Bio-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, January 22, 2000
# Kortier
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Farm Learning Center Is Educational Petting Zoo
JAYNE SEBRIGHT
Lancaster Farming Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) What do 16 animals, a
bunch of chicks, and colorful
posters have in common?
They're all part of the Farm
Learning Center. The Penn State
Students For Responsible Use Of
Animals (SRUA) host the exhibit
each year at the Farm Show.
The Farm Learning Center
features a petting zoo with an
educational twist. Children of all
ages come to learn about farm
animals and the products they
provide.
In its 10th year, the Farm
Learning Center highlighted the
by-products produced from
animals. A by-product is
something that is made through
the production of something else.
Cosmetics, shampoo,
medicines, pet food, and even
crayons are all by-products that
come from animals.
"Our theme this year was
'Animals Are Everywhere,'" said
SRUA Club Adviser Brenda Coe.
"There's a lot of things people
don't think about that come from
animals."
For instance, dice used m
board games originally were
made from animal horns
Lanolin, an ingredient used in
hand creams and conditioners, is
the greasy substance found in
sheep's wool.
The SRUA Club students
and advisers spend- the entire
week at Farm Show. They
answer questions and hand out
information to the thousands of
people who line up to see the
animals.
"A lot of kids come back
each year looking for specific
animals," said Coe. "They
remember the ponies that we've
had over the years and ask
'Where are they?"'
The goal of the Farm
Learning Center is to educate
people who are not from farms
about animals.
The nonfarm crowd now
makes up the largest portion of
those attending Farm Show. The
students who staff the exhibit
show Farm Show visitors how
farm animals are used
responsibly and what role they
play in our lives.
While local farmers provide
the animals, SRUA students and
advisers put together the displays
and make posters about each
animal.
Stephanie Herr, a sophomore
in animal bioscience, has spent
two years in the SRUA Club. She
helps at the Farm Learning
Center each year.
Herr also helps with the
club's other projects, including
pet therapy. Pet therapy is a
program that involves the
students taking dogs and cats into
nursing homes and daycare
centers.
"It's proven that pets help
lower blood pressure and make
people happy," said Herr.
She enjoys helping with the
Farm Learning Center. "I hold
the bunnies and baby animals for
people to pet, put animals in front
of the people so they can touch
them, and answer questions,"
said Herr.
For Herr, being a part of the
SRUA Club is rewarding because
it's about respecting animals and
using them responsibly. She feels
the Farm Learning Center works
well because it's hands-on.
"Kids respond really well to
soft animals," said Herr. "They
love to touch them."
One of the most exciting
things that happened at the Farm
Learning Center was when a
sheep had a baby lamb in front of
a crowded audience in 1999.
Herr was really excited this
year to see if one of the pigmy
goats would have her babies.
"She is due this week," said Herr.
"If she has her babies, it's one of
the most educational things that
can happen here."
Both Herr and Coe admit to
being asked questions by people
who are concerned about the care
of farm animals.
"Most often they just don't
understand the reasons why an
animal is cared for a certain
way," said Coe. "Once we
explain the reasons why, they
have a better appreciation for the
procedure."
For instance, being on the
second concourse of the Farm
Large Arena, students at the
Farm Learning Center have been
asked why draft norses have to
pull the cart and if it hurts them.
The students explain that the
horses are trained as athletes just
like people are trained for the
Olympics. The horses actually
enjoy the competition.
The Farm Learning Center
grows in popularity each year,
drawing thousands of people and
having constant lines at the
exhibit.
"We went for being ‘Oh,
what is this?’ to actually being on
the Farm Show map," said Coe.
While the kids watch and pet
the animals, parents can read
over the posters above the pens
and learn more about animal
care.
At the end of the exhibit,
everyone gets an animal stamp
on their hand. Brochures on
animal care and animal by
products from the People For
Responsible Use Of Animals
(PRUA) are also available.
SEEKiSFIND
FIND THESE WORDS IN THE PUZZLE BELOW.
ARCTIC COLD ICY
BRISK COOL NIPPY
BRUMAL FRIGID POLAR
CHILLY FROSTY WINTRY
THE WORDS READ UE DOWN AND ACROSS.
c
G
Suane Jacobs of York County greets the pigmy goat at
the Farm Learning Center during Farm Show.
“Spooker,” a 35-yaar-okJ pony, has spent the last several
years at the Farm Learning Center.
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