Juan Villa / The Collegian
People who do not drive to school via Barstow Avenue may be unaware of the large amount of livestock that lives on the Fresno State campus — and they are missing the chance to learn about the university’s farm.
“Not many students take farm tours,â€Â said MaryBeth Brown, director of farm tours.
Once spring hits and is in full swing, she said, then out comes the multitude of elementary schools — by the busload.
As the buses pull out of the gravel parking lot at the agriculture pavilion, kindergarteners do not even notice all the dust kicked up. They are too excited. Some are spinning in circles, looking all around. Some start screaming and a few have grins from ear to ear while plugging their nose because of the smell.
The school children that ran off the buses on a recent day were from Lincoln Elementary School in downtown Fresno. With parents waiting expectantly, Brown walked up, ready to lead the children around the farm. After explaining four simple rules to the children, she turned around to begin the tour and the children had already broken the first few rules: stay behind the leader and no running.
The first part of the farm tour consisted of the dairy cow unit. After explaining feeding procedures, types of cows and giving various details, Brown let the entertainment begin. Brown told the children that they were going to be allowed to touch the cows and she warned that most of the cows will try to lick their hands — the screaming began all over again.
Suddenly, 26 kindergarteners were pressing their faces and limbs through the fences, each with different reactions.
“The tongue is rough and all tickly!â€Â
“No, I’m scared. I don’t wanna.â€Â
“Aww, man, now I have gunk on me!â€Â
“That was disgusting!â€Â
“I’m never gonna pet a cow again.â€Â
After each child had the chance to be disgusted in his or her own way, Brown continued the tour by taking the children to the sheep unit. There, she talked about the different breeds of sheep that are raised at Fresno State. Some students were still recovering from their interaction with the cow and refrained from touching the sheep.
Shortly after their stop at the sheep unit, the children went to the swine unit and were able to look at all of the baby pigs and their mamas. When Brown asked the children what they thought pigs were good for, there was a short pause. Then, all at once, answers were shouted: “bacon,â€Â “hamâ€Â and “pork chops.â€Â
The tour finished with the horse unit. It had been almost two hours from the start of the tour and the kids were noticeably more distracted.
But even though they were tired, there was one last highlight for most of the children: getting a chance to pet Petey the pony.
“They’ve been really excited about this,â€Â a parent said.
One child couldn̢۪t fight the excitement.
“I love the farm,â€Â the child said, smiling ear to ear.