Through next spring, San Luis Obispo County will host a colorful collection of bovine visitors for the art event known as the CowParade, and Cal Poly is sponsoring its own entries.

The CowParade is a public art event that has taken place in more than 75 cities around the world since 1999. Local artists decorate fiberglass cows, which are auctioned for charity at the end of the event. San Luis Obispo County joined the parade this year.

Three Cal Poly art and design students designed and painted the university’s official cow, titled “The Cal Poly Moostang.” Kristen Meadows, Kyleigh Metzger and Cody Mindling work together in Cal Poly’s office of Creative Services. They were tasked to design a cow using the school colors and inspired by Cal Poly’s mustang mascot, Chase. The project was a great example of Learn by Doing. “This didn’t come with an instruction manual,” said Mindling. “We were just handed a cow and had to figure everything out by ourselves.”

The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences has three cows in the parade as well, sponsored by the Animal Science Department, the Experience Industry Management Department, and the college itself.

Following an initial exhibit at the Madonna Inn, the Cal Poly Moostang will be displayed in the University Union during the remainder of the event.

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