At the Great Frederick Fair, one of the most popular attractions is the Birthing Center. Every year, groups, families and children look forward to seeing all of the animals that are born at the center and this year is no exception.
The Birthing Center has already been the site of the births of four calves. Two of the cows in the Birthing Center are still expected to deliver within the next few days as of Tuesday, Sept. 22, while one of them nurtures her newborn calf.
“Believe it or not, people love the babies, but everyone wants to see one (a cow) give birth,” said Veronica Hodges, who works and maintains the birthing center. Baby animals might be incredibly cute, but everyone wants to experience that special moment of one opening their eyes for the first time.
Some parents believe that it is important to witness because “it is an introduction to human birth,” said observer Shannon Green.
Hodges said that once the calves are born, they return to the farm, where the farmer “will decide whether or not to sell the calves.”
All of the cows that have given birth and that are expected to give birth are from the Char Mar Farms.
The Birthing Center is not only a teaching facility but it is also the setting where the newest life at the fair begins. The Birthing Center is one of the many factors that makes the Great Frederick Fair great.