Dairy Farmers Sponsor Annual 'Moo at the Zoo'
Get your milk mustache ready and follow the trail to the Oregon Zoo's Family Farm

 

 

PORTLAND, OR -- How many glasses of milk can a cow produce in one day? What's it like to live on a dairy farm?  Guests learn the answers to these questions at "Moo at the Zoo" on Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oregon Zoo's Trillium Creek Family Farm.

 

The event, sponsored by the Dairy Farmers of Oregon, allows visitors to discover a host of fun facts through interactive exhibits, puppet shows and displays.

"'Moo at the Zoo' is a great way for visitors to learn about Oregon's dairy farm families, who produce some of the best milk in the country," says Zoo Director Tony Vecchio. "The milk produced by Oregon's 320 dairy farms consistently ranks in the top five states nationwide for quality."

Throughout the day, Oregon's Dairy Princess Ambassadors will share stories about the lives of dairy cows and the workings of dairy farms. Visitors test their dairy knowledge and have their milk-mustache pictures taken with the Oregon Dairy Princess Ambassadors.

Children can receive a free coloring book, popular cow trading cards, "Got milk?" handouts, and tips about healthy eating.

Guests also view pygora goats and Shetland sheep in the zoo's hands-on area.

"Cows will soon become part of the Family Farm exhibit, and 'Moo at the Zoo' highlights the importance of these animals in our Northwest community," says Vecchio. "Cows provide us with the milk we drink, the yogurt we eat and even the cheese topping on our pizza."

"Moo at the Zoo" is fun for visitors of all ages and is free with zoo admission.

Dairy Farmers of Oregon works on behalf of the state's dairy farm families who, with the help of 115,000 dairy cows and 19 Oregon dairy processors, provide award-winning cheeses, milk, butter, and an extensive line of ice cream, sour cream and yogurt. The Oregon dairy industry contributes more than $1 billion to Oregon's economy each year.

The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Washington's pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles, Oregon spotted frogs and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include
studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and bats.

The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged to ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63 to the Oregon Zoo. Visitors who take the bus or MAX receive $1 off zoo admission. Call TriMet Customer Service, 503-238-RIDE (7433), or visit
www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

General admission is $9.75 (12-64), seniors $8.25 (65+), children $6.75 (3-11), and infants 2 and under are free; 25 cents of the admission price helps fund regional conservation projects through the zoo's Future for Wildlife program. A parking fee of $1 per car is also required. Additional information is available at www.oregonzoo.org or by calling 503-226-1561.