Maasdam Barns hosts Babies at the Barns

FAIRFIELD — The public had a chance to pet baby farm animals Saturday at Maasdam Barns in Fairfield.

The Maasdam Barns Preservation Committee hosted its annual “Babies at the Barns” that day, which attracted more than 200 people, according to board chairman Tony Webb.

This year’s event featured six adult horses and four colts, a bottle calf, piglets, chicks, and fish in the stock tank next to the antique windmill erected last year. The weather was perfect for an outdoor outing, a picturesque sunny 70-degree day. Webb said the board used an eight-seat golf cart to haul visitors to and from the parking lot.

“That was the first time we got to use that,” Webb said. “We worked out a deal with Jefferson County Conservation, which wasn’t using that golf cart much. Our golf cart only holds three people, and if you’ve got a baby stroller, it’s not big enough.”

Washington State Bank donated $1,500, and an anonymous Maasdam Barns board member chipped in a further $1,000, and with that money the board was able to buy a battery and charger for the eight-seat golf cart.

“It’s perfect for these events,” Webb said.

This year’s sponsor was Alliant Energy, which donated $600 to offset the board’s costs, which include giving gift certificates to the Southeast Iowa Draft Horse and Mule Association that brought the horses and colts.

Webb said the board members met after the event to discuss how they could improve it next year, and the consensus was that the barns need signage to direct visitors to where the animals are. Webb said board members will talk to 4-H clubs in the county to see if they can make some attractive signs.

The next big event at Maasdam Barns will be unveiling the vintage playground equipment the board has acquired in the last few years. Webb said he hopes the playground will be ready by the July 4 weekend, and that the board will hold an open house to invite the public and thank the Jefferson County Foundation for its grant toward the playground.

Most of the equipment that will be featured was built by the Louden Company in the early 1900s. A swing set and slide was donated to the Maasdam Barns from the Fairfield Walton Club, and the barns received a merry go ‘round from a donor south of St. Louis.

“The board could really use some volunteers, and we’re short on board members, too,” Webb said. “I’m hoping this playground will bring a different group of volunteers to the barns, especially people who have kids. They’ll be able to volunteer while their kids are occupied. Right now, if there are no animals, there’s nothing for kids to do.”

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com