anything pertaining specifically to children
Petting Zoo Animals: What You Will Meet at a County Fair
For many families, the petting zoo is the first stop at the fair. Kids get to feed a hungry goat, touch soft wool, and see farm animals up close, often for the very first time. It is one of the simplest and happiest parts of fair day. If you are planning a trip with little ones, our county fair with kids planning guide helps you build the whole day around their age. This guide covers the petting zoo animals you are most likely to see, what each one is like to meet, how feeding works, and the safety steps every family should follow. What Is a Petting Zoo at a County Fair? A petting zoo is a fenced area where visitors can walk in, touch, and sometimes feed gentle animals. At a county fair, it is often run by a local farm, a traveling animal business, or the fair itself. Some petting zoos are small pens with a few goats and rabbits. Others are large tents with dozens of animals, staff on hand, and food cups for sale. Petting zoos are different from the livestock barns. The barns hold animals that are being shown and judged, usually by 4-H and FFA members. You can look and ask questions there, but you usually should not touch without permission. Petting zoo animals are chosen because they are calm and used to people. Learn more about the barn side of the fair in our post on why livestock shows matter at county fairs. Common Petting Zoo Animals You Will See Most county fair petting zoos stick to friendly farm animals. Here is a quick look at the usual crowd. Animal What They Are Like Can You Feed Them? Goats Curious, bold, and always hungry Yes, with pellets from staff Sheep and lambs Gentle and a little shy Yes, from a flat hand Rabbits Soft, quiet, easy to startle Usually no, petting only Chickens and ducks Busy and noisy Sometimes, with grain Piglets Playful and fast Rarely Calves Big eyes, calm, and gentle Sometimes, with a bottle Alpacas and llamas Calm, fluffy, and watchful Yes, with pellets Miniature horses and donkeys Friendly and patient Ask staff first Tortoises Slow and steady No, look and gently touch Goats Goats are the stars of almost every petting zoo. Pygmy goats and Nigerian Dwarf goats are the most common because they are small and friendly. Goats will happily climb, nibble on clothing, and follow anyone holding a feed cup. Hold cups low and keep [...]
