Sycamore Run Farms opened for its third fall season Sept. 28, showcasing a new Animal Education Center that compliments the farm’s other fall operations.

Owners Greg and Rose Hartschuh view the Center as an opportunity to share the importance of animals in humans’ everyday lives.

“Animals play a key role in society,” said Rose. “Whether it is providing food or companionship, our lives are enriched because of animals. I hope visitors will gain a deeper appreciation of the importance of animals.”

The Center, housed in the same building as the Sycamore Run Farms’ pumpkin patch and corn maze counter, features four elements – a demonstration corner, a display area, a petting zoo and a classroom area – and each area serves its own educational purpose.

The demonstration corner features continuous educational sessions, whether they are in-person or via DVD, with topics such as the proper handling of animals, the different parts of animals, and how to prepare and cook animal products.

The display area helps visitors visualize the impact animals have on their lives by featuring popular byproducts, such as milk cartons and bottles of insulin. Visitors are quizzed on which products come from which animals.

The petting zoo is home to a calf, goat, rabbit, lamb, pigs and chickens. Signs accompanying the pens show the ways each animal contributes to Ohio’s economy, such as food products and by-products of the species.

The classroom area serves as a gathering place for visiting school groups, who can choose which agriculture-related lesson in which they wish to participate. Rose conducts these educational sessions.

“I have been a high school agricultural education instructor for five years, so I hope to be able to use my

background as a teacher to present engaging lessons for our school groups,” she said. “We are still scheduling for the fall, but so far I have five school trips scheduled. They range from kindergarten to high school.”

Sycamore Run Farms received a grant from the Animals for Life Foundation (AFL) for this project in August, which greatly helped in making the Center operational.

“The Center is something we have wanted to do for several years, but the grant helped us get necessary equipment, such as livestock pens and classroom supplies,” said Rose.

This was one of 11 grants AFL awarded this year to projects and programs related to the human-animal bond. The AFL grant application process this year resulted in a record number of applicants and dollars requested.

“The Sycamore Run Farms’ Animal Education Center is such a great concept and truly furthers the AFL mission and vision,” said David White, executive director of AFL. “Each component of the Center will give visitors a real sense of how important animals are in our society in a fun, learning environment.”

For more information on the Sycamore Run Farms and its Animal Education Center, visit

www.sycamorerunfarms.com or www.facebook.com/SycamoreRunFarms.

The Animals for Life Foundation is a non-profit organization that celebrates the human-animal bond and the many ways animals bring quality to human life. It was established in 2009 and has granted more than

$100,000 to programs that aim to improve the human-animal bond, including a therapy dog program for children with autism, a local foods event and a career program for students interested in animal professions.

For more information on the Foundation, go to www.aflfoundation.org or www.facebook.com/animalsforlifefoundation.