Baby Animals at the Iowa State Fair Animal Learning Center

[Abby Brown] I'm sort of famous for stealing a baby, but I bet my family never thought I'd steal a baby goat. The Animal Learning center is officially my favorite place on the fairgrounds.

This is Brooke's first year as superintendent of the Animal Learning Center. Tell me everything.

[Brooke Michael] So if you come to the Animal Learning Center, we have a lot that you can see. We've actually had a few things born today. So we've had goats born today. We have had lambs born today. We've had pigs born today.

[Abby] Look at those tiny piglets. What do you think?

[Child 1] I really like them, but I really like the smallest ones. They're so cute.

[Abby] I know. What are they doing?

[Child 1] They're drinking from their mom.

[Abby] They drinking milk? Why do they drink milk? I think it's full of nutrition and deliciousness and builds big muscles.

[Child 1] Yeah.

[Abby] Yeah, I think so too.

Do you have a favorite animal?

[Child 2] The baby little ducks.

[Abby] The ducks are your favorite. Why are the ducks your favorite?

[Child 2] Because they're so cute and snuggly.

[Abby] Yeah, but have you seen the goats yet?

[Child 2] No.

[Abby] Well, you're gonna love the goats.

[Child 2]  Yeah, I think so.

[Abby] Kennedy and Ava are here in the Animal Learning Center. Who do you have with you?

[Kennedy] I have Daisy.

[Ava] And I have Duke.

[Abby] Tell me about Daisy and Duke.

[Kennedy] They were born three days ago.

[Abby] What are the kids' reactions when they get to see a baby goat like this?

[Ava Banks] They're all very like, oh, my gosh, they're so cute.

[Abby] This goat's name is Daisy. Tell me one word to describe Daisy.

[Child 3] Cute.

[Child 4] Small.

[Child 5] Very cute.

[Abby] That was two words!

[Child 6] A dog.

[Abby] It's not a dog! What is this?

(Boy laughing)

[Abby] What are some common questions that people have about the learning center?

[Rebecca DeVries] They always like to ask if the babies are mine. And I just get to be an amazing employee here, which is so much fun.

[Abby] And not everybody gets to hold the babies like you do. But can they reach through and touch them?

[Rebecca] Yes. If they don't put their fingers near their mouth.

[Woman] Which one do you like the most? I like the black and gold one.

[Child 7] I like the one that's swimming.

[Abby] Yeah. What is it?

[Child 8] It’s a baby duck.

[Child 9] I like the chicks the most because they are the cutest.

[Abby] You think the chicks are the cutest animal? Cuter than the goats?

[Child 9] Uh…no.

[Abby] Cuter than the pigs?

[Child 9] Yeah.

[Abby] So when a baby chicken is born, what does it come out of?

[Child 10] An egg.

[Abby] Do goats come out of eggs?

[Child 10] No.

[Abby] Do pigs come out of eggs?

[Child 10] No.

[Abby] Do ducks come out of eggs?

[Child 10] Yes.

[Abby] Tell me what a chicken sounds like.

[Child 11] Bawk, bawk.

[Child 12] Bawk, bawk, bawk.

[Ava] For us, this is our normal kind of thing. But other people, they've never been around turkeys or around goats, so it's, like, really good to just educate.