Flamig Farm in Simsbury Revamps its Petting Zoo, Marketing Efforts

It's been a Simsbury fixture for decades but this Spring, Flamig Farm has put a renewed effort into its petting zoo. 

With ever-rising costs, the farm has been talking about the idea for a few years now. 

"If you're not growing, you're dying," said Nevin Christensen, who runs the farm with his wife Julie. "We decided we had to make it grow." 

The petting zoo is still spread out over the same four acres it has been but the farm has built some new shelters, opened up a few areas, installed some new fencing, moved its "pig palace" and more. The process is ongoing. 

Christensen estimates the farm has invested an extra $15,000 already this year. Part of the effort is in marketing, including increased use of its facebook page and a video produced by local resident Jon England. 

Having baby animals in the mix never hurts either. 

With a weather dependent venture, it's hard to measure but Christensen said approximately 5,000 have visited the petting zoo so far this year while last year it had about 10,000 paid visitors in total. 

Christensen said it was approximately 30 years ago that the farm fell into the petting zoo business. People came by to visit the chickens and other animals and it gradually grew. 

"Eventually we put out a donation box," he said. "Over the years it slowly grew."

While the farm sells eggs, "earth products" and is considering the possibility of returning to some type of food production, much of its focus remains on activities it considers "agritainment," including the petting zoo, Halloween and summer camps. 

It's great to see a child's eyes light up when learning about farming, the environment or animals, Christensen said. 

"I really want to do a lot of education and show people what it's about," he said. 

The petting zoo is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. or dusk from April to November. Admission is $5 a person. 

For more information visit the farm's facebook page or web site.