Farm Animal Days draws nearly 10,000

Neither rainy weather nor muddy fields could keep the crowds away from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ annual Farm Animal Days event, designed to give children an up-close-and-personal experience with animal agriculture.

Brent Jennings, event coordinator and North Carolina Cooperative Extension associate in animal science, said this year’s event attracted 9,624 visitors despite showers on the last day.

Holding baby chickens and turkeys is always among the biggest draws during Farm Animal Days. Children (and grown-ups alike) also could touch rabbits, sheep, goats and piglets, as well as climb on tractors, milk a wooden cow and take a turn roping a dummy steer. New to the event this year were presentations by College faculty on everything from miniature horses to a cow’s digestive system.

And of course, Farm Animals Days features complimentary cups of N.C. State’s Howling Cow ice cream.

“Our event offers a unique opportunity to teach not only youth but also adults about what farmers do on a daily basis,” Jennings said.

This year’s Farm Animal Days, which was free and open to the public, took place April 10-12 at the Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory Beef Education Unit. College faculty and staff members, field lab employees and student volunteers join forces to produce the event each spring.

— Suzanne Stanard