More than 650 students from Page and Lee elementary schools walked to the high school to learn more about the animals, how they are cared for, and what FFA is about. Several high school classes also came out to pet the animals and support their classmates.
From the baby calves to the giant Clydesdale and Belgian horses, there was a great variety. There was a pony named Bandit. Clyde and Dakota were the two giant Clydesdale and Belgian horses, and Benji, was a soft Holland Lop rabbit. Boer goats named Sissy, Ginger, Dottie, Jasper, Brandy and Willow filled a popular pen where young students clambered around to offer feed pellets to the animals.
Zach Heinbeck brought cattle named Bruce, Mudflap and Monica while Emma Bush had pigs named Jellybean and Paul. Henry Balfoort held his duck, appropriately named Daffy, while students stroked the soft feathers.
It was a chance for the FFA students to share what they know about taking care of livestock and introduce young students to animals and answer endless questions from younger students. “What do you feed them?” “Why are they so big,” “How old are they?” and “What do you do with a Yak?”
“I love it,” said high school student Mylie Vos who brought her horses Rocket and Bandit. “We’ve been doing this since my freshman year . I just think it’s really cool and I like seeing how excited the younger students are when they get to see the animals and pet them. I think everyone should get to do this.”
Many of the animals brought may turn up again in the show rings at area fairs this summer. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s really fun,” said Vos.
Lydia Slagel brought her yaks and students were amazed at their soft, flowing hair. Yak hair is valued for its versatile fibers with the soft undercoat used for luxury garments like sweaters and scarves.
“I’ve never seen a yak before,” exclaimed one student as she reached out a hand to feel the soft hair.
High school FFA advisor Alyssa Hamlin said putting the petting zoo all together was a lot of work for everyone, but also a lot of fun for her students to share their love of animals with others. She said the goal is to help spread awareness of the ag industry and the many vast areas of agriculture and it also gave students a chance to spotlight the high school’s growing FFA program.