20 calves born at Georgia National Fair’s Baby Barn so far

Visitors can learn about cattle and newborn calf care while UGA veterinary students receive hands-on training.

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Baby Barn at the Georgia National Fair is giving visitors a closer look at Georgia agriculture while providing veterinary students with hands-on experience caring for cattle.

From the birthing process to caring for newborn calves, visitors can learn more about what goes into raising cattle and producing food.

Jay Jones with the Georgia Department of Agriculture says the Baby Barn helps people better understand where their food comes from.

“You have a really up close look at how food is, where food comes from and how it’s delivered,” Jones said.

The Baby Barn also serves as a learning environment for students from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Alejandro O’Hare, a veterinarian with UGA’s Department of Population Health, says hands-on training helps students prepare for their future careers.

“They will learn how to handle the calf, how to give them vaccines, how to give them colostrum, and how to take care of the animals,” O’Hare said.

Jones says the experience also helps fair goers understand the important role cattle play in Georgia agriculture.

“The baby barn is such a great educational tool for people to see how, not only just how calves are born, but just how these animals, how big a role they play here in Georgia,” Jones said.

With 20 calves born at the fair so far, the Baby Barn continues to give visitors an opportunity to learn more about agriculture while helping prepare the next generation of veterinarians.