Teen helps bring cows into world at fair

Wilson Griffis has spent a lot of time in “labor and delivery” this week.

His station is not your typical maternity ward. The “Baby Barn” takes up almost the entire west end of the Georgia Grown Building at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry.

He has been on standby … waiting for the nod to help bring another cow into the world. He has been like a midwife on the midway. (Yes, even guys can be referred to as midwives.)

Griffis has volunteered at the Georgia National Fair for the past two years. He doesn’t have to travel far to report for duty. He is a junior at The Westfield School, less than a half mile – as the hornet flies – across I-75 from the sprawling fairgrounds.

The workday is not always glamorous. There is plenty of grunt work, cleanup tasks, maintenance and moving cows around.

But this isn’t his first rodeo, so to speak. His credentials for bringing baby cows into the world are impressive for a 17-year-old.

During the fair, instructors with the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine are there to teach and assist UGA vet students with the birthing process. 

If needed, Griffis is ready to step up and deliver, too.  

“Some of the vet students don’t have the experience I have,’’ he said. “They’ve never touched a cow before. When they ask me what I’ve done, I tell them I’ve ‘pulled’ 200 calves. I stand back and help if they need me.’’

For the past two summers, Griffis has gotten up at 4 a.m. and driven the 10 miles from his family’s hobby farm in Marshallville to work at Barrington Dairies in Macon County near Montezuma.

 Barrington is the largest dairy in Georgia, supplying about 20 percent of the milk produced in the state. 

Griffis has learned how to milk cows, nutrition and feeding, treating sick animals and the business side of the operation.

 “They have about 20,000 cows and summer is the height of the birthing season,” Griffis said. “About 40-80 cows are born every day in June and July, and anywhere from 10 to 30 a day throughout the year. I got to pull a calf my first day on the job. I’ve delivered about 20 on my own and helped with between 150 to 200.’’

 Barrington usually brings three expectant cows to the Baby Barn every day during the fair.  When it’s showtime, crowds gather around the railing at the center ring to watch.

“It’s up to the cows whether they give birth that day,’’  Griffis said. “Some people are interested, and some get grossed out. I answer a lot of questions. It’s the first time a lot of kids have seen a cow.’’

Griffis deserves a badge of honor for his volunteerism. He gave up five days of his fall break to work full shifts at the Baby Barn. He planned to work after school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, then return for a full weekend.

His father, Charlie Griffis, grew up in Macon, and his mother, Rebekah, is from Sandersville.  

He has always been passionate about animals. His grandparents, Roy and Kathy Griffis, of Macon, have a photograph of him holding a baby duck when he was 2 years old. They also have a video of four rheas – a type of South American ostrich or emu – that his parents got for his menagerie.

“I have loved animals from the time I could walk,’’ he said. “I’ve had dogs, chickens, rabbits, turtles, pigeons, ducks and geese. I have two parrots and a canary and keep fish in an aquarium.’’

Three days a week after school, he works part-time at the Town & Country Animal Clinic on South Houston Lake Road. His experience there, as well as working at the dairy farm during the summer, has been an affirmation of his interest in studying large animal veterinary medicine in college.

Griffis is one of the leaders of an agriculture group at Westfield, which has more than 30 members and invites local farmers to speak to interested students. He is also involved with the “Green Team”  recycling club at school.

For the past six months, he has volunteered at the 6.5 acre farm operated by the Halo Group, a vocational and life skills day program in Perry that serves adults with developmental disabilities and autism.   

  He carries a full load on most days. He admits to being so busy he doesn’t have much down time. 

“I can’t go on many vacations because I have to stay home and take care of my animals,’’ he said. “I’m not your average high school kid in today’s world, that’s for sure.’’