FAIRFIELD – Maasdam Barns in Fairfield hosted its annual Babies at the Barns Saturday, May 11, when the public got the chance to pet and hold baby animals.

The animals included a 10-year-old female Haflinger horse named “Annie” and her 3-week-old foal named “April.” They were brought by Rick Coffman, who said the Haflinger breed comes from Austria, and that they were introduced to the United States in 1956. American soldiers used them as pack horses during World War II.

Coffman said Haflingers are a great breed of horse because they’re hardy, having been bred in the Alps, and also easy to tame.

“They’re a people’s horse,” he said.

Youngster William Burgmeier brought 14 of his baby chicks that were only about four days old. William said he actually hatched 35 chicks, but just brought some of them. He said he put the eggs in an incubator weeks ago specifically to show them at Babies at the Barns. He said he has to make sure their temperature remains at 99.7 degrees, and he has to rotate them like a hen would. In the final three days before they hatch, William lowers their temperature and moves them to a tray. Williams said he also plans to show his chickens at the county fair in June.

Leon Connelly, vice president of Maasdam Barns Historic Preservation Committee that put on the event, said he was pleased with the crowd, which he estimated at 200 people.

“It was a respectful crowd, too,” he said. “And it was a beautiful day.”

Connelly noted there were three bottle-fed calves in the barn, two Percheron horses, two sheep that were a couple of months old, and a bunch of Hereford piglets.

“The pigs were just weaned, so we didn’t have to bring the sow this time,” Connelly said. “They can get kind of growly.”

According to the website The Cattle Site, Hereford cattle got their name from the county Herefordshire in England, where the breed evolved. Hereford hogs got their name from their resemblance to Hereford cattle since they are both red with a white trim.

Maasdam Barns’ next big event is hosting Escaramuza Quetzalli on Saturday, June 8. The group is a Mexican rodeo drill team that performed at the barns last year. This year’s event will run from 1-4 p.m. and include performances, parades, pony rides and a meet and greet. The event is free and open to the public.

“We want to showcase anything to do with horses, and especially with different cultures,” Connelly said.