Central Noble Features Farm Animals at Petting Zoo
Published: Friday, May 29, 2026
New this year at the Central Noble FFA petting zoo was a pair of emus brought by Fay Pulver.
The emus are an exotic animal owned by Pulver and her family and were a popular attraction at the 21st annual petting zoo at the high school in Albion. Students lined up to offer feed by hand to the young birds, and many giggled as the emus picked the feed from their palms.
Central Noble students in daycare through high school visited the agricultural classrooms to view a variety of animals shown by FFA members, who taught students about raising animals and the products each animal offers.
"The kids are interested in it, and it shows that we've done it a few years because kids come back and know some of the things we're teaching them," said Kyla Sickafoose, FFA president. "We're able to go more in depth with them, and that's really cool."
Sickafoose added that a unique aspect of the event is the atmosphere created by the students. She said the petting zoo is a place where students can get together and have fun while learning about agriculture in a relaxed environment.
"My favorite part of the petting zoo is to see the kids' faces; to see the amazement on their faces when you tell them, 'This cow is only 2 years old,'" she said, motioning to a full-sized milker.
Students in daycare through fifth grade are guided by FFA students through 14 different stations featuring: rabbits, chickens, ducks, dairy goats, meat goats, dairy cattle, a feeder calf, a beef steer, a "unicorn" horse, greenhouse plants, turkeys and alpacas. Junior and senior high school students were also invited to tour the exhibits during the day.
The program was coordinated by advisors Jamie Earnhart and Mandy Grimm and former FFA president Aubrey Rothenbuhler. FFA students provided all the animals for exhibition.
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