Stark white when it was delivered, the 8-foot-long bovine has slowly been evolving into "Beatle 'Moo'nia" inside its art classroom pasture.

Lucie Roberts bestowed the title on her entry in Lucerne's "The Art of Dairy Cows & History" art contest.

Now that the 17-year-old Lincoln senior is one of 30 semifinalists, she's in the process of converting her winning sketch onto the three-dimensional cow using acrylic paints.

Lucie says she chose her theme because "the Beatles are one of my favorite bands, and one of the greatest bands of all time.

"The contest was for cows and history, and I thought British rock music coming over had a big impact on American history."

Lucie has been using original album covers from her parents' collection for inspiration. Nigel and Laura Roberts, her parents, live in the Rose Garden.

Lucie says she feels a connection to British music in part because her father is from Luton, England. Her favorite Beatles' song is "Across the Universe."

Although the Beatles' American debut on the Ed Sullivan show was 42 years ago, Lucie and her twin sister, Becky, have grown up with the Beatles' music.

Lucie based her winning sketch on the Sullivan show appearance. That sketch is now a painting of Paul, Ringo, George and John, along with a cow in a matching suit, on the left side of the Fiberglas cow.

The right side of the cow will have the group and a cow in the familiar stance from the cover of the "HELP" album, surrounded with the words "Beatle Invasion" and graphics from "Magical Mystery Tour."

The cow's udder depicts the "Yellow Submarine," at the suggestion of fellow student Vi Vu, who did the painting of that portion.

The cow itself is dressed in a conservative suit and tie with laced shoes on its hooves, all painted on.

The contest allows Lucie to have help in painting the cow, so pitching in are her sister Becky, Vi, Laina Reginelli, Aiwen Liu and Allegra Bick-Maurischat.

Once the cow is finished, it will be coated with a clear-coat varnish normally used on automobiles.

Eileen Zamora, Lincoln's art instructor, is pleased with Lucie's status as a semi-finalist and with her design.

"It's so whimsical, and everything is inviting," Zamora says. "The Beatles are still magical to this age, and every generation can make a connection on one level or another."

Sponsored by Safeway, the contest was open to students age 12-18 attending schools in any of the 21 states where one of the chain's 1,800 stores are located.

Entrants were asked to "neatly design, decorate or color the cow on the entry form implementing a historical theme."

Teena Massingill, a spokeswoman for Safeway, says the contest is part of the chain's ongoing educational outreach efforts.

Past efforts have focused on sports themes and health and fitness.

This one focuses on two areas: art and history.

The cow theme is a tribute to Safeway's own Lucerne brand of dairy products, which is more than 100 years old.

Massingill says students were invited to depict "an element of history or the history of dairy."

Among the more than 8,000 entries were predictable ones focusing on the dairy industry with drawings of cheese, yogurt, cows or the state of Wisconsin.

Less predictable ones include a drawing of Marie Antoinette sitting in a bathtub filled with milk; renditions of the Civil War; drawings that include the Statue of Liberty; and even one focusing on Sept. 11, 2001, and how the country came together following the tragedy.

The winning cow will bring the artist and teacher each $1,000 and the school $20,000.

Zamora says the Lincoln art program could use the $20,000 in materials.

All the semifinalists' cows must be finished with photographs of all four sides postmarked by midnight March 20.

Lucie's "Beatle 'Moo'nia" will eventually be displayed at one of the local Safeway stores, and the chain will announce the winner in May.

Lucie is already a winner.

In last year's Downtown Doors Project, where original student artwork is transformed into decals and put on utility doors in downtown San Jose, Lucie had one of her designs chosen, while twin Becky had two door designs chosen.

Nigel Roberts says, "We're really excited. It's amazing."

Roberts reveals that "we almost forgot to mail the original pictures in. I had to go to the post office at the last minute. We almost didn't get into the competition."

According to information sent to contestants, once Safeway has finished displaying the cows, the winning school may have the cow back if they come and pick it up.

Roberts says he'd like to see it on permanent display at Lincoln, or elsewhere in the Rose Garden.

Zamora quips, "Maybe Paul will buy it."