Nineteen cows on her front lawn and a parade of well-wishers driving past her house thrilled Jayleen Mantell, who spent her 19th birthday at home and unable to celebrate with friends.
“That was pretty good,” Jayleen exclaimed with a smile, after half a dozen balloon-covered vehicles filled with her friends drove past her house on April 24 while honking their horns and holding up birthday signs. Two friends held birthday gifts out their respective driver’s window for Jayleen to grab.
Jayleen has been in the 4-H program since she was a little girl and has managed an animal every year, so it made sense to create signs with cows on them, her mother Karen explained. Since her daughter can’t go out and do anything with her friends due to the pandemic lockdown, Karen thought installing the cardboard animals on the lawn was the best decision.
There used to be an organization called Herd for Hire that would put humorous animal signs on lawns, but Karen was unable to locate the group. Instead, she turned to the Moose Jaw Express to produce the signs. This was one way to make her daughter’s birthday special.
The Moose Jaw 4-H Beef Club has plenty of meat to sell if anyone is interested, she added. Check the Facebook page for details.
“It’s pretty awesome considering I love cows,” smiled Jayleen, explaining she could see the signs from her bedroom window but not what was on them since the blank side faced the house. However, she came outside to check after her mother encouraged her to investigate. “I had a feeling they were cows … but I came out and there they were. And I loved it.”
Besides the cow signs, Jayleen had no idea a parade would be part of her birthday celebration either.
“I feel really bad for her,” Karen said. “Her and another friend both have had their birthdays when they’re at home. She was looking forward to going out … 19 is a big year.”
The family will order in food, but won’t be able to invite over their grandmother or any friends to celebrate.
“It kind of sucks (to be stuck at home), but I get to celebrate with my family. We would have (done that) anyway even if we could go out,” Jayleen said.
Karen’s son Bryten organized the small parade and vehicle drive-by that featured Jayleen’s friends honking and holding signs. Karen, her husband, and son erected the lawn signs in the middle of the night to ensure Jayleen didn’t see them undertaking this stealth project.
With a chuckle, Jayleen remarked that she would probably give her brother a hug for organizing the parade and rounding up some friends.
“For years and years and years, we would (have) Ernie from Sesame Street — who would sing Happy Birthday — (and) we would crank it up on the stereo,” added Karen. “But the last few years we haven’t been doing it, so this will be good for her.”
Besides the ability to make signs with cows, the Express also has nine different signs with messages related to COVID-19 and staying healthy. Call 306-694-1322 for more information.
