Date of Visit: September 23, 2020

Paulus Farm Market is located just off the Gettysburg Pike exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (you can actually see it along the eastbound lanes).

While it is a farm market, it’s also a farm playground, one that is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

The Farm Park is open daily from spring through late fall. During the fall months, the activities expand to include a mini corn maze and pick-your-own pumpkins. But a visit during the spring and summer offers plenty to do.

Admission is $3 per guest with the option to purchase a bag of feed for the animals for $3.75. The bag of feed is definitely worth it because the animal encounters are the highlight of any visit.

Our “feed” included two apples, four pretzel rods and a bunch of leaves. A chalkboard by the entry to the Farm Park explained which animals would enjoy each snack.

All of the animals clearly know what the bag means because. Our first stop was with the sheep, and as soon as they saw us coming, they stuck their heads through the fence in eager anticipation.

The sheep loved the leaves and were practically begging for more. Thankfully for them there seemed to be a never-ending supply of children and their families bringing them tasty treats.

The goats had the same reaction, though they were permitted either the leaves or the pretzel rods. They were just happy with whatever we fed them.

A small donkey resided with the goats. After his first taste of the leaves, he began following us around the pen before finally stopping to eat his hay.

On the other side of the path were the cows. One enclosure had three cows – calves that were not fully grown yet – while the neighboring enclosure had two full grown steers, each with imposing horns that I was careful to avoid while giving them their treat.

(I could not, however, avoid the steer’s tongue when it licked the leaf right out of my hand).

The apples in the bag were for the pigs. Their enclosures featured PVC pipes where kids deposited the apples. Then we watched as the fruit rolled out the other side and a hungry pig strode over and gobbled it up.

Also gobbling up food were the turkeys and other birds, including a ducks, chickens and a peacock. The farm also featured a pair of alpacas who were curious and hungry.

The Farm Park also includes several play areas. There’s the Dirt Diner (exactly what it sounds like), a giant sandbox and an assortment of tire swings.

The “Tubes, Tires and Tunnels” area featured plenty of places for the little ones to crawl, climb and generally burn off some excited energy.

My personal favorite attraction was the giant rocking goat – a lot of fun for the kids and (probably) large enough for an adult if you so desire.

If you want a sweet treat while you’re there, Paulus Farm offers soft-serve ice cream from a trailer called “The Cow Lick.” Or you can head into the farmers market to buy some of their homemade cookies, whoopie pies and cinnamon rolls.

If you’re just looking for fresh-from-the-farm foods,  Paulus has plenty of those. You can buy take-and-make meals like hamloaf and meatloaf, chicken cordon bleus, a variety of sausages and a full selection of deli meats and cheeses.

Paulus isn’t the biggest farm attraction in the state, but it’s location makes it one of the most convenient. Our toddler had a blast, and it seemed like all of the other young children at the park were having a blast, too.