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Oh, baby! Families flock to see farm animals
The Vindicator/Daniel C. Britt
MOO-VE OVER HERE: Olexa Benofsky, 8, of Lowelville, reaches out to pet “Moo,” a cow at the 16th annual farm animal Baby Shower on Sunday at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm along state Route 46, across from the fairgrounds, in Canfield. The annual event, family-oriented and fun, allows participants to pet animals and take photos.
The 16th annual event was expected to draw about 5,000 people.
CANFIELD — Ever since Easter, 2-year-old Taylor Byers has been looking high and low for a bunny.
She even checks under the bed, hoping she’ll find one there, said her mother, Jennifer Byers of Girard.
The youngster had no trouble finding several bunnies — along with pigs, ducklings, sheep, cows and goats — on Sunday at MetroParks Farm along state Route 46 across from the fairgrounds.
The farm, part of Mill Creek MetroParks, hosted the 16th annual farm animal Baby Shower, which drew families who waited in lines to pet the animals and take pictures.
Taylor, along with brother Troy Stack Byers, climbed atop a stack of hay to get a closer look at a 3-day-old dairy calf.
Jennifer Byers and her husband, Tom, said they couldn’t pass up the event because they knew how much the children would enjoy it.
“It was a surprise for them because they love animals so much,” she said.
And even though she had her eye out for bunnies, when asked what her favorite animal is, Taylor simply replied, “moo.”
Brenda Markley, the farm’s agricultural facilities manager, said she expected nearly 5,000 people to attend the event, with most years averaging between 3,000 and 3,200 people, depending on weather.
Parents took pictures of their kids on tractors, enjoyed cake and punch and were able to help name three sets of baby goats born just this week.
Lindsay Davis, 7, of Canfield, attended the event with her mom, Heidi, and brother, Jack. She said she thinks the baby goats should be named “Wooley,” “Billy” and “Nicky.”
Lindsay watched closely as tiny ducklings, born Friday, hid under their mother.
“Mommy, don’t suffocate your babies,” she called out to the duck.
Her 2-year-old brother couldn’t contain his excitement — or his displeasure with the smell — as he ran around looking at animals.
“I want to see some horseys,” he said while plugging his nose.
The event marked the official opening of the farm, which will stay open through October. Extra animals were brought in for the shower, but Markley said several are on hand throughout the season.
The facility is open during the week for school tours, and future events include a kite festival April 26 and tractor-wagon tours on various weekends.
Markley said the baby shower is always a popular event, with large groups and generations of family coming out to meet the animals and share in a fun, educational experience.
“I think the big draw is that it is free family fun,” she said. “Plus, everybody loves animals.”
Aggie VanBrocklin of Poland met up with several family members, including daughter Jennifer Abercrombie of Pittsburgh and granddaughters Siena, 5, and Tirli, 2. The children’s 92-year-old great-grandmother, Mary Galich of Boardman, also attended.
“This is an annual event for us,” VanBrocklin said. “We come every year, rain or shine.”
The former Poland teacher is now director of curriculum at Streetsboro City Schools and said she enjoys seeing former students each year at the baby shower.
“This is the greatest hands-on educational experience you can have,” she added.