said. “One day, we were working out on the flower beds, and people just kept honking.”

The Springers hope to keep Bessie in the family for as long as they can.

“She’ll probably be there longer than me,” Mary said.