The Children's Farmyard is closed for the season

You are welcome to say hello to our donkeys, goats, and sheep if you walk by their pastures, but there are no scheduled activities. The Farmyard will reopen May 11, 2024. See you then!

Discover the role of farm animals in your lives! The Children's Farmyard is a key to your Farm Barn Fun.

Accessible via Farm Trail or a seasonal tractor shuttle (mid-May to mid-October).

  • We have Nubian goats, which have long floppy ears (can you pick them out in this photo?), as well as Alpine goats and Nigerian Dwarf goats.

  • These yearling cows (and future milk makers) rotate grazing around the farm to keep our pastures healthy and nutritious. They are always on the move so you never know where you will see them next. Keep an eye out for them from our trails.

  • Did you know that Shelburne Farms also raises beef cows? These Red Angus and Brown Swiss crosses (we all them "Swangus" cows), are redder in color than the Brown Swiss cows. See if you can spot any in our pastures.

  • We have three pigs on the farm. They are crosses of two heritage breeds: Tamworth Berkshires and Gloucestershire Old Spots.

  • Brawny and Franco, our miniature Sicilian donkeys joined the farm from Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue in NH. Donkeys of all sizes are a rich part of agricultural history: they're used for transportation, carrying loads, pulling wagons, guarding sheep flocks, and more.

  • We have a variety of chicken breeds, including Black Copper Marans, pictured here, as well as three heritage turkeys. **To keep our birds healthy and safe during the current Avian Influenza pandemic, we have quarantined them inside where they can be viewed from a distance.**

  • Keep an eye out for our production sheep flock that provides us with meat and wool. Like our cows, the sheep are rotationally grazed across our pastures and fields. You will also find a small flock of education sheep on pasture near the Farm Barn.

  • You can find Freddy (far right), our Rex/New Zealand cross, and our French Angoras, Hazel and Coconut, in their outdoor hutch on pleasant days. Just like sheep's wool, Angora rabbit fiber can be spun into soft yarn! Freddy's breed is representative of rabbits raised for their meat.

  • We milk a herd of Brown Swiss dairy cows twice a day and make cheddar cheese from their milk. You often can see the herd out on pasture grazing.

Discover all the farm animals, including sheep, cows, goats, rabbits, horses, pigs, and donkeys. Click through the slideshow to meet some of them before your visit.

Enjoy hands-on activities throughout the day that connect you to your food and fiber through our animals and education garden. Make some memories! 

Here are a few examples of activities (schedule varies daily):

  • Hand milk a Brown Swiss cow at 10:30am and 2:00pm daily
  • Spin sheep's wool into colorful yarn bracelets
  • Groom an Angora rabbit
  • Visit our education sheep inside their pasture
  • Groom a horse
  • Goat kid play time
  • Feed the pigs
  • Bottle feed our calves

Want to bring a school or camp group to the farmyard this season? Request a self-guided visit.

Farm Barn with tractor pulling passenger wagons in front, and dandelions

Farm Barn Fun

The Children's Farmyard is central to your Farm Barn experience. But there's lots more here.

  • View Cheesemaking (and meet a Cheesemaker at 11am). Cheesemaking schedule can vary. Call 802-985-8686.
  • Raptors in Residence: Meet a live owl or hawk, Saturdays, 1:00pm thru Oct. 21
  • StoryWalk: Follow a posted storybook along a trail.
  • Farm Cart: Lunch and snacks, 11-3pm, Sat. & Sun. thru Oct. 22