Calf has a HAPPY Life Thanks to Rare Smile Icon on its Back

Named ‘Happy’, the bull calf was born with an emoji happy face on his side.

A simple social media post by dairy farmer Megan Coster from Ripplebrook, has seen Happy become the interest of global media and many attendees at Farm World, the annual machinery field days held at Lardner Park.

Happy was 15 days old on the first day of Farm World on Friday, March 24.

At the end of the day, despite a full day of attention, he was placid and content.

Lardner Park chief executive officer Craig Debnam, is pictured with Happy, and the “cheque” in the background indicating the 10,000 reasons why the calf will grow up and grow old as the mascot of Lardner Park.

And Craig said Happy would probably remain a bull.

“Seven days out from Farm World and Neil Darby (a Lardner Park board member) suggested Happy would be a good mascot for Farm World,” Craig said.

“Our board executive decided to buy him.

“Then it was a matter of coming to an agreement with Barry and Megan Coster about how much to pay for Happy.”

Barry and Megan suggested an amount that could be donated to the nearby hospital, at Warragul. The donation made, Happy was installed at Lardner Park in the cattle shed, and settled into his new home.

“Happy is now the mascot of Farm World, and he’ll live out his years on 300 acres of good grazing land,” Craig said.

“Generations of children will get to enjoy seeing him every year at Farm World.”

As well as adlib water and calf feed, Happy is in a pen with clean bedding and receives milk twice a day, as he would if he was being raised on a dairy farm. He also receives a lot of attention from Lardner Park workers.

Happy also receives a lot of bovine attention — the Lardner Park grass-fed steer trial guarantees a large number of cattle are within his vicinity throughout the year.

In early April, Happy got two new paddock buddies, Eddie and Alan.

Eddie is a Speckle Park-Friesian calf, and Alan is an Angus-Friesian calf. Both were born in Cloverlea at Solney British Friesians.

Eddie and Alan were donated by Lardner Park board member, Eddie Jefford.

In early April, Happy got two new paddock buddies, Eddie and Alan. Eddie is a Speckle Park-Friesian calf, and Alan is an Angus-Friesian calf.