College of Agriculture announces spring session of petting zoo April 19

April 15, 2008 -- The College of Agriculture announces the spring opening of the semi-annual Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, the petting zoo will be open to the public at the ASU Farm Beef Barn on Longhorn Drive. On Thursday-Friday, April 17-18, the petting zoo is reserved for school groups by appointment only, and this year's bookings are already filled. Approximately 1,050 school children will attend this spring opening of the Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo. 

Please expect crowds; this is a very popular event. For the health and safety of both children and animals, no food, drinks, toys, or pacifiers are permitted in the petting zoo.

On Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, the College of Agriculture officially dedicated the Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo, thanks to the donation and support of the Nix family. The Nix family, sole owners and proprietors of the Ash Flat Livestock Auction since 1958, are now seeing a third generation of family, Melanie and Billy Bob Billingsley, in the business. Not only is the monetary donation significant, but Mike Nix, son of the honorees, will perpetually resupply the petting zoo with young animals from the auction.

The Bill and Alice Nix Petting Zoo will next be open in September during homecoming week. To book a school group for the fall opening, call Sherry Ellis, Agricultural Studies Office, at (870) 972-2087 or e-mail sellis@astate.edu.

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