12/18/09

 ISCOWP News

This is a memorial issue for our dear Vraja who passed away in October. He and his brother Gita were ISCOWP’s first ox team. Their original owner was about to sell them for meat when ISCOWP purchased them. That was in 1991.

In their early years, they appeared at Hare Krishna festivals. For 3 years, they led the Rathayatra parades in many cities throughout the USA and in Canada. They became the face for cow protection and vegetarianism. Vraja was handsome and majestic and impressed the city crowds with his charisma.

He weighed about 2000 pounds and stood 7 feet to the tip of his horns. With his huge body, he plowed the earth at ISCOWP’s North Carolina and West Virginia farm projects. As ISCOWP’s herd increased to over 20 cows, new teams were trained and Vraja and his brother went into semi-retirement. Always the leader, Vraja took on the new role of “lead cow.” He was the king of the herd, boss man, always concerned for every member’s welfare, and loved by all  his fellow cows.

In his last years, he developed arthritis, which slowly progressed. However, up until his last days he was able to pasture, remain the “lead cow,” and maintain his proud and humorous spirit.

Inside This Issue

Letters:  Vraja and Related Stories, The Truth Behind the Spinach Scare: Cheap Beef

Timeline History of Vraja

Vraja Has Left Us

"Our New Ox Team" 1991 Spring ISCOWP News