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February 17, 2025
You read about Otis the tractor, sing about Old McDonald and watch Nature Cat more times than you can count. Now here’s your opportunity to get out and let your littles pet their favorite barn yard animals!
The Petting Farms (Ann Arbor)The Petting Farm opened its doors in 1984 at Domino’s Farms. In addition to petting animals, riding ponies and on a hayride, kids can also explore a stationary train car. Cost $8 per person, children under 2 are free.
Bowers School Farm (Bloomfield Hills) – PICTUREDTake a trip to Bowers School Farm for hands-on fun. Let your kids carry chickens, brush horses and hold bunnies. Bowers takes the petting farm experience to the next level with unique farm experiences and daily activities. Daily activities are scheduled in two hour blocks throughout the day and include animal experiences, wagon rides and crafts. Cost $10 per person, children under 2 are free.
Real Life Farm (Canton)Schedule a field trip on Monday – Friday from 10am to 2pm and go on a 30 minute hayride, ride a horse around the corral and enjoy a hands-on animal show.
Calder Farms (Carleton)Calder Farm is open to the public daily and admission is FREE! Get a look at real life farm life and see how cows, sheep, chickens and other animals live. Stop by the farm store for ice cream and other treats.
Gibraltar Bay Alpaca Farm (Grosse Ile)Meet and greet with alpacas at this locally owned farm.
Kensington Farm Center (Milford)
Meet farm animals and get a glimpse of rural life at Kensington Metropark’s Farm Center. Take in the sights, smells and sounds of life on the farm and see live farm animals like chickens, sheep, cattle and draft horses. Take a short walk to the riverside where a one-of-a kind “green” building (made exclusively of natural materials), a stone labyrinth, a grass maze and the new early skills area including a blacksmith shop and brick oven can all be found. Special programs on the animals, historic techniques, and other farm-related topics are held throughout the year. The Farm Center is free but you need a daily or annual Metopark pass to enter the park.
Maybury Farm (Northville)
Maybury Farm is a working farm with a mission to connect the community to animals and agriculture through hands-on experiences that are both engaging and educational. Situated on 85 acres of farmland and forest, the opportunities to enjoy and learn about Michigan farming, agriculture and habitats is endless. They care for dozens of farm animals and provide opportunities to teach kids about the role of animals in providing food and fiber, a U-Pick farm garden full of fresh veggies, a farm-themed playground, large picnic area, and a General Store. Cost $8 per person, kids under 2 are free.
MSU Tollgate Farm (Novi)Visit the farm animals, play in the children’s garden, explore the trails and make plans to visit during a special event.
Wolcott Mill Farm Center (Ray)
Meet the animals on the 250-acre working farm. Wolcott Mill is the only known public farm in the state of Michigan where all six heritage breeds of dairy cow, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Jersey, Milking Short Horn, and Holstein, reside year-round. In addition, the farm features a wide variety of other animals, including miniature and draft horses, multiple species of sheep and goats as well as a wide variety of farm fowl. Visit the greenhouse and gardens or, when available, take a horse-drawn wagon ride through the crop fields.
Carousel Acres (South Lyon)Carousel Acres is a family owned farm that specializes in camps and birthday parties but it is also open to the public for general admission farm visits and pony rides. Cost $10 per person and pony rides are $8.
Duke Farm (Temperance)Duke Farm is run by a community of volunteers who donate their time. The kids will enjoy the small animal petting area and chasing the ducks and goats in the outdoor animal area. There’s a new bunny ‘Rabbitat’ for the kids to play in. Admission is $5 per person (children under 1 are free) and pony rides are only $3.
Heritage Park Petting Farm (Taylor)The Heritage Park Petting Farm offers a hands-on experience for the young or just young at heart in a unique park atmosphere. Children wearing proper footwear (gym shoes or boots) can walk around the stalls of the goats, sheep, and piglets. Cost $4 per person, children under 1 are free.
Photo Location: Bowers School Farm
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