Smithsonian National Zoo: The Kid's Farm

 The story begins with a career politician from Ohio.  Representative Ralph Regula, a Republican, was first elected in 1973.  He ended up spending 36 years in the United States House of Representatives.  At some point in the 1990's he began talking up a need for the Smithsonian National Zoo to have a proper dedicated Farm area.  He felt strongly that both urban and suburban children needed to see farm animals in an environment that approximated an actual farm in order to learn about nutrition and all the benefits American agriculture provided.

He was so persuasive and had accrued enough committee seniority that the money was appropriated in 1998.  Designs were drawn up, and construction at the lower end of the zoo began around 2000 with the grand opening to the public in the summer of 2004.  I have to say that it is the largest (2 acres) commitment to Farm Animals I have ever encountered at a zoo.  It also transformed a forgotten little corner of the zoo into a destination exhibit.  You can see: Pigs, Cows, Goats, Donkeys, Chicken and Alpaca.  What you can't do is enter into their spaces and interact with them.  

A LITTLE FREE ADVICE:  I always park in Lot D.  It's at the lower end of the zoo.  I do this because the zoo is built on a very steep hill.  You are going to do some very strenuous climbing no matter where you park.  But if you part at the bottom, you climb in the morning.  This is definitely a benefit from my perspective.  

When you enter the zoo from the bottom and then the Kid's Farm which is directly on your left you can either go straight into the middle of the animals, OR you can take your first left and skirt around the edge.  I always do the latter.  There's a beautiful Koi pond with shade and benches to sit and relax.  It's the best way to see the pigs.  You get a great view of the large "pasture" with the cows and alpacas.  And you can still double back around on the far end to see the rest.

Let's meet some of the animals!

PIGS: Initially, the Ossabaw Island Hog was the preferred swine.  It's a heritage breed that morphed from pigs brought to the New World by some of the first European settlers to Georgia in the 16th century.  They are large (up to 300 lbs), often black or black-tan mottled animals with a reserved personality. 

In 2023, the remaining Ossabaw Island Pig was swapped out for a trio of young Kune Kune pigs.  Kune Kune pigs are native to New Zealand.  They are also a Critically Endangered species of domesticated swine.  They are smaller, growing to a maximum weight of 200, but averaging 170 lbs.  They are very comfortable in companionship with humans and therefore pose less general concern when it comes to caring for them.  They are also adorable!

Here we have (top to bottom) Otis, Winston, and Norman!

Norman was rooting the soil closest to me.

What a furry little cuss!  

The Main "pasture".  Would you even imagine that you are in the middle of the Nation's capital?  People have no idea what Washington, DC is like...

Home to alpacas and cows

COWS:  The Kid's farm is home to two cows.  A more diminutive Hereford named Rose, and an enormous Holstein, named Magnolia.  When Magnolia stands up, you're just like...Holy "Cow," she's a good 5'+ tall at the shoulders.

Magnolia on the left, and Rose on the right.

ALPACA: The Kid's farm is home to four Alpaca (at least that's what I understood to be true, prior to my visit today).  Today only one, Rainstorm, was out and about.  The others could have been inside the barn.  Rainstorm has been described as "more cautious" and so it's a little odd she just did her own thing today.

Rainstorm came to the National Zoo in May of 2025.  She was born in 2023.