meta Milking Showdown at Billings Farm: Nintendo Takes On Farm Team :: The Bullvine - The Dairy Information You Want To Know When You Need It

Milking Showdown at Billings Farm: Nintendo Takes On Farm Team


Video games meet farming.  One of Vermont’s most historic farms sent a challenge out, to one of the world’s biggest gaming companies.  The challenge, who takes home the top spot in a cow-milking competition.  We’ve got the results of the virtual-showdown in Woodstock.

Watch Video

At the Billings Farm and Museum, each and everyday, twice a day, their team of farmers head out to milk their 35 jersey cows.  They admit it’s a lot of work, and on Wednesday, a few extra animals were added to that list.

“Cows will just always love you.  You walk into the barn and they’re willing to greet you every time you come in.  There’s no better life,” said Tyler Catterall.  He’s one of those farmers in charge of taking care of the animals on the 270 acre, historic, Billings Farm.  Wednesday, he had an extra chore to take care of.  In front of a packed milking parlor, Catterall squared off against his opponent in that virtual cow-milking competition.

‘I’m just so surprised to be honest, that everybody is here right now.  I’m still in shock,” said Tom Remp, of Billings Farm.  Their staff was up against folks from Nintendo America in some friendly gaming.  “I fired off quite an angry email, maybe a little snarky, to Nintendo and said I don’t think you guys could milk a real cow.  Lets see,” laughed Remp, recalling how the competition came to be.  He recently saw an ad for Nintendo’s new game 1-2-Switch, which features 28 different interactive experiences, includes a virtual cow milking experience.

Knowing the hard work his farmers put in everyday, Remp sent the company a message.  “Billings Farm wrote us a letter and challenged us to come down saying because of their milking experience, they could beat us at our own game.  So we accepted,” stated Nintendo’s David Young.  Young says his group jumped at the chance to come to Vermont, and learn about daily life on the farm.  Young says some of his team had never seen a real-life cow.  They each got the change to milk one for real.

Young, alongside Tim Kwong, showed off 1-2-Switch, as well as their recently released Switch console.  “1- 2-Switch is a game that came out with the Nintendo Switch.  We just launched and the system is so much fun,” said Young.  “The game was a lot different than milking a real cow, but I’ll give them props.  They definitely did a good job of making it as close to what it is.  You’ve got to hold the control and do the motion just right,” added Catterall.

The Nintendo team came away with the virtual-milking title.  They admit they have it easy compared to the real work of the Billings Farmers.

Young and Kwong say they’ve got a new appreciation for farming.  An industry with deep roots in Vermont.  “What we want to do at Billings is get the public to come by and learn more about their heritage.  And it’s the heritage of so many of us, especially if you’re from New England this is probably what your grandparents did, or your great grandparents,” stated Remp.

The Billings Farm and Museum opens for the season this Saturday, April 1st, at 10:00.

You can find the Nintendo Switch and 1-2-Switch game at most major gaming retailers.

Source: My Champlain Valley


Send this to a friend