Katie Van Slyke Reveals the Names of Two New Calves — Meet Picasso and Persephone

Katie Van Slyke’s growing calf crop officially has two more names, and both come with a story.

After asking followers to help choose between several options, Katie returned to the pasture to introduce two of the newest babies: Picasso, her first red bull calf of the year, and Persephone, a tiny heifer whose name connects directly to her sire, Fireproof.

Both names were selected after Katie looked through fan responses, and in each case, one option clearly became the favorite.

But the naming fun may already need to begin again.

Before Katie finished the update, she revealed that another new calf was already on the ground, waiting to be weighed, tagged and eventually given a name of its own. 0803.txtTXT

Katie Introduces Her First Red Calf of the Year

The first baby receiving an official introduction was a young bull calf.

Katie described him as her first red calf of the year and made it clear almost immediately that she thinks he is something special.

His mother is Mona Lisa, and that connection inspired Katie’s original naming theme.

Because Mona Lisa is associated with one of the world’s most recognizable works of art, Katie wanted her calf’s name to follow the same creative direction.

She also has big hopes for him.

Katie said she expects the calf to grow into a future herd bull and joked that his eventual offspring would be “works of art.”

That made an artist-inspired name feel especially appropriate.

Pablo or Picasso?

Katie had narrowed the choices to two names:

Pablo and Picasso.

The two choices were closely connected because Pablo Picasso gives them essentially the same artistic reference.

But Katie still needed to decide which half of the famous name suited the calf better.

That’s where followers came in.

After reading the comments, Katie said the majority of people preferred Picasso.

So the decision was made.

“This is Picasso,” Katie announced.

Why the “P” Names Matter

There was another reason both options worked so well.

Katie explained that this is a “P” year in the Simmental registry, which shaped the naming choices for these particular calves.

That gave her a built-in starting point while still allowing each baby to receive a name that connected to its pedigree or appearance.

For Mona Lisa’s bull calf, the art theme was almost too perfect.

Mona Lisa.

Picasso.

And if Katie’s predictions for his future are right, perhaps many more “works of art” will eventually come from him.

Picasso Is Already One of Katie’s Favorites

Katie did not exactly hide her enthusiasm for the little bull.

She openly admitted that she may already have a favorite.

Picasso, in her words, is incredibly cute and destined to be stunning.

She pointed out his pink nose, along with one particularly unusual detail around his eyes: Katie described his eyelashes as partly white and partly red.

He also has small white feet and a white tip on his tail.

Those markings make the red calf especially eye-catching.

Katie even apologized jokingly to Priscilla, another calf she has previously admired, explaining that Priscilla had already enjoyed her moment in the spotlight as the little baldy heifer.

Now it was Picasso’s turn.

Even Picasso’s Ear Tag Became Part of the Story

Katie also addressed something eagle-eyed followers apparently noticed.

Picasso’s ear tag was in backward.

Yes, Katie knew.

She jokingly acknowledged it before anyone could make it the main subject of the comments.

The backward tag did little to distract from the reason she was there.

This was Picasso’s official introduction.

And while Katie admired him, his mother Mona Lisa noticed that someone was spending time around her calf.

Mama began heading in their direction.

But she apparently wasn’t in much of a panic.

Katie laughed that Mona Lisa was even grabbing snacks along the way.

That gave Katie enough time to finish admiring Picasso before sending him back toward his mother for some milk.

Picasso Has a Birthday Buddy

Picasso wasn’t the only calf born that day.

Katie explained that a little heifer calf had arrived on the same day.

That made her Picasso’s “birthday buddy.”

And she needed a name reveal too.

So after finishing Picasso’s introduction, Katie headed off to find the little girl.

Finding her was apparently not quite as simple.

Katie noted that the calf’s mama had already managed to lose track of her a couple of times.

The baby seemed rather talented at hiding.

Eventually, Katie spotted her tucked away near another calf.

The Tiny Heifer Looks Just Like Her Mama

When Katie finally found the young heifer, she immediately pointed out how much she resembles her mother.

Especially the ears.

Katie told the calf that she had her mama’s ears and said she looked just like her.

At the time, the little girl seemed convinced she had chosen an excellent hiding spot.

Katie had another reason to consider her special, however.

Her father is Fireproof.

That sire connection became the inspiration for her naming options.

Phoenix or Persephone?

For the little Fireproof daughter, Katie and her followers were choosing between:

Phoenix and Persephone.

Both names fit the required “P” theme, and both had connections that Katie felt worked with the Fireproof name.

Phoenix has an obvious connection with fire and rebirth.

Persephone offered something different and more dramatic.

Again, Katie turned to the comments.

And again, followers produced a clear favorite.

The majority preferred Persephone.

Meet Persephone, “Queen of the Underworld”

Katie officially introduced the tiny heifer as Persephone.

She then explained the meaning that made the choice especially fun.

Persephone is known in Greek mythology as the queen of the underworld.

Katie jokingly tied that idea back to the calf’s sire:

Her father is Fireproof — and Persephone is the queen of the underworld.

