[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]This fall, CowParade Wisconsin highlights the state's agricultural background with 101 uniquely painted, nearly life-sized fiberglass cows decorating the streets of Madison.

The cows, presented by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, are on display through Oct. 13 and will be auctioned off to the public to benefit several charities after the exhibition.

According to Beth Blum, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics director of annual giving, 60 percent of the proceeds from the auction will go toward building the new American Family Children's Hospital on campus.

"[CowParade] may never be here again, so it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Blum said. "To be a part of something with such a mass appeal is awesome to us, and we are excited about the prospects for the future of Wisconsin's children."

The other 40 percent of the proceeds will be donated to charities already chosen by the sponsors of each individual cow, Blum added.

In addition to benefiting charities, Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau president Deb Archer said CowParade Wisconsin continues to attract a large number of tourists to the Madison area.

"We have been seeing a lot of people taking pictures with the cows and enjoying them — especially children," she said. "I think [CowParade] has really enhanced the visitor experience here."

Even though similar artistic displays have taken place in Illinois, New York and New Jersey, Archer explained CowParade has a special place in the state that calls itself America's Dairyland. The cows draw even more attention because they "really belong" in Wisconsin, she added.

"Because of the fact that [UW] has such a strong agricultural heritage, [CowParade] is a cool addition," Archer said. "It's a fabulous opportunity for the community, and I hope both students and their families go out and enjoy the cows."

In an effort to enhance the CowParade display's Midwestern theme, many of the cows were designed and painted by local artists or Wisconsin residents, according to artist Jenny Steinman Heyden.

Heyden, who designed both "Animal Magnetism" and "Pink Flamingcow," said artists were required to undergo a detailed application process to be chosen for CowParade Wisconsin. Once she was selected, it took Heyden a combined total of eight weeks to fully complete her cows.

However, she maintained the process was well worth the time and effort.

"The cows on parade concept has revolutionized modern art," Heyden added. "And the fact the auction is for charity is just great — everybody wins."

But as students return for the fall semester, CowParade Event Manager Becky Kronberg noted vandalism of the cows might become a bigger problem. Though the sponsors are looking into hiring security to protect the cows, Kronberg said for now they are relying on spectators' phone calls to report damage.

Kronberg also said expected revenue from the cow auctions is between $200,000 and $300,000. The live auction of about 50 cows will take place Nov. 10, while the online auction will begin Nov. 11 at midnight and run for two weeks.