Reindeer games
OKC students brave below-freezing temperatures for a chance to meet Prancer and Rudy, and a Clydesdale named Blazer
Children who attend F.D. Moon Academy in northeast Oklahoma City paid a price to learn more about agriculture Tuesday.
It meant braving belowfreezing temperatures for a chance to pet a reindeer and a 2,000-pound Clydesdale named Blazer.
Not a problem for firstgrader Kayda Castro, 7, who waited in line to touch Prancer, one of two reindeer provided by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
“I think it’s soft,” she said.
Third-grader Tyree Holley, 9, grinned from ear to ear after petting Blazer and Rudy, Rudolph’s little brother.
“We’re having fun,” he said. “I like it.”
Some kids even wanted to ride the animals.
Agency staffers coordinated the event and provided doughnuts. They were joined by Agriculture Secretary Jim Reese.
Flanked by Smokey Bear and Santa Claus, Reese pointed out the differences between deer, elk, moose and reindeer to children before they ventured outside to greet their furry guests.
“We try to teach kids about agriculture because more kids are not raised on the farm than ever,” he said. “We want to bring as much agriculture to ‘em as we can.”
Moon Prinicpal Warren Pete welcomed the visit, which he said exposed students to new ideas.
“A lot of students have never seen a reindeer. They’ve never seen a Clydesdale,” he said. “We think (agriculture) is a very important skill that students need to have.”
Only the adults seemed to care about the temperature outside, which was 30 degrees at 9 a.m. but felt more like 17 degrees with the wind chill index.
“It’s so cold, even a polar bear doesn’t want to be outside,” joked Branighan Vann, a thirdgrade teacher.
Vann said the holidays are all about spreading cheer.
“Look at ‘em. They’re just happy,” she said. “They don’t care about the cold. You give them something that they can cherish and something to take with them and they’ll remember forever.”