The Vision
Building upon its national award-winning successes in youth development and informal education, the zoo is planning to build a farm that will be run by kids for kids of all ages. Our Trillium Creek Family Farm, as part of the zoo's multi-feature Great Northwest exhibit, will be an exhibit where millions of visitors can personally connect to farms, farm living and farm-related issues.

What is Family Farm?
Family Farm will be a place where high school youth are trained by professional zoo staff to run an exhibit on the grounds of Oregon's most popular attraction. As students gain practical experience in animal care and public speaking, they will teach child and adult zoo visitors about farm life and the rich agricultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest.

The Message
Visitors may hear about what farming was like in Oregon in the mid-1800s, about how there were produce farms within Portland's city limits as recently as the 1950s, or how modern technology helps boost farm productivity on today's farm.

An Interactive Experience
Farm experts, including youth with rural backgrounds, will demonstrate activities such as composting, sheep shearing, or putting up vegetables.

Farm animals will include:

• Sheep
• Goats
• Chickens
• Rare domestic breeds
• Many of the zoo's education program animals that visit schools throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon Zoo
The zoo intends to educate the public on how they can act responsibly to help maintain a healthy ecosystem in the great Northwest. Family Farm is designed to educate and inspire action from Oregon residents and visitors.

The Oregon Zoo is one of our region's crown jewels and our State's most popular paid attraction with 1.3 million visitors each year. From humble origins in 1887, the zoo has evolved to become a national and international leader in wildlife conservation and education. The zoo participates in 36 endangered species conservation programs and exhibits wildlife and habitats of Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Project Goals

• Family Farm at the Oregon Zoo will be a safe, fun place where: Children, adults and families can become more aware where and how their food is produced

• More than 1.3 million annual visitors can learn about the importance of conserving genetic diversity through the examples provided by rare, domestic breeds of livestock

• High school students acquire information, gain real work experience, and explore career opportunities while participating in community service

• Children of all ages learn about responsibility and respect for animals

• Youth from rural communities share their love and knowledge of farms and farm animals with their urban and suburban peers and the general public

• Inner city kids share newly-acquired animal information and practice transferable teaching skills

Partnership
Development of Family Farm programs will reflect partnership efforts between the Oregon Zoo and a dynamic collaboration of public and private entities such as Oregon State University, the Cooperative Extension Service, 4-H, Future Farmers of America, local school districts, and the home-school community.

Funding for construction and operation of the Family Farm will include support from The Oregon Zoo Foundation, voter-approved bond funding, revenues generated by zoo operations, and contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations.

Project Information and Timeline
It is our desire to have Family Farm exhibits and programs operational in time to coincide with our region's celebration of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

The Trillium Creek Family Farm exhibit and programs are scheduled to be finished by the end of summer, 2004.