WELLS — Philly, Cenya and the other cute animals in the petting zoo fit right in with the agricultural theme of Kernel Days.

Children will be able to get up close and personal with the animals from JoAH’s Ark this weekend. The petting zoo will be open at 11 a.m. Saturday and after the parade Sunday.

“I enjoy sharing my animals with other people,” said JoAnna Olson, who is providing the miniature horses, donkey, goats, puppies and bunnies for the second year at Kernel Days.

They will be able to hug Cenya, a small wooly lamb, and pet Philly, a loud braying donkey, and feed other animals. Kids also like to braid Lovey Dovey’s mane and decorate the miniature horse with ribbons.

“A live version of My Little Pony,” Olson said.

Olson has a menagerie of animals on her five-acre hobby farm in rural Easton: five horses, three miniature horses, one Shetland pony, five goats, one lamb, one donkey, five rabbits, five chickens, two turkeys, four dogs, four puppies, 20 cats, six kittens and one parrot. All of the animals vie for her attention as she makes her way from the barns to the various pens talking to each one as the lamb and puppies trail behind her.

“They’re my children,” Olson said.

She calls each animal by name. Their names depend on what type of animal they are. “The kittens have Muppet names,” said Olson, pointing to a kitty named Kermit. “The names of my goats all start with ‘Z’ and the names of the sheep with ‘C.’”

Animals, especially horses, have been her life, said Olson, who started riding when she was 3 years old. She studied horse management at the University of Minnesota in Waseca and works for a veterinary clinic.

In addition to the petting zoos at fairs and festivals, Olson provides ponies for parties and gives Western riding lessons.

“It all started about 10 years ago when a friend asked me to bring a pony to her party,” Olson said. “It was a big hit.” Soon other people were asking her to bring the ponies to their parties and it became a weekend job.

Because Olson doesn’t like to put children heavier than 30 pounds on her ponies, she also takes horses and her donkey, which can be ridden, to events.

After she moved to Texas, she bought goats and started adding them to the party circuit. “City kids don’t know anything about them,” said Olson, who likes to share her love of animals with others.

About five years ago she moved back to Minnesota on the Easton farm, adding more animals each year.

“I haven’t told my husband yet, but I’m think about llamas,” she confided.

Olson said Rod, her husband, knew that having animals “was part of the deal” 13 years ago when they were married. “I don’t know if he signed on for so many though.”



If You Go

What

Kernel Days in Wells

Today

5 p.m. — Carnival rides, games, food, beer garden, exhibits and bingo

8 p.m. — Music

9:30 p.m. — Tribute to the Troops

9:50 p.m. — Fireworks

Saturday

8 a.m. — Classic car show ending with 4:30 p.m. cruise

4:30 p.m. — Al Batt, humorist

6:30 p.m. — Talent show

8-12 p.m. — Teen dance

8:30 p.m. — Street dance

Sunday

Noon — Parade

After the parade — Skateboard performers and draft house plowing

Information

www.cityofwells.net