In 2007, local dairy farmer Lynne Strong identified an opportunity to connect the dairy industry with the community through art.

Inspired by Kiama's very own Daisy the Cow, she designed the Picasso Cows - a MOOving Work of Art program.

The program invited primary school students to investigate the dairy industry through the lens of three themes: healthy landscapes, clean water, and energy-efficient dairies.

Over eight weeks, the students explored the dairy industry and then designed an udderly fantastic artwork based on their findings, which they painted on a life-size fibreglass cow.

The 2007 pilot was a partnership between Kiama Arts Society, with artists Philip Cooper and Rosalyn Hanson painting Daisy the Cow and Jamberoo Public School students painting Buttercup. The official launch in 2008 saw schools from Kangaroo Valley to Wollongong participate in the initiative. Supported by the Kiama Council, the students’ artworks were displayed in Hindmarsh Park for two weeks over the summer holidays. The community choice competition attracted over 5,000 visitors, with the community choosing Kiama Public School as the People’s Pick and the judges selecting Minnamurra Public School as their winner.

The Picasso Cows then travelled to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, where the students' artworks were displayed for two weeks, with the cows even participating in the Grand Parade.

The herd grew when students from Kiama High School painted three of Daisy's calf-tastic offspring.

The program went national in 2009, reaching schools from the apple groves of Tasmania to the wine region of Margaret River and beef cattle country in Rockhampton. In the last 15 years, over 1,000 pieces of dairy art have been created by primary school students across the country, all inspired by our very own Daisy and the artistic endeavours of our local students. It's safe to say the Picasso Cows program has milked the creativity of young minds nationwide!