The co-creators and stars of a new comedy series about the world of competitive cow showing say the show is a “love letter” to the small towns and “hard-working, honest, generous people” of rural Ontario.
All six episodes of Cows Come Home’s first season premiered in June on Bell Fibe TV1. The show’s quirky premise centres on the unexpected world of cow showing and and on rekindled friendships — all set against the picturesque backdrop of a Fort Erie, Ont., dairy farm.
It draws heavily on the personal experience of Lindsey Middleton, who co-created the show with Katie Uhlmann and who grew up in Niagara.
The series follows Tabby Acres, who hits rock bottom but finds her path back with the help of her best friend, Cara, through re-entering the world of cow showing. Uhlmann describes the overall tone as a drama infused with significant comedic elements.
Portraying rural Ontario differently
The choice of Fort Erie as the primary setting was deeply personal and practical. Middleton grew up in Ridgeway, part of the Fort Erie area, and the production gained access to shoot on the Walnutknoll Holstein dairy farm, a family-run operation.
“We really wanted to highlight the beauty of the Niagara region. It’s so gorgeous,” Uhlmann said.
Both Middleton and Uhlmann grew up in smaller communities, bonding over shared values where “your word is your honour,” and neighbours readily support each other, often dropping by with fresh produce or honey.
This authenticity fuelled their decision to portray small towns and farms not as the “butt of the joke” but as places filled with “hard-working, honest, generous people,” said Uhlmann.
A childhood connection
The two show creators were connected to the dairy farm in Fort Erie where the series was filmed due to a personal connection. The farm was run by Austin Miller, whose late wife Helen was once best friends with Middleton’s grandmother. Middleton grew up training calves at the farm.
Miller died in March this year, after the series was filmed in 2024. Kathy Clement, Miller’s daughter, told CBC the family was excited about the farm being chosen for the series.
Clement said that her father “would always ask if there was something that he could do,” constantly offering help.
Filming on Miller’s farm was a respectful collaboration, Uhlmann said.
Miller “graciously let us shoot on his farm as long as we did not disturb the animals, and we had to adhere to their milking and feeding schedule,” she added.
Clement agreed.
“[The crew] would accommodate when the cows needed to be fed,” she said. “It is a working farm. The cows still need to be milked twice a day. They need to be fed. The barn chores need to be done.”
Show creators spent a month working on the farm
The show’s focus on competitive cow showing resonated deeply with the Miller family.
“I did my years in 4-H,” Clement said, detailing how her father was a seasoned cattle showman with many awards, competing in shows around the region.
4-H is a Canadian youth organization focused on agricultural skills, leadership and community involvement, including competitive events like livestock showing.
“We all helped him show his cattle as a herd,” she recalled, mentioning trips to Toronto, Markham, and Rockton for 4-H competitions.
Miller was also a long-time 4-H leader and involved with the Holstein Club of Niagara South, taking immense pride in his cows, which he affectionately called “his girls,” she said.
Uhlmann, who grew up with horses but not cows, dedicated a month to extensive research to ensure authenticity in the show. This included a full day of chores on the dairy farm, waking at 4 a.m. to bring in, milk, clean, and feed the cows.
Uhlmann and Middleton also attended regional fairs and judging competitions, spending time with members of the 4-H community to accurately represent the subculture.
Clement expressed pride in her family’s farm being showcased in the series. “It’s pretty awesome… It’s a memory to keep forever. It’s an experience that I don’t think you would ever expect it to happen,” she said.
Reflecting on her father, she became emotional. “He’d be very proud. Yeah, he’d have tears.”
Ultimately, Uhlmann said she hopes viewers find inspiration in the series. “It’s really a story about those dark moments in life where you feel a little bit lost, and then being helped through them by your friends who’ve been there for you through thick and thin.”
