Animal Interactions: Enjoy Time with Gentle Farm Animals

Flat Creek Farm in Amelia, Virginia, is home to goats, chickens, bunnies, a 28-year-old horse named Sailor, and sheep, too! In order to visit, you make an appointment with Caitlin, the farm owner, via Facebook or Instagram. She replies very quickly and helps answer any questions before your visit. Each visit is only for your group, and each group can have a maximum of 10 people. We enjoyed visiting the farm with family friends, so our kiddos could play and learn together, and as a bonus, we split the cost of our visit. Visits are $50 for one hour or $30 minutes for half an hour. I suggest doing the full hour, because there are lots of animals to visit, and you don't want to be rushed. Further, having the full hour lets the apprehensive kiddos have extra time to warm up to the experience. Payments accepted are Venmo, check, and cash.

The owner is very helpful and brings out animal feed continuously. She also answers all the children's questions about the animals and animal caretaking. Caitlin was so helpful and patient, and her calm attitude set a positive tone for the whole experience. The animals are very gentle and sweet. My son's favorite was feeding the goats. Before you visit, I suggest teaching your kids to make a "flat hand" to feed the animal so they know what to do upon arrival.

There is one picnic table in front of the barn, where visitors can have snacks or bring a picnic lunch. Flat Creek Farm hosts several special events throughout the year, including birthday parties and Christmas on the Farm, a holiday event to visit the animals and see the barn's stunning holiday lights. Reservations are required for special events.