Music can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere.
The greatest thing about music is that it can surpass all limitations. Many have made their instruments from found objects, producing an impromptu concert on the spot. Many more have taken their passion to the most inventive venues on earth. Playing and listening to music has the benefit of uplifting us, no matter what we have or where we are.
But what about in the middle of farm field? Why yes, that’s been done too.
Check out Florida diary farmer, Ed Henderson.
Along with the rest of his family, he operates a 3700-cow dairy farm in Live Oak, Florida.
But he’s also got a side hobby. In fact, Henderson has been playing the trombone since elementary school. Unfortunately, farming doesn’t leave him with very much time to indulge. So Henderson has found a brilliant way to mix business with pleasure.
Just how does he do it? He plays impromptu concerts with his band for his herd of curious dairy cows!
More often than not, his audience these days fits his scenery.
And is it turns out, cows love jazz music!
What once began as a one-off backyard band practice as now evolved into something much more dear.
Now, Henderson plays regular gigs that both entertain and please his beautiful bovines. Henderson recalls one of the first times he stood outside playing his trombone. The cows, automatically curious, reacted to his horn and came right up to the fence. Before he knew it, he had a full audience!
He jokes of his audience: “They’re not particularly critical. It’s a pleasure to play for them!”
He muses that the cows are entertained by the sound because it’s something that’s out of the norm for them.
He believes the cows have an ability to understand the difference between what is threatening and what’s pleasing. And music, it turns out, pleases them! Henderson finds himself to be a good steward of the land and the animals on it. From a young boy, he was taught to take good care of his animals. He believes playing music for them is no different than loving them and feeding them. It’s next-level care!
In the video we have today, Henderson doesn’t hesitate—he dresses right up for his performance.
It’s just like any other, however this time it’s for his field of gentle cows!
The video features a gallery of chairs set up in the field, and Henderson is accompanied by a full-fledged jazz band, ready to go. It’s only a matter of time before the cows start coming to them. Some run, some walk, and eventually an entire tight circle of cows surround the band.
Henderson believes the cows truly care. And if he plays music for them then they will remember that.
It doesn’t seem as though he has any plans to stop this new and fulfilling tradition.
Since his story was published on YouTube, it’s been viewed over one million times!
It’s safe to say that people really enjoy his creative performances.
One viewer commented:
“It brings me immense joy that there are people out there who thought this up, planned it, and took time out of their lives to play music for cows. Just because they could. Bravo humanity.”
Check out Henderson’s jazzy cows in the video linked below!
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