For Katie, the name has the kind of distinctive quality that could still suit the calf years from now.

Right now, Persephone is tiny.

But Katie is already imagining her as a future mama cow, and she believes such a strong, memorable name could fit her perfectly as she matures.

Two Very Different Names With Personal Connections

Picasso and Persephone come from very different inspirations.

Picasso’s name is tied directly to his mother, Mona Lisa, and Katie’s “work of art” theme.

Persephone’s name takes inspiration from her sire, Fireproof, through the underworld connection.

Yet the names have something important in common.

Neither feels random.

Katie wanted names that connected somehow to the calves’ families, personalities or future.

And both also satisfy the registry’s “P” year requirement.

That makes the pair feel like particularly thoughtful additions to Katie’s growing list of calf names.

Katie Already Sees a Big Future for Picasso

Perhaps the biggest statement in the update concerned Picasso’s future.

Katie isn’t simply admiring him as a cute calf.

She said she expects him to become a “big bad herd bull one day.”

That is Katie describing her hopes for the calf rather than a guarantee about what his adult career will ultimately become.

Still, it makes clear why she is so excited about him.

She likes his appearance.

She likes his color.

She likes his breeding.

And she appears very optimistic about what he could eventually contribute.

For now, however, Picasso is still a little calf with a pink nose, fancy eyelashes and a mother keeping an eye on him from across the pasture.

Persephone May Have a Future in the Cow Herd Too

Katie also spoke positively about Persephone’s future.

She said the name would suit her if she eventually becomes a mama cow.

Again, that is forward-looking rather than a confirmed long-term placement.

Persephone is still just a tiny calf.

But naming her with adulthood in mind shows that Katie is already imagining how the little heifer might develop.

Today she can hide in the grass and disappear from her mother.

One day, she may be the mature cow standing beside a calf of her own.

Fan Comments Helped Make Both Decisions

A fun part of both reveals was how much follower participation mattered.

Katie had already narrowed down the choices, but she let the audience help decide.

For Picasso, followers chose between Pablo and Picasso.

For Persephone, they chose between Phoenix and Persephone.

Katie then reviewed the responses and went with the names that received the strongest support.

That turns the naming process into something viewers can participate in rather than simply observe.

Followers aren’t deciding every detail of Katie’s breeding program, of course.

But when there are two names Katie already likes, they get an opportunity to help make the final call.

Calving Season Isn’t Waiting for the Naming Committee

There is one slight problem with taking time to carefully name every baby.

The cows keep having more.

At the end of the update, Katie revealed that another calf was already on the ground.

That baby still needed to be tagged and weighed later in the day.

And after that?

Another name would be needed. 0803.txtTXT

So even as Picasso and Persephone officially receive their names, the next naming discussion is already beginning.

Such is calving season.

Picasso and Persephone Join a Rapidly Growing Group

Katie’s pasture has changed dramatically in a short period of time.

Expecting cows have become mothers.

New calves have been arriving one after another.

Some have come early.

Some have required assistance.

Others have quietly appeared while Katie was busy checking different cows.

Now those newborns are gradually getting their individual identities.

A calf becomes more memorable once followers know the name attached to the face.

Picasso is no longer simply “the red bull calf.”

Persephone isn’t simply “the Fireproof heifer.”

They now have names followers can use as they grow.

The Art Theme Couldn’t Fit Picasso Better

Picasso’s name may be particularly memorable because of the connection with Mona Lisa.

Katie did not have to stretch very far to make the theme work.

His mother already carries one of the most famous names in art.

Her son is red, striking and one Katie believes has major potential.

Calling him Picasso allows the family connection to continue without simply copying Mona Lisa’s name.

And Katie’s joke about his future calves becoming “works of art” ties the whole thing together.

For a young bull Katie clearly adores, it is easy to understand why followers gravitated toward the name.

Persephone Gets the More Dramatic Name

Persephone, meanwhile, received the more mysterious choice.

Instead of the straightforward fire imagery of Phoenix, followers chose a mythological name with a darker connection.

Katie clearly loved the result.

“Persephone, queen of the underworld.”

Combined with Fireproof as the sire, the name creates a playful pedigree-related theme that Katie believes will still sound appropriate when the little heifer is grown.

For now, though, the “queen of the underworld” is apparently quite happy hiding in the pasture and making her mother search for her.

Two Names Revealed — Another One Already Needed

By the end of Katie’s pasture visit, the official introductions were complete.

Picasso is the red Mona Lisa bull calf.

Persephone is the tiny Fireproof daughter.

Both names won the majority of fan support.

Both fit the “P” year.

And both reflect something meaningful about the calves behind them.

Katie asked followers what they thought of the final choices.

But she barely had time to enjoy the result before announcing another task.

A brand-new calf had already arrived.

It still needed weighing.

It still needed tagging.

And, naturally, it still needed a name.

Calving season keeps moving whether Katie is ready or not.

But for today, two of the newest members of the herd can finally be properly introduced:

Picasso and Persephone. 🐮❤️

And if the recent pace of births continues, they probably won’t be the newest named calves for very long. 0803.txtTXT