Heidi Paul / Roundup
Put yer Sunday calico on and have the young’uns warsh behin’ their ears, we’re goin’ to Farm Walk!
Pierce College’s 17th Annual Farm Walk is back in town Sunday, giving adults and kids alike the chance to visit with the four-footed residents of the campus and sample some of its agricultural wares.
More than just a fun way to spend the day outdoors, it’s an education on food production, animal husbandry and a little walk into Pierce’s past. This is a great opportunity to introduce kids (and adults!) to the world of farm animals and farming itself.
At $5 per adult, and children free, it’s also one of the least expensive day-long entertainment bargains in the valley.
Even though Pierce is recognized for its bucolic campus and high transfer rates to upper-level colleges, it was the agricultural department that put it on the educational map. And once a year, the department trots out its livestock to show the public the old gray mare is still what she used to be.
Sheep, goats, cows, pigs, llamas and, of course, the ever-popular equines (horses to you city slickers) will be on hand to show visitors what the campus was all about when it was founded in 1947 and what it is still famous for 60 years later. Of the more than 400 acres that make up the campus, 200 are still dedicated to agriculture and animal husbandry courses that are still respected statewide.
The new equestrian center will be stabling exhibits and information booths on the different courses and clubs that the agricultural department offers, such as pre-veterinary science, equine first aid and rodeo.
There will be a petting zoo for the kiddies and demonstrations by the Rock Creek pack horses who winter every year at Pierce as riding class mounts.
So come on out and spend a day and watch the horses perform, learn how to shear a sheep (yes, that’s where your sweater came from!), or play cow chip bingo, (no, you don’t have to touch the chips to win).
Listen to some great country music and chow down on some farm fresh goodies. Ask the chickens that age old question in person…what did come first: the chicken or the egg?
The barn door is open from 9:30 in the morning ‘till the cows come home at 4 p.m.
Boots and saddles club president Doug Lander attaches the Halter onto Mac while the faithful steed trojan looks on all in anticipation of the farm walk festivities this coming Sunday Apr. 19. (Patrick Sunn / Roundup)
Boots and saddles club president Doug Lander Shows off the real stars of farm walk this Sunday Apr. 19 the horses are Trojan (L) and Mac(R) (Patrick Sunn / Roundup)
