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New arrivals at MetroParks Farm showered with attention
By ABBY SLANKER
Thousands took advantage of Sunday’s nice weather by spending the day at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm in Canfield for its annual Baby Animal Shower. The event is meant to showcase the animals and their babies that are housed at the farm.
According to Agriculture Facilities Manager Brenda Markley, the farm has four sets of baby lambs, three sets of baby goats, bottle baby goats, a llama, three donkeys, four horses, baby pigs, a full-size pig, a pot belly pig and numerous chickens, ducks, turkeys and rabbits.
There are also five animals still expecting this spring.
The event started in 1992 with 1,200 visitors. In 2009, 5,000 visitors attended the Baby Animal Shower. Markley said it depends on the weather as to how many people attend, but they usually anticipate 3,000 people.
Numerous volunteers from the Jr. Fair Board, area 4-H clubs and Farm Bureau youth came together to educate the public about the animals. The volunteers were available to answer questions and hold the animals for visitors to pet and get a closer look.
It wouldn’t be a true baby shower without cake and punch, which was available to all visitors in McMahon Hall. A tractor display was also set up for children to climb into the driver’s seat.
In the Agventure Barn, educational information was available for children to learn more about agriculture. The Mahoning County Farm Bureau sponsored a guessing game with a door prize for the one who guessed how many plastic cows were hiding in a jar full of corn kernels.