Milking Chores

Pictured in this photo is my son Richal Vanhook, who now serves as board treasurer for Piedmont Electric in Hillsborough. Richal was eight in 1966. He had to milk the cow before going to school and before nightfall because I was out of town on a job.

Richal brought the milk home to be processed for churning in an upright wooden churn. His three sisters churned the milk for buttermilk and butter for home use. The excess was sold for profit.

The cow’s name was Bessie. We no longer have Bessie, but still have beef cows on the farm.

Lawrence Vanhook of Cedar Grove
A member of Piedmont Electric