With free food, baby animals and a host of ISU student volunteers, event co-chair Morgan Pittz of the Block and Bridle Club said the first annual Animal Learning Day went “even better than expected.”

From 9 a.m, to 1 p.m. Saturday, the Jeff and Deb Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center continued to bustle with Ames community children and families, as ISU students and local industry professionals sponsored a host of hands-on educational activities.

Attendees made butter by hand, trail mix to simulate mixing feed rations and watched an educational documentary called “Farmland.” The event featured photo-ops, playing in a sandbox filled with corn kernels, sampling a variety of food from pork chops to ribeye sandwiches, and of course, petting baby animals.

Ames resident Jiwoong Kim brought his children, ages 1 and 3, to the event, and said that it was the kids’ first time being around farm animals. His daughter Emma reached out to pet a calf from her stroller while munching on a cookie from one of the sponsored exhibits, while her older brother watched protectively. Kim said the kids were a little scared but had fun touching the various animals like calves, piglets and chicks.

“We’ve been [in Ames] a few years and never seen an event like this,” Kim said. “We’re really glad to be here.”

Minnesotan Donna Konz said she drove down to spend the weekend with her daughter’s family and her young grandson.

“His favorite part [of this event] is the chicks,” Konz said, holding on to the excited toddler, who was busy mumbling “chickens” while reaching into the plastic enclosure brimming with fuzzy yellow birds. “He just wants to jump in there and hold them all!”

Organizers were pleased with the turnout.

“That and more so. I think that the initial turnout we had really surpassed any expectations we could have had. … It’s been really busy from the get-go,” said Matthew Romoser, event co-chair.

Romoser explained that although the event was largely sponsored by the university, the goal of those hosting was more far-reaching, and that’s why they decided to cater to kids and families.

“What we’ve been doing is a lot of promoting animal science in general, trying to spark [kids’] interest in animal science and the animal industries, and hopefully later on we can recruit some animal science students, and maybe some more future Block and Bridle Club members,” Romoser said.

Sarah Lennon, 11, in attendance with her sister Megan, 8, and mother Jenny Johannsen, said her favorite part of the event was the baby animals.

“I like the chicks … and the pigs,” Lennon said.

Johannsen said the three of them had come right at the start of the event, and seen most of the exhibits by about 10:30 a.m..

“Since they cancelled Veishea, this is a really nice way to get visibility for these clubs and majors,” Johannsen said. “I think this is a really nice facility that a lot of people have wondered about as they go by, so it’s nice to see the inside of it. … But we can’t leave unless we get a ribeye sandwich.”

In closing, Pittz said she was ecstatic the event went so well, and the advertising seemed to have paid off.

“It’s been great so far and I hope it goes this well again next year!” Pittz said.

Animal Learning Day was put on by a coalition of sponsors including the Iowa Pork Producers, the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the Iowa Sheep Industry Association, Olde Main Brewing Co. and Restaurant, the ISU Dairy Science Extension Division and the ISU Dairy Science Club.