Third Grade
Worksheets
Contented Cows
"Do you want to come with me to milk the cows?" Grandpa asked Daniel.
Daniel looked up from his breakfast. Grandma had made him his favorite -oatmeal with brown sugar and strawberries.
"Can I please finish my breakfast first?" he asked.
"Sure," Grandpa said. "In fact, I'll sit down and have some coffee and toast first. That okay with you?"
Daniel smiled. Grandpa was cool. He didn't seem to be in a rush. He was a great dairy farmer who worked very hard. Recently, sales had gone down a bit. He knew Grandpa was worried, but he never seemed to let it get him down.
Grandpa only sold organic milk, and his cows were not penned. They were allowed to graze freely in the pasture every day on naturally grown grass. People came from miles around to purchase milk from Grandpa and Grandma's farm, the Contented Cow Farm. Customers believed that because of how the cows were treated, the milk was healthier and tastier. However, because it was a little more expensive than what could be purchased at the grocery store and times were tough, people were less inclined to drive out to the farm and buy the milk there.
Grandpa sipped his hot coffee. "I hope business will pick up soon," he said to Grandma and Daniel.
"I hope so, too," Grandma said, wringing her napkin a bit. "If it doesn't, we may have to reduce Mark's hours."
Daniel looked up. He could see how concerned Grandma was. Mark was Daniel's oldest cousin. He had gotten into a bit of trouble at school, and Grandma and Grandpa had taken him in and put him to work. He was paid to help at the farm, and Mark was saving the money to go to community college next year.
