Gypsy Road Trip: Hershberger's Farm and Bakery near Berlin is fun for the whole family
MILLERSBURG − Petting and feeding animals are things that most children enjoy. A trip to Hershberger Petting Zoo, located between Berlin and Millersburg in Amish Country, makes this possible in a friendly setting.
The Hershberger family started selling produce from their 77-acre farm in 1986. At that time, the business was known as Hershberger's Truck Patch. Today, that name has been changed to Hershberger's Farm and Bakery with animals in the petting zoo added for the children.
An indoor barn holds many of the animals in pens for easy access, but not too close for small children who might be a little afraid of petting these animals. The pens hold pigs, chickens, geese, llamas, alpacas, and calves. There are also some free-roaming animals in the barn like peacocks, rabbits and goats. Pick up a rabbit and feel its soft hair or cuddle a piglet. If the child falls in love with a rabbit, you can purchase one to take home.
Maybe you might even get lucky and a baby goat will let you pick it up.
Baby animals are always favorites of children and adults. Often you will find animals that have wandered away from their cages. One small goat decided that my slacks would be a good snack but did no damage. That reminded me of an old song that I learned when beginning to play the piano: Bill Grogan's goat was feeling fine; Ate three red shirts right off the line.
Children and adults will also like seeing and petting Hershy's King Buck, a massive, registered Belgian horse – the biggest horse ever raised on their farm. He was born in September 2021 and weighs 3,126 pounds. Feed King Buck a carrot to make him happy. He's amazing.
A large screened-in area contains an aviary, which holds many local and colorful birds with a variety of places for them to rest. Outside pens where the animals have more room to roam contain llamas, calves, ponies, and even longhorn cattle.
There's a live carousel inside where children can have a draft horse ride. This is not on King Buck, but on some of the other large horses at the farm.
Take a relaxing ride in an Amish buggy while visiting. Kids and adults both can enjoy the buggy rides, with stories by an Amish driver, that take you around the Hershberger Farm to see the animals out in pasture, and crops growing in the fields. There are additional charges for the horse and buggy rides.
Don't wear your Sunday best clothes even if you watch your step. Picking up the small animals is likely to get a little dirt or hair on your clothing.
The entry fee for the Petting Zoo is $5. Children age 3 and under are free. Take along some dollar bills or quarters so you can purchase whole or sliced carrots to feed the animals. It's always fun to have them eating out of your hand.
Before leaving, moms especially will want to visit the Farm Store or the on-site bakery to pick up some delicious cream sticks to eat in the shade or take home. Some think the bakery alone is a good reason to visit. Cheese and kettle corn are also available. There's a place to get ice cream or a fresh Angus hamburger with plenty of outdoor seating.
Hershberger's Petting Zoo at 5452 Ohio 557, Millersburg is open from March 1 through Dec. 24. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Sundays. Amish country is a very busy place so visit on a weekday if you can. This is a place your children will want to go back to again and again.
Gypsy Road Trip is a column written by local resident Beverly Kerr.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Petting zoo just part of the fun at Hershberger's Farm and Bakery
