Salem Sue
Encyclopedia
Holstein (cattle)
Holstein cattle is a breed of cattle known today as the world's highest production dairy animal. Originating in Europe, Holsteins were bred in what is now the Netherlands and more specifically in the two northern provinces of North Holland and Friesland...
sculpture located in New Salem, North Dakota
New Salem, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 938 people, 411 households, and 246 families residing in the city. The population density was 649.0 people per square mile . There were 448 housing units at an average density of 310.0 per square mile...
. Salem Sue was built in 1974 for $40,000. The project was sponsored by the New Salem Lions Club
Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International is a secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1,368,683 members in 191 countries around the world founded by Melvin Jones Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and...
in honor of the local dairy farming industry. The statue stands 38 feet high and is 50 feet long. It sits on School Hill near Interstate 94
Interstate 94
Interstate 94 is the northernmost east–west Interstate Highway, connecting the Great Lakes and Intermountain regions of the United States. I-94's western terminus is in Billings, Montana at a junction with Interstate 90; its eastern terminus is the U.S...
off exit 127 S and can be viewed for several miles.
A brochure available at the nearby gas station contains the "Ballad of the Holstein" to the tune of "Joy to the World":
Recording artist Mylo Hatzenbuhler (alter ego of Clyde Bauman) recorded a song entitled The Ballad of New Salem, a parody set to the tune of El Paso
El Paso (song)
"El Paso" is a country and western ballad written and originally recorded by Marty Robbins, and first released on Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs in September 1959. It was released as a single the following month, and became a major hit on both the country and pop music charts, reaching number...
that tells the story of a man falling in love with "a big metal cow" - Salem Sue.