What started as a simple petting zoo on the Arkansas State University campus has evolved into a signature event that celebrates Arkansas’ agricultural heritage and the future of food and animal care.
A-State’s College of Agriculture’s Bill and Alice Nix Farm Day has a new home. The petting zoo and agricultural activities will now reside at the Judd Hill Farmers’ Market complex.
The fall event will begin with activities on Nov. 1 at the farmers’ market building.
Two years after its inception in 2006, the petting zoo was renamed to honor the Nix family, becoming the Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo. The couple’s children supported the zoo by creating an endowment.
The endowment helps college students at A-State and creates awareness of where food comes from and expands public engagement.
The event’s name was updated to Bill and Alice Nix Farm Day in 2023. This change provides access to a wider variety of animals in a controlled environment. The event is held twice a year — once in the fall and once in the spring — drawing over 3,000 visitors annually.
Attendees can expect a day filled with fun and education, featuring demonstrations led by A-State agriculture students who will share their research and provide hands-on learning opportunities.
Activities at the event will include Interactive exhibits, farm demonstrations, educational activities for youth and opportunities to connect with local producers and community partners. Livestock demonstrations, crop exhibits, tractor and equipment displays, children’s educational stations and opportunities to explore sustainable farming practices will be presented to attendees.
A-State College of Agriculture Dean Dr. Mickey Latour says the move will allow them to maximize engagement opportunities and implement some new attractions.
“It will expand agriculture demonstrations, and food systems. Children will learn more about where their food comes from, how science and technology improve the way we produce food (plant and animal) for our communities and the world,” said Latour.
The Bill and Alice Nix Farm Day features various animals, including, but not limited to, sheep, miniature donkeys, pigs, bottle-fed calves, cats, dogs, goats and rabbits.
Latour added that the expansion will also benefit potential students exploring veterinary medicine. Agriculture and veterinary medicine are closely intertwined, especially in animal agriculture and Arkansas has a strong animal industry.
The connection will grow deeper with the opening of the A-State College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the first public veterinary school in Arkansas.
“Food animal veterinarians specialize in domestic livestock such as cattle, pigs and poultry, by preventing diseases to ensure public health. Through this segment of animal agriculture, we can help children understand animal health, biosecurity, and how veterinarians are essential to a safe and sustainable food supply,” Latour said.