The Ryan family love their animals and will hold their first Junior Farmer Day, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., August 8, at Ryan’s Yak Farm, located at 368 Kilroy Road in Oxford. (Submitted photo)

OXFORD — Ryan’s Yak Farm will hold their first Junior Farmer Day, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., August 8, at Ryan’s Yak Farm, located at 368 Kilroy Road in Oxford.

“Our goal for Junior Farmer Day is to give kids an affordable, hands-on farm experience they will remember all summer long,” said Ryan’s Yak Farm Owner Cody Ryan.

During the event, Cody said they will offer egg gathering, visiting with baby goats, cleaning water buckets, animal feeding, and possibly they will bring out “Jack the Yak,” so the kids can brush him.

Participants ages three to 12 are welcome and registration is required. To register, call the farm at 607-725-6083.

“We’re also anticipating New York Assemblyman Joe Angelino’s visit during the event,” Cody continued. “He’s so supportive of farms and we look forward to talking with him.”

Cody said their farm has twelve yaks, eight goats, three sheep, 10 pigs, 40 chickens, mini-Highlands, a mini-Hereford, one mule, one horse and beef cows, yet she said the cows are separate from the hands-on farm events.

With an intentional expansion of agriculture and tourism, Cody explained their mission is educating both the local community and the growing online community with a focus on healthy animals, and responsible land stewardship.

“Small farms are dying and large farms are taking over,” she said. “There aren’t many small farms left so creating an introduction to farm life can hopefully make a change, possibly bringing farming back to the younger generations.”

She noted after Junior Farmer Day, they will focus on “Yaktober” activities including hosting a pancake breakfast, participation in the Oxtoberfest event in Oxford, and will offer a U-pick pumpkin patch.

“We’re preparing for our pancake breakfast and have contacted the health department for the permit, so we’re looking forward to that,” Cody added. “Last year, about 30 people attended, and it was so nice, very easy, so we’re hoping to grow those numbers this year.”

Also, we’re participating in the Oxford Oxtoberfest and hope to bring the baby goats out,” she said. “We’ll be selling baked goods, apparel, and additional items my husband creates.”

She said this is their first year to have a pumpkin patch and eagerly await fall visitors choosing their favorite pumpkins. In addition to pumpkins in the garden, they have carrots, herbs, summer squash, broccoli, banana peppers, Zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers.

Earlier in the year, the Ryan’s finished transforming their old milk house into a farm stand by taking down an old horse barn, repurposing the wood and also taking apart a wooden silo, using that as the tongue and groove ceiling.

Originally, their family used the milk house when they started milking on the farm in 1906.

It is now stocked with a variety of home goods such as herbs, bread mixes, spices, salves, apparel, baked goods, fresh produce, pumpkins, and more.

“It’s also filled with antiques from various travels, and I just love the history of it, it feels so comfortable out there,” Cody said.

“I love people to come out and want to share how magnificent yaks are,” she added. “ I’m a teacher and love educating others.

She said recently when a couple visited from Albany, they were so excited about the farm and the animals, that they compared the farm to Disney.

“It was one of the sweetest compliments anyone has ever given me,” she added.

Cody and her husband Craig run the farm with their three children, who do chicken chores before school and take responsibility for the care of the animals.

They attend conferences for Agritourism, the combination of agriculture and tourism, to learn common farm activities and how the benefits of owning a mid-sized farm can bridge the gap between consumers and food production while promoting local fresh eating and sustainable farming.

The Ryans actively participate in local farmers’ markets, produce and sell hay and thank everyone who has supported their little farm and making their dream possible.

The farm is open from 7 a.m to 8 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday and on the weekends. Once the days shorten, they may change the hours to only be open in the evenings, from 4 to 8 p.m.

For additional Ryan’s Yak Farm information, visit their Facebook page at Ryan’s Yak Farm.