At St. John Community, There’s Room for Everyone—Even the Barnyard

There’s something about farm animals that makes everyone feel like a kid again.

Residents at St. John Community recently welcomed a few four-legged visitors as Barnyard Petting Zoo transformed the campus into a place that looked a little more like a family farm than a senior living community. The invitation was open to the entire Mars community, and plenty of families joined in the fun.

Children laughed as goats reached for treats, sheep accepted endless pets, donkeys happily accepted all the attention they could get, and the cows reminded everyone they’re much more than what you find in the dairy aisle. But the undisputed scene-stealer was a curious camel who decided an unsuspecting employee’s coffee looked worth investigating. The coffee survived… barely. The employee’s name? We’ll keep that between the camel and us.

It didn’t take long to realize the kids weren’t the only ones smiling. Turns out parents never really outgrow the chance to pet a goat, scratch a donkey behind the ears, or pose for a picture with the camel.

“One of my favorite moments was simply looking around,” said Eric Fleming, Regional Marketing Director for St. John Community. Everyone was enjoying being together, and that really stands out. The kids had a blast, and the parents got to watch their kids make some memories. I think our residents really appreciated having the Mars community here to share it with them.”

A special thank you to Barnyard Petting Zoo for bringing a little bit of the farm to St. John Community and creating an afternoon that had residents, families, and neighbors smiling together. The goats were a hit, the donkeys made plenty of new friends, and the camel… well, let’s just say someone will probably keep a tighter grip on their coffee next time