Kids get their hands on animals at Jackson Morrow

KPRD’s “Creature Feature” season kicks off with mobile zoo

Dozens of Kokomo-area kids flocked to Jackson Morrow Park on May 21 to put their hands on some chickens, sheep, and goats.

The Kokomo Parks and Recreation Department launched its “Creature Feature” season with an up close and personal encounter with animals most people rarely get to see, thanks to the Scheumann Mobile Farm and Petting Zoo.

The family-owned business, based near Woodburn, Ind., offered petting and feeding time with goats, sheep, alpacas, a calf, a pony, a rabbit, a chicken, and the biggest attraction – a camel named Roscoe.

“It has been really nice,” said Deb Cardwell, Kirkendall Nature Center administrator. “We started this three years ago, and we’ve had a really good turn-out. People really like it. The kids get to feed the animals.”

The mobile petting zoo is just the first in an ambitious season of interactive events planned by the parks department. The next program, “Take Flight! Birds of Prey,” takes place on June 18. That is followed by “Squishy and Friends Interactive Reptile Show” on August 13 and “Indiana Wild” on Sept. 24.

All events will be hosted by the Kirkendall Nature Center at Jackson Morrow Park.