Critter Barn unveils $10 million construction of new 36-acre farm

ZEELAND, MI – A zoo turned agricultural education program has completed a new home for all its furry friends.

Critter Barn in early October celebrated the grand opening of its new small animal barn, completing the first phase of development of the nonprofit’s 36-acre farm at 2950 80th Ave. in Zeeland.

The $1.2 million small animal barn represents a fraction of the total Phase 1 development of more than $10 million.

Critter Barn Executive Director Tony McCaul told MLive it’s also the first barn on campus to be heated and air-conditioned to provide all-season programming for audiences.

“From birthday parties to educational classes, this barn is built for the youth of our community,” he said.

Critter Barn moved from its original three-acre campus to its current property in 2022. When the farm first moved operations, it did not have enough space to give all of its animals a proper home until they completed the barn of small animals.

“When we moved to the new farm, the chickens, rabbits and cats were out of place — they were in our organization, but not in the barn that was planned for them,” McCaul said. “Now, with this open barn, every animal has a home.”

The farm also includes barns for goats, sheep and pigs, according to the Critter Barn website.

Future plans for the farm include an industrial corridor consisting of commercial barns for food sectors such as dairy, pork and poultry. The farm also plans to build more public facilities, including a welcome center, a farm, a giant tree house, bunkhouses for weekend stays and an event center.

Critter Barn’s mission is to be a “serious and comprehensive agricultural education experience,” at a time when labor shortages threaten the agricultural industry.

According to the US Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, the median age of all producers was 58.1 years, up from 57.5 years in 2017 and 56.3 years in 2012 .

“We need people who know how to raise livestock and produce crops,” Carol Schoenborn, Critter Barn board treasurer and owner of Shoenborn Family Farms in Holland, said in a statement. “Michigan is among the most agriculturally diverse states in the US, producing more than 300 agricultural commodities. We are the number one producer of tart cherries, cucumbers, dried beans, squash and asparagus, and are in the top 10 for production of many other valuable agricultural products. This production depends on future generations understanding and loving this industry.”

The farm offers interactive programs for children ages 3 through high school. The programming varies in interactivity, from simple “pet and play” to extensive animal breeding through the Critter Crew program.

Critter Barn also partners with institutions such as Michigan State University, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District and Baker College to provide educational programming.

The organization said in a statement that it reached more than 5,400 people through field trips from January to August and hosted 113 “Farm on the Go” events that brought animals to places like the Kent District Library, the boys and girls clubs and more.

“People are already expressing interest in using our new small animal barn for things like 4-H dairy training, preschool field trips and regional meetings for organizations like Region 5 of the National FFA,” McCaul said. “We will bring thousands more children of all ages to this campus in the years to come.”

The farm worked with SVB + Reckley Architects and Progressive A&E to design inclusive facilities for people with disabilities. These features include flat thresholds, knobless doors and full-height windows for animal displays.

“We want every person who visits the Critter Barn to love the experience,” McCaul said. “We want them to feel the joy of belonging, to move easily and to participate fully without having to ask for help. Our farm design affirms and welcomes people in all their diversity. Every visitor can live a great experience without having to adapt to enjoy it.”

Critter Barn also partners with the Harbor Humane Society to allow visitors to adopt the farm’s cats and give them a permanent home.

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