Zoo News: Looking ahead to reimaging the children's farm - Minot Daily News
As the zoo began developing plans for reimaging the exhibit spaces for those on the north side of the river cutoff by the flood protection plan, there were a lot of directions it could have gone. After looking at the land proposed to replace the north side, it will be broken into two distinct sections, currently being referred to as Wild Dakota and Dakota Homestead. Both will focus heavily on cultures and provide educational opportunities with animal enclosures designed to meet modern zoological practices to meet the needs of the animals, the keepers, and especially our guests.
This week's focus is on the Homestead Dakota area. After attending the 2021 Dinner on the Prairie event, I was overwhelmed by the diversity of crops, livestock, and other products produced right here in our own backyard. Having the opportunity to talk to the variety of ranchers and farmers about their operations just re-ignited a passion for importance of these men and women to not only our region but to the nation. I began to envision the Dakota Homestead as an opportunity to share that experience I had that one evening, into a space that guests could experience every day at the zoo.
It is important to remember that much of what we are doing at this point is still placeholders, but what is being described is the vision for what is intended. The main features of Homestead Dakota will be a large barn that will house a variety of farm animals and a multi-purpose General Store separated by a large green space. There will be an assortment of gardens for pollinators to grow enrichment items for the animals.
The new barn incorporates the current farm animals, but also will be able to incorporate others to not only talk about their importance to the original settlers, but to provide kids, and some adults, their first opportunity to see and appreciate them up close and personal. The interior of the barn will be climate controlled to protect the animals but also to provide for comfortable guest viewing throughout the year. Above the animal holding inside, the loft will open out onto a deck that overlooks the large green space. The large green space is just that, a large area that will not be developed to provide space for events, activities, and pure enjoyment.
The General Store will be a multipurpose space designed to serve a community, starting out as a town begins to spread its roots. There will be large, covered porches for relaxing, a concession featuring items you'd expect to see along with timely options. We hope to stock shelves with locally produced products. It will feature an area accessible to the outside to offer seasonal demonstrations of many practices unfortunately lost to most over time. This space would be designed for educational classes along with demonstrations for things like canning vegetables, making jam, churning butter, or turning our sheep's wool after shearing into yarn.
Steve Jobs once wrote, "If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don't have to be pushed. The vision pulls you." The Dakota Homestead area is designed to be educational, family-friendly, and most of all fun, but more than that it is a way to showcase the importance of all that lies just beyond those city limit signs.
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