Programs

In this tour you’ll have the barnyard to yourself and with the help of your tour guide, you’ll brush cows, feed horses and donkeys, cuddle turkeys, hold chickens, pet goats, and sheep, give pigs tummy rubs, and so much more. Being at The Gentle Barn is like walking through a giant storybook where you’ll hear the animals’ stories of resilience and learn what they teach us about forgiveness, unconditional love, and living in the moment. You are sure to fall in love with animals more deeply than ever before.

This tour follows the same format and description of the Family Tour but is intended for a larger group of adults only from mixed households as part of an organized group activity. This tour is perfect for a company team building activity.

Try something new and different, have your next party at The Gentle Barn. Not just for kids, our parties are great for ages 6 to adult! Munch on popcorn while your guests arrive, listen to an engaging presentation about the animals, then hug the cows, feed the horses, give the pigs tummy rubs, hold the chickens, cuddle the turkeys, pat the goats and sheep, and so much more. Once you and your party have worked up an appetite loving animals, have a meal and cake on our picnic tables. Out of respect for the animals, we ask that your meal and cake be vegan. Our staff are happy to give you recommendations if needed.

You’ll have the barnyard to yourself as your guide you will get insight and stories of the barnyard that can only be told the best by them. You’ll brush cows, feed horses and donkeys, cuddle turkeys, hold chickens, pet goats, and sheep, give pigs tummy rubs, and so much more. Being at The Gentle Barn is like walking through a giant storybook where you’ll hear the animals’ stories of resilience and learn what they teach us about forgiveness, unconditional love, and living in the moment. You are sure to fall in love with animals more deeply than ever before.

Need a hug? Feeling sad, lonely, stressed out and scared? Going through a hard time? Come heal with the cows! Get hugs and unconditional love from our therapy cows. Meditate with them, hug them, and let them reassure you, fill you up, and love you. Put your worries down and leave renewed. The cows are here for you.

Each cow hug therapy session is for one hour and work best for one individual at a time, although we do allow guests to bring a spouse or one friend when requested. It is for ages fourteen and and older and is not just for fun; we have private tours for animal lovers who want to meet our animals. Cow hug therapy is intended for those who are looking for healing, peace, and hope from whatever you are going through.

The Gentle Barn's staff or volunteers are there to facilitate the connection and provide safety between you and the cows but they are NOT therapists, and in no way offer medical or mental health advice themselves. In the event that additional mental health support is needed, The Gentle Barn recommends reaching out to a licensed mental health clinician.

Animals have so much to teach, and nature is a perfect classroom to educate children about themselves and the world around them. While brushing cows, feeding horses, cuddling turkeys, holding chickens, petting goats and sheep, giving pigs tummy rubs, and hearing the animals’ stories of resilience, children in grades k-12 will learn about body language, compassion, confidence, tolerance, and find themselves in the barnyard. We will explore what animals eat, how they play, where they sleep, and the many different ways animals use to communicate. All field trips start with a short presentation about the animals, ending with making wishes at our wishing well, and are geared to empower kids to be heroes in their own neighborhoods for animals, nature, and other people.