Citizen Scrapbook
Miracle of Birth
Mama Pig keeps a watchful eye on her babies—and the photographer—in the Miracle of Birth Center at the Minnesota State Fair.
A “barny” – or high school FFA student specially trained for the job – answers questions from State Fair visitors about the animals.
These Minneapolis kids were all smiles as they posed for a photograph with their favorite barnyard babies: chick, lamb and duckling. The photo booth was very popular.
Andrew Miron of Hugo gave some tips on “how to hold a piglet” to fellow Hugonian and Fair visitor Sandra Rellier.
Clearly, the lessons were duly noted; this piglet went right to sleep.
Everyone loves to pet the baby lambs!
Three dozen chicks and ducklings are hatched each day in the Miracle of Birth Center. The ducklings take to water immediately, but can’t get out of the pools without the rubber ramp (far right).
Talk about a birds’ eye view…
This cow from Haubenschild Family Farm was due to calve last Friday. At 3 p.m., the crowds were waiting…and waiting…
By 7:30 p.m., they were still waiting, but things were moving right along. When this picture was taken, U of M veterinarian student Kate O’Conor and Dr. John Youngberg had just made the decision to help the mama cow deliver her over-sized calf by using chains—the bovine equivalent of forceps.
University of Minnesota veterinary students Kate O’Conor and Ashley Barott assisted in the calf’s birth while Dr. John Youngberg of Mille Lacs Veterinary Clinic in Milaca, Minn. supervised. Crowds in the back of the building could follow the birthing process on overhead screens, thanks to the cameraman to the left.
The calf’s front legs emerge, as does his head. It’s a boy!
Mama lost no time cleaning him off, which also helps stimulate the calf.
Anxious to get on his feet, the calf—named “Charlie” by the crowd in a voice vote—had a number of false starts before finally getting up.
And the crowd cheered! It was another educational day at the Minnesota State Fair Miracle of Birth Center, which will be open to the public through Labor Day.