Poultry Parade
“Here Chick, Chick, Chick!” Call the chickens and watch them come running in their awkward, silly gait for snacks. They love sunflower seeds! Check the nest box to see if the hens have left us any eggs! Check out Carl the duck who lives with the goats! Some of the farm’s eggs may be available for purchase.
Wonders of Wool
A hands on display featuring the wool from the farm’s Gotland sheep can be found in the shade canopy. Touch and feel the wool shorn from the sheep here at the farm. You are even welcome to take a lock of wool home with you! See the steps involved in processing wool from the sheep to yarn ready for knitting and crocheting. Some of the farm’s Gotland fleeces and fiber will also be available for purchase.
Goat Milking
While the goats here at The Petting Barnyard at this time are raised purely for entertainment, goats are raised world wide for milk and meat. Goats are very popular on small farms and homesteads and can provide ample amounts of tasty, nutritious milk for families. See what milking a goat is all about by hand milking Elsie, our model goat!
The Weaving Wall
Find your artistic side at The Weaving Wall! Make cool designs using all kinds of unique items found available at The Weaving Wall. Explore weaving with our sheep’s Gotland wool, grasses, flowers, beaver sticks and other materials on the large rustic stationary loom. See what kind of cool creations you can make!
Plant and Pollinator Exploration
What better way to learn about nature than exploring the plants, pollinators and insects in the wildflower garden? Kids and adults alike can spend hours watching and photographing butterflies and bees sipping nectar and gathering pollen from the flowers. Grab a net and a magnifier and see if you can catch an insect for closer look. How many different flowers can you identify? How many different insects can you find?
Root Viewer
A large portion of the vegetables that I consume are grown here on the farm in my garden. Have you ever wondered what happens under ground when plants are growing? Check out the large root viewer for a close look at the under ground roots that help nourish the plants!
Balancing Act
There are several different types of feeds and materials used and found around the farm. The weights of these different materials can vary a lot, some are very light and fluffy, some are heavy and dense. Investigate the weights of different materials with our balance scale. Does a cup of corn weigh more than a cup of oats? How many rocks weigh the same as a bucket of sand? Have fun exploring and discovering with lots of different materials on the balance scale!
Calf Roping
Cowboy Up! My girls spent hours practicing roping on their calf dummy and now you can too. Grab a lasso and see if you can throw a rope over the calf head. Kids and adults alike can play cowboy!
Water Works
Water is the most important nutrient for the goats and sheep! It regulates their body temperature, aids in digestion and supports lactation and growth. Not only do sheep and goats need clean fresh water, but water is also fun to play in! Have fun pouring water through the pipes on the water wall!
Log and Stick Jam
Free nature play is a great way for kids to learn and explore! Stack the sticks and logs, arrange them against the trees to build a fort, make a stick maze, find cool insects on the logs…the possibilities are endless!
