Berks 4-H Club youth and their farm animals visit Fleetwood Encore

Berks County 4-H Club members brought goats, sheep, beef steer and a dairy cow to Fleetwood Encore for a visit with senior citizens and YMCA daycare children on July 13.

The children had a chance to see the animals up close. For many this was their first time face to face with a cow and a steer, an experience that was both exciting and intimidating for some. They also had an opportunity to pet sheep and feed a goat.

This was the second year that Dairy Beef 4-H Club leader Ellen Angstadt, Fleetwood, also assistant leader in the Berks Dairy Club, organized a visit to Fleeetwood Encore, located at the former Fleetwood Elementary School, 109 W. Vine St.

“It’s a community service for all of the clubs,” said Angstadt. “It helps bring the little ones into the farming, see what goes on at a farm. I hope the kids are all learning from this.”

The 4-H members taught the children lessons about the animals, such as the beef steer will be used for beef products and the dairy cow will produce milk.

“These animals here, this is where your food comes from, not just a bottle in the refrigerator or a piece of Styrofoam,” said Angstadt. “They like to see the animals, too. They like the up close and personal.”

Angstadt also hopes the 4-H Club members learn from the experience.

“How to interact with other people. How to talk. How to promote their industry they’re interested in,” she said.

Berks County 4-H Dairy Beef Club leader Travis Werley, a part-time Shoemakersville crop farmer who is also in charge of the agriculture lending department at Tompkins Vist Bank, explained that all of the visiting animals will be going to the local fairs, including