2015 Chelsea Community Fair: Nature’s Creation of Life

The very popular Nature’s Creation of Life barn at the 78th Annual Chelsea Community Fair has a new superintendent in Megan Bollinger this year.

Although the exact types and number of animals and exhibits in the red barn are still in development at this point, she hopes a cow will deliver a calf during Aug. 25-29 as has been the case in past years.

If the cow delivers later in the evening, she says, the barn will stay open later for folks to experience the creation of life.

The Nature’s Creation of Life barn is a great place to learn where animals come from and it can be used as a way to explain the circle of life.

And, thanks to the help of Sue Rodgers, the baby animal display superintendent, Bollinger says she expects a goat and a pig that are likely to deliver their young right before fair. She says to expect to see a donkey, a sheep and a calf as well.

However, there will be nothing with feathers this year because of a state ban on chickens, geese and ducks because of Avian Influenza.

Bollinger says there will be sheep sheering demonstrations and wool spinning in the barn that will be open from noon to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. On Tuesday night, it will open following the kiddie parade and on Saturday, the barn will open following the fair parade.

Expect to find a bee keeper and bee display as well as additional animal and farming information tables such as the large display from the Washtenaw County Farm Bureau.

“The barn is a great way to hold onto our heritage and way of life,” Bollinger, who grew up on a farm, says.

She and 1-2 volunteers each day look forward to educating visitors to the barn. So please, ask them questions. All of them have a vast amount of farming and livestock knowledge.