As one who is into cow collectibles, clothes, and such, I humbly believe the cow to be the funniest (and possibly the most spiritual animal on the planet…and no, I have no Hindu roots). I just love the cow. Though this may be hard for some city-dwellers to fathom, I can assure you Mississippians and other inhabitants of the southeastern states were laughing at cows long before The Far Side was a twinkle in Gary Larson’s eye.

Growing up, some of us who were considered “a bit weird”, yes Virginia, I would fall into that category, would imagine what the cows were saying. “Got Milk?”, was not one of the most asked questions. It was a given. But as we would pass the cows, and there were many, down the many lazy country roads in Ms. we would make believe, as children, that we were the cows talking to each other. Of course our intrepretation paled in comparison to The Far Side but we were able to make each other chuckle.

Until the Internet came along, I felt certain this was a regional thing. By the time I was twenty, I was already collecting “All Things Bovine” as were so many of my peers. It was just the thing to do. Corn was semi-funny, but how many puns and jokes could be made from corn aside from “The Jolly Green Giant had to have been a stalker” or “The Jolly Green Giant’s son is grounded after school as he was caught viewing web corn”. Corny, sure, but had to be said.

Cotton? Just not funny in any way shape or form. Cotton candy is semi-funny but not a knee-slapper.

Now I know there are cow figurine and other type collectibles, or cowlectibles as I like to call them, worldwide, and I have corresponded with many.

Maybe it is the way they stare at us with their souldful brown eyes. Perhaps it is the way they stand patiently while being milked for all they have.

Maybe it’s because Ol’ McDonald had a cow e-i-e-i-o. Who knows? We just love our cows.

Before my first (of many) experiences with higher education, when my peers were all checking out med schools, law schools, and how to become CPA’s, I was trying to figure out what cow items would sell the best. I would be the cow selling king of Mississippi if not the world. I had grandoise udderly silly ideas that remain with me.

After many an informal focus group, I have discovered that many of the most popular cow collectibles today come in the form of funny cartoons manufactured onto products. Aprons, hoodies, t shirts, mouse pads, and other types of gifts that can be utilized are favorites of many. This pertains to me too. I collect a great many cow t shirts for instance and sometimes sweatshirts, a few aprons and mousepads, but I always like them to be funny or silly. The sillier the better.

Many of us are visually-oriented people. We instinctively know that if we are not feeling well, sad, blue, depressed or whatever, we can look at a funny picture or cartoon or product featuring a cartoon, and we will often “snap out of it” and even share it with a friend or neighbor.

People love receiving gifts. They smile and say “thank you” generally. But give them a “cowtoon collectible” and they jump for joy! I give them to people who grew up in the city. Oddly enough, they seem to enjoy them even more. Maybe its because many of them were not used to seeing cows growing up, and, upon first glance, notice the beauty and serenity of the cow persona (is there a cow persona?); well there is now.

Rick London is a writer, entrepreneur, and (obvious cow lover) and founder of the Internet’s very popular cartoon, Londons Times Cartoons. He sells cow gifts, clothes and collectibles at several of his stores.