Photo by Amy Cherry Sophie, a 1 1/2 year-old sheep, enjoys a mouthful of hay as kindergartners from South St. Marys Street Elementary look on during their visit to Gillen’s Farm in Kersey on Wednesday.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

A day on the farm turned into an educational visit for South St. Marys Street Elementary kindergartners.

On Wednesday students visited Gillen’s Farm on Meadowlark Lane in Kersey where they were entertained by a Sophie the sheep, Ollie the horse, a gaggle of geese and a coupe full of chickens.

Dave and Diane Gillen escorted separate groups on a tour around the farm.

The farm was built by Gillen’s grandfather in the 1800’s. Dave and Diane moved to Kersey in 1985, residing on the farm throughout the years. They welcomed their first horse a year later in 1986. and have been working with them since.

Residing on the farm are a vast array of animals from three sheep, two coupes of chickens, geese, ducks, six horses and three dogs.

In addition to a two story barn, the Gillen’s also utilize a riding arena when training horses. Dave demonstrated horsemanship techniques on Ollie, a seven year old black and white Tennessee Walker, specifically on the proper method of  handling a horse, how a horse’s shoe is changed and how to saddle and ride a horse.

Diane lead students into the barn where they met three sheep including the farm’s newest addition Sophie, a 1.5 year old. Sophie roamed into the barn where she mingled with students inside the barn. Diane showed students how she cuts hay to feed to the animals. Students were entertained by Sophie’s antics and had the opportunity to feed her a handful of corn, her favorite treat.

In addition to peaking inside the chicken pens where students could see newly hatched eggs, students also encountered several horses in the nearby field. Among them were four-year-old Ranger and 13 year-old Julie, both brown and white spotted saddle horses, 33-year-old Brandy, a mixed breed horse, 1 1/2 year-old Buddy, a black and white paint horse and four-year-old Nevada Star, a wild black mustang.

Students enjoyed a hayride at the conclusion of their visit.