See rare farm animals at annual show in Campton Hills
This Sunday, visitors can spend a spring day on the farm and see historic breeds of livestock, poultry and working animals at Garfield Farm Museum's annual Rare Breeds Livestock Show.
The show takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 21, at 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children younger than 13.
Held with invited members of the national organization the Livestock Conservancy, the day is an opportunity to meet and learn from owners and breeders of endangered varieties of animals that humans have depended upon for survival.
The Livestock Conservancy has been stressing the importance of preserving these breeds, but also finding as much economic value to them so the livestock and poultry enthusiast can find a way to pay for maintaining these breeds.
Breeds on exhibit will include mulefoot and mangalitza hogs, red wattle pigs, red Devon beef cattle, milking shorthorn and Dutch belted dairy cattle.
Various types of poultry will be on hand including Crevecouer, barred rock chickens, Nankin, auburn Javas, Icelandics, and the museum's black Java chickens, Narragansett turkeys, Pilgrim geese, and Dutch hookbill ducks. Tim Christakos from the Museum of Science and Industry will be on hand to sell Garfield Farm Museum's black Java chicks he incubated at the MSI hatchery display.
Sheep planning to attend include Merino, Katahdin, and Montadale of which some will be shorn by Loren Marceau, one of the few sheep shearers left in northern Illinois. Illinois Green Pastures Fiber Cooperative plans on having a booth as several exhibitors plan to sell wool, yarn, wool products, and even goat milk soap. Goats, ponies and herding dogs will also be featured.
The day includes a tour of the 1846 brick tavern and lectures in the 1842 threshing barn. Visit www.garfieldfarm.org for details.