In search of a name for butcher shop bull mascot

Jana Mathia, Gazette Editor | May 21, 20200

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A nameless bull will hopefully be nameless no more.

GARFIELD – A bull stands sentinel over SR 27 in Garfield. Although he is almost 100 years old, he has not been given his own name – until now.

Garfield Meats is accepting submissions of a name for their fiberglass bull mascot which was recently returned to his post after being repaired and given a fresh coat of paint.

"I think it'll be really fun," said Garfield Meats co-owner Windy Tevlin.

Windy and husband Tom first saw the bull about 10 years ago tied at a hitching post outside the Palouse home of "Bull" Kites.

"It took me approximately 15 years of visiting Bull to get him to sell it to me," said Tevlin.

The bull's body type is typical of a Hereford beef animal of his era, 1930, including short legs and stocky body. According to Tevlin, he was originally used by the University of Idaho to teach about beef cuts. Different parts of his fiberglass body would light up to highlight the different cuts.

"The bull had weathered poorly so Josh Pfaff repaired his body and I painted him," Tevlin said.

The bull sat on his perch, watching customers come and go, until it was time for a makeover. Tevlin had him taken down again to be repainted. This time she rebranded him with a martini glass, olive and a swizzle stick with the initials T&W on it. The brand was copied from that of Kim and Keith Weerts from Little Caanon Ranch in the Elberton area.

"We put the brand on both sides just for our photographers passing through," Tevlin said.

When the bull returned to his spot this time, discussion came up about his name. A friend suggested they make it a contest and Tevlin let her run with it.

Anyone wishing to may submit a name suggestion by May 31 to bullneedsaname@gmail.com. "Ferdinand" will not be considered. The winner will receive 10 pounds of hamburger courtesy of Garfield Meats.

Garfield Meats is a custom butcher shop that has been in operation since 1953. It was originally owned and operated by Roy and Teresa Hasenoehrl. The Tevlins have owned the shop for 23 years.