Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo 

In the Fall of 2006, the College of Agriculture began a free petting zoo on our farm at our beef barn facility. It began on a Friday during mid-October, with the weekday reserved for school groups, and the following Saturday open to the general public.  After an overwhelming response, the zoo was expanded to two days (Thurs. & Fri.) for school groups and continues on Saturdays for the public. 

Prior to the official petting zoo’s opening, schools randomly contacted the farm and were given tours primarily of the swine and sheep areas.  The petting zoo was created to allow for more interaction between our small visitors and a larger assortment of animals.  

The zoo is now open twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Animals on display in the zoo have been sheep, miniature donkeys, miniature horses, deer, ducks, chickens, pigs, llamas, bottle feed calves, turkeys, cats, dogs, goats, and rabbits, just to name a few.  We try to have as many young offspring of the animals as we can, so the children can pet both the adult and baby animals.  A hayride throughout the farm is available on zoo weekdays. On Saturdays, horseback riding is available in the pasture and is one of the most popular attractions.  Long lines also wait outside the chick, duckling, and baby bunny petting areas.  

In the Spring of 2008, the name was officially changed to the Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo.  The Nix’s children have created an endowment to assist in supporting this endeavor.  Their generosity has helped raise funds for general improvement of the facilities and expanded public relations for the petting zoo.        

For information about the Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo, please contact the Ag Studies office 870-972-2087.