Our Health & Safety Standards
At Haystack Homestead, the health and safety of our animals — and everyone who visits them — comes first, every time, at every event. Here's exactly how we make sure of that
How We Keep Every Event Safe
Vaccinations
All animals - whether they participate in petting zoos or not - are kept current on appropriate vaccinations, including rabies.
Veterinary Care
Routine visits from a licensed farm-animal veterinarian, plus evaluation after any injury or illness - for all animals on our farm and sanctuary
Our No-Exceptions Policy
Any animal that's injured, seems unwell or even just stressed is immediately pulled from events — no exceptions.
Experience & Judgment
Decades of hands-on farm animal experience means we notice what others might miss.
Safe, Supervised Events
Trained handlers actively manage the animals and the crowd from first guest to last.
Documentation Available
Vaccination and veterinary records provided on request.
Our Full Health & Safety Practices
-
Why We Are a “Mobile Farm Experience” — Not a Traditional Petting Zoo
People often search for a “petting zoo” when looking for animal entertainment, and we understand why. But what we provide is intentionally different.
At Haystack Homestead, we design our events as a Mobile Farm Experience — bringing the farm to your event in a way that allows guests to interact closely with the animals while maintaining a clear, well-managed boundary between people and livestock.
-
A Secure, Sturdy Corral
When we arrive at your venue, we construct a sturdy, heavy-duty perimeter corral specifically for the animals and the space available to us. Our handlers remain actively involved throughout the experience.
-
Close Interaction — From Outside the Corral
Guests do not enter the animal enclosure. Instead, they interact with the animals from outside the perimeter, where they can pet, feed, observe, and learn about them up close.
This arrangement is especially helpful when young children are present. It allows children to experience the excitement of being close to livestock while reducing the possibility of being stepped on, knocked over, or caught in the middle of an animal interaction.
-
Hands-On, With Guidance
This isn't a “look, but don't touch” experience.
Our handlers actively show guests how to safely approach the animals, offer feed, pet them appropriately, and understand their behavior. We stay engaged with the animals and the guests throughout the event, helping keep interactions calm, orderly, educational, and enjoyable.
The result is a genuine farm experience — close, interactive, and memorable — with safety built into the way the experience is designed.
-
Every animal in our care is kept current on appropriate vaccinations, including rabies — not just the ones that come to events, but every animal on our farm and our sanctuary​
-
Beyond routine visits with a licensed farm-animal veterinarian, any injury, illness, or unusual health concern gets a full evaluation before that animal is ever considered for an event again.​
-
If an animal is ever bitten, injured, or seems unwell, it's pulled from event rotation immediately — no exceptions, no matter what's on the schedule.​
-
Decades of hands-on farm animal experience means we know what "normal" looks like for our animals, and we notice the subtle signs that something isn't right before it becomes visible to anyone else. We also know the safety protocol for farm incidents and adhere to them strictly,​
-
Our trained handlers actively manage both the animals and the crowd at every event, keeping things calm, safe, fun, educational, and well-supervised from first guest to last.​
-
If you'd like to see vaccination or veterinary records for yourself, just ask — we're glad to share them.
