Students, volunteers enjoy petting zoo activities
Todd Fogle
Issue date: 10/12/09 Section: Campus
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The petting zoo was open to the public Saturday. Visitors could see and pet the animals, take a hayride and view different areas of research at the ASU farm.
Kim Pittcock, associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Technology, estimated at least 1,500 people attended on Saturday, though the cold and rainy weather deterred many visitors.
However, Pittcock said that attendance was still higher than they had expected.
"It's been a nice crowd today," she said.
Michael Johnson, director of the ASU Farm, said there were about 50-60 volunteers throughout the three days.
Students, staff and faculty from ASU were all invited to volunteer. Most of the student volunteers were from the agriculture department.
"Without them we could not do this," Pittcock said. "We will take any volunteers, students, faculty and staff. It's fun. You learn a lot. They can come out for an hour or the whole day."
Some volunteers monitored the animals and spectators, while others got to hold animals for people to get an up close look.
"I like holding the horses because I can braid their manes and the kids love that," said Betsy Fires, a senior animal science major from Lepanto.
Fires said she also worked with the rabbits, horses and hissing cockroaches this week.
Visitors enjoyed seeing, holding and petting the animals at the farm. Many visitors have never seen the farm animals before and do not know what some of them are.
"I think they really enjoy seeing something they probably won't ever see again." Fires said, adding that, because there are fewer farms now, there are fewer chances to see them.
UPD Lt. Randy Martin took his daughter Becca to the petting zoo Saturday for the first time.
"We probably will come back in the future," he said. "It's been pretty fun."
Visitors could also take a hayride along with a tour guide through the farm.
"It was a very beneficial way to give people a tour of the farm," Pittcock said. "It's fun for the adults and the children."
In another building at the farm, the college had different display boards and machines for visitors to see.
Kevin Humphrey, project director for agriculture education, said his projects should use fuels produced on the farm.
"It is a very self-supporting system," he said. "That's the plan. That's what research is about, right?"
His project was about bio-fuel production and a small engine testing lab.
Johnson said the next petting zoo will be held again in the spring, from April 15-17.
He said the funding for the zoo comes from donation boxes, with ASU picking up the rest of the cost. Food and vet bills are included in that total.
All of the activities at the zoo are free for visitors.
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