A herd of eight wooden heifers mysteriously appeared on the lawn of the president’s house overnight last week.
Michelle Pattenaude, wife of President Richard Pattenaude, said she received a phone call last Thursday evening informing her the bovine gang would arrive at their Gorham campus house under cover of darkness.
When she woke the next morning and looked out a window, there they were.
The cows were built and designed by high school students from the Pattenaudes’ Gorham church, which is raising money for the Heifer Project International.
The program raises money to buy livestock for impoverished families.
Cows like the Pattenaudes’ are bought, then anonymously and secretly placed on someone’s lawn, said Mrs. Pattenaude.
Traditionally, the receiver buys the cows and sends them back to the person they suspect sent them.
Mrs. Pattenaude said she suspects some fellow parishioners who work on campus were the culprits.
Aside from raising money, the herd has had one other direct benefit – for a 14-year-old named Missy.
“Our ancient border collie finally has found a herd she can herd,” said Mrs. Pattenaude.
Staff Writer Chris Baker can be contacted at: [email protected]