The big red barn is the centerpiece of the 36-acre Michigan Farmstead - “home of the Critter Barn” – in Zeeland Township. The barn is home to a wide variety of animals and is surrounded by numerous smaller barns serving goats, poultry, sheep and small animals.
Photo by Greg Chandler
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Over the past 35 years, thousands of children from throughout West Michigan have been introduced to the world of farming through the Critter Barn in Zeeland Township – first at its original location at 9275 Adams St., and then more recently at its spacious 36-acre farm at 2950 80th Ave.
Now, the nonprofit educational farm has entered a new chapter under a new name.
On Sept. 19 during its Derby Night fundraiser, the organization announced its new name: Michigan Farmstead, a name its leaders say more accurately reflects its future direction and vision for agricultural education across the state. It has kept the Critter Barn name as a subtitle – “home of the Critter Barn.”
“In a good way, it outgrew its name,” said Tony McCaul, who just began his fourth year as the organization’s executive director. “We’ve evolving. People think of (the original) three acres still. That’s where we started and that’s where we found it.
“We’ve got a garden, we’ve got corn and soybeans planted, we’ve got animals rotating and grazing … When you walk around this farm, it’s clean and accessible. We’ll do over 6,000 kids for field trips through here in a year.”
In a social media post shortly after the announcement, Michigan Farmstead has grown “from a one-barn petting zoo into so much more - a destination, an education hub, and a partner in agricultural education. Our mission hasn’t changed. We’re still dedicated to teaching about farming and agriculture while inspiring people of all ages, and all abilities, through the miracles in nature found at the farm.”
Michigan Farmstead is expected to finish this year with close to 30,000 visitors. Last year, the farm had visitors from 30 different Michigan counties and 20 different states, McCaul said.
Mary Rottschafer, a former elementary school teacher, started the Critter Barn at the Adams Street location in 1991. It was known for such popular, colorful animals as Mr. Chops, a potbellied pig; Jake the Donkey, and Rosie the Dog. While Rottschafer stepped away from running the farm several years ago, she remains on its board of directors and designed much of the new site, McCaul said.
“She’s still the founder, she’s still connected,” said McCaul, a former teacher at Careerline Tech Center who served on the Critter Barn board before becoming executive director.
One of the areas where Michigan Farmstead has seen growth is in partnerships with local schools. Zeeland Public Schools this fall began a new program, bringing students from preschool to the fifth grade onto the farm for ongoing project-based learning experiences. They also launched a program at Hamilton Community Schools where high school and middle school students attend agriculture classes and take part in hands-on FFA activities. That program enrolled 85 students in its first year, according to Michigan Farmstead’s recent annual report.
“We literally have all ages and all abilities programming here,” McCaul said.
The farm has been recognized as the world’s first barrier-free agricultural learning facility, with many features that make the facility attractive to families with children who have physical challenges – including easily-accessible animal viewing spaces, paved sidewalks, and an ADA-accessible play structure.
Michigan Farmstead has ambitious plans to add on to its property. During the Sept. 19 fundraiser, McCaul announced plans for $12 million in additional buildings, most notably an event center that could hold receptions, conferences and educational events.
Also in the works are a welcome center and country house, McCaul said.
Another partnership is with Harbor Humane Society, where Michigan Farmstead has adopted more than 100 cats and makes them available for adoption to the public, McCaul said.
Under its new branding, Michigan Farmstead will continue its traveling farm exhibits where animals from the farm are brought to area events, such as Zeeland’s Pumpkinfest. McCaul says that program has expanded to about 180 events a year, necessitating the hiring of college students to help out.
For more information about Michigan Farmstead, visit mifarm stead.org online.
Zeeland Record
Over the past 35 years, thousands of children from throughout West Michigan have been introduced to the world of farming through the Critter Barn in Zeeland Township – first at its original location at 9275 Adams St., and then more recently at its spacious 36-acre farm at 2950 80th Ave.
Now, the nonprofit educational farm has entered a new chapter under a new name.
On Sept. 19 during its Derby Night fundraiser, the organization announced its new name: Michigan Farmstead, a name its leaders say more accurately reflects its future direction and vision for agricultural education across the state. It has kept the Critter Barn name as a subtitle – “home of the Critter Barn.”
“In a good way, it outgrew its name,” said Tony McCaul, who just began his fourth year as the organization’s executive director. “We’ve evolving. People think of (the original) three acres still. That’s where we started and that’s where we found it.
“We’ve got a garden, we’ve got corn and soybeans planted, we’ve got animals rotating and grazing … When you walk around this farm, it’s clean and accessible. We’ll do over 6,000 kids for field trips through here in a year.”
In a social media post shortly after the announcement, Michigan Farmstead has grown “from a one-barn petting zoo into so much more - a destination, an education hub, and a partner in agricultural education. Our mission hasn’t changed. We’re still dedicated to teaching about farming and agriculture while inspiring people of all ages, and all abilities, through the miracles in nature found at the farm.”
Michigan Farmstead is expected to finish this year with close to 30,000 visitors. Last year, the farm had visitors from 30 different Michigan counties and 20 different states, McCaul said.
Mary Rottschafer, a former elementary school teacher, started the Critter Barn at the Adams Street location in 1991. It was known for such popular, colorful animals as Mr. Chops, a potbellied pig; Jake the Donkey, and Rosie the Dog. While Rottschafer stepped away from running the farm several years ago, she remains on its board of directors and designed much of the new site, McCaul said.
“She’s still the founder, she’s still connected,” said McCaul, a former teacher at Careerline Tech Center who served on the Critter Barn board before becoming executive director.
One of the areas where Michigan Farmstead has seen growth is in partnerships with local schools. Zeeland Public Schools this fall began a new program, bringing students from preschool to the fifth grade onto the farm for ongoing project-based learning experiences. They also launched a program at Hamilton Community Schools where high school and middle school students attend agriculture classes and take part in hands-on FFA activities. That program enrolled 85 students in its first year, according to Michigan Farmstead’s recent annual report.
“We literally have all ages and all abilities programming here,” McCaul said.
The farm has been recognized as the world’s first barrier-free agricultural learning facility, with many features that make the facility attractive to families with children who have physical challenges – including easily-accessible animal viewing spaces, paved sidewalks, and an ADA-accessible play structure.
Michigan Farmstead has ambitious plans to add on to its property. During the Sept. 19 fundraiser, McCaul announced plans for $12 million in additional buildings, most notably an event center that could hold receptions, conferences and educational events.
Also in the works are a welcome center and country house, McCaul said.
Another partnership is with Harbor Humane Society, where Michigan Farmstead has adopted more than 100 cats and makes them available for adoption to the public, McCaul said.
Under its new branding, Michigan Farmstead will continue its traveling farm exhibits where animals from the farm are brought to area events, such as Zeeland’s Pumpkinfest. McCaul says that program has expanded to about 180 events a year, necessitating the hiring of college students to help out.
For more information about Michigan Farmstead, visit mifarm stead.org online.
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