VonThun Farms always welcomes kids

Children and parents listen to information about the goats at VonThun farm. (Photo by Jane Primerano)

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. (Warren County) — Opening the farm to children’s events is getting more common, but VonThun Farms in Washington and South Brunswick have a system for introducing preschoolers to a farm that has proven extremely popular.
The Washington Farm is on Route 57 just west of Washington Borough, a traditionally working-class community, is a mecca for many young families every Friday from mid-June through Labor Day.
For 12 Fridays starting at the end of the school year, the VonThuns open their farm from 10 to 11 a.m. for “Barnyard Buddies,” for children and their parents or guardians to tour and meet the animals.
Each Friday has a theme: farmers’ choice, cows, pigs, goats, horses and donkeys, sheep, chickens and eggs, bugs and bees, corn, fruit, flowers and seeds and tractors.
Each visit costs $10 per child (grown-ups are free).
A season’s pass is $129.99 which includes, besides admission, a “Barnyard Buddies” kids t-shirt ($12 value), the choice of a plush Barnyard Buddy stuffed animal from the farm store ($10 value) and a $40 pass for the farm for the entire season.
On Friday, July 8, with goats as the theme, children and parents learned about goats and their behavior before learning how to feed the animals.
They then went on a little hike to pick wildflowers with a delicious stop at the raspberry bushes.
Moms emphasized how much their children enjoy Barnyard Buddies, how much they learn about farms and farming and how they are making plenty of new friends on the visits