Heifer's Holiday Hoopla has Christmas farm-style

The cows, goats, sheep and donkeys at Perryville's Heifer Ranch are getting ready for Christmas -- and for their close-ups.

This weekend, the ranch hosts its annual open house, called Holiday Hoopla.

Event organizer Jacob Sheatsley explains, "We titled it Holiday Hoopla a couple of years ago because we feel that in all of the rush of the holiday season, people get caught in the hoopla. We wanted to add meaning to that hoopla."

That meaning comes from tours of the ranch, where visitors can learn more about Heifer USA and its work here and around the world.

"Our role is to train future farmers and teach the general public about hunger and poverty and sustainable solutions," Sheatsley says.

The ranch is 1,200-acre working ranch and farm that also hosts special classes and apprentice and volunteer opportunities to teach people about sustainable, organic farming practices that are also shared and taught around the world.

During the Hoopla, visitors will get to visit -- and take fun selfies with -- the resident animals. There will also be videos and the ranch's volunteers, a mixture of national and international workers, will walk around and share their stories.

Sheatsley says, "It's as much fun to meet them as it is the animals, sometimes."

Aside from animals, children can be entertained by the musical performances, marshmallow roasting, crafts and cookie-decorating stations as well as a new activity this year: roasting chestnuts on an open fire.

Demonstrating the ranch's mission and work, they'll sell chili made from beef raised on the ranch and people can shop for international and local presents in the gift shop.

Also, Sheatsley says, "We'll be lit up with as many lights as we can possibly hang up."

And there will be one very special visitor in "Farmer Santa." On a tractor, of course.

It's a relaxed, meaningful, rural take on holiday celebrations that Sheatsley and other Heifer staffers hope will bring joy, fun and a little global awareness to visitors: "You're not going to find a more farm-friendly holiday event. If you enjoy farms, you enjoy live music, you enjoy animals, you enjoy Christmas lights, you enjoy Santa on a John Deere, you'll have a good time and your kids will as well."

Weekend on 12/06/2018