Take a cow. Feed it. Put it in a pasture. Wait for it to do its business.

That's the new fundraising formula in town.

Parents of Arundel High students have organized a session of Cow Pie Bingo on Dec. 1, featuring the talents of "Lucy," black angus cow at Maryland Sunrise Farm.

Cow Pie Bingo, for the uninformed, allows anyone to "purchase" a square plot of land on the field. If the cow, um, lets loose on your square, you win. 

In this case, squares cost $5 a piece, or $20 for five. The first prize winner gets 10 percent of the proceeds, the second prize winner gets 5 percent and the third prize winner gets 2 percent. The rest of the money goes to the Arundel High class of 2013, and if Lucy does her thing on an unclaimed square, all of the proceeds go to the students.

I first heard about Cow Pie Bingo (or Cow Flop Bingo, depending on the locale) from an old college buddy who grew up in Sticksville, PA. It's a popular fundraising in many rural communities, and is good, clean fun for the entire family.  

The Cow Pie Bingo session will take place Dec. 1 at 11 a.m. There will be cider and hot cocoa, though you do not have to be present to win.

To buy tickets, email cowpiebingo2013@yahoo.com.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the name of the cow being used in the Cow Pie Bingo. Lucy, a black angus cow, will be the participating cow.