Welcome to the Friendly Farm Foundation

The Friendly Farm Foundation is located 2 hours of San Francisco. The 3 acre farm is nestled in the wine country and on the edge of the redwoods.  We participate in community events; go to schools and nursing homes, invite the public and classes to the farm for a visit, and go to birthday parties.

As People Enjoy The Friendly Farm Animals They:

• Ask questions, not just read signs, about livestock and get answers from knowledgeable people
• Take lots of pictures, creating lasting memories
• Pet and hug animals, not just look at them
• Learn animal facts, while animal myths are dispelled
• Develop appreciation of livestock, which promotes a positive attitude toward livestock and agriculture
• Learn how farm animals and Agriculture impact and benefit our daily lives
• Learn terminology for each animal

The Friendly  Farm Foundation, established in 2004, is a California Non-profit and in the process of applying for Federal non-profit status.

• Events: $250 - $500 / day, negotiated cost depends on hours and number of animals + mileage (40¢/miles outside of Ukiah)
• Families and schools come to the farm for a tour: $2/person minimum $20/tour
• The farm comes to classes and schools: Cost $2/person + mileage (40¢/miles outside of Ukiah)
• The farm comes to birthday parties: Cost $35-$70 / hr. depending on the number of animals + mileage (40¢/miles outside of Ukiah)
• The Friendly Farm comes to your event. $2/person, or $6/ family of 3+ paid by those individuals who enjoy the farm.
• One animal at a time comes to convalescent homes: Cost $35/ hr.

We are fully insured.

Generous People Who Make This Project Possible

• The Jerry Nunn Family - Potter Valley
• Mike Biaggi Dairy - Manchester
• Tom Rawles- Ukiah
• Orin Thompson- Redwood Valley
• Mendocino County Farm Bureau
• Walt Stornetta Dairy, Manchester

At the Farm

Meet some of our animal friends at The Friendly Farm:

Honey, a Miniature Horse Taffy, a Jersey Calf Shorty & Lollie, a Beef Heifers Wooly, a Southdown Sheep Cleo, a Dwarf Goat Violet, a Farm Pig Lucy 2, a Bantam Chicken Frosty 2, a Standard Brahma Rooster Lady Blue, a Blue Cochin Hen Louis, a Miniature Call Duck Peter, a Mini Rex Rabbit Bosco, a Mini Lop Rabbit Tom, a Turkey Amos & Andy the Shetland Geese Chester & Charlie, Cayuga Ducks Sugar & Rah, Miniature Donkeys Bannister & Wallace, Runner Ducks By mid summer ’07, we should have a mini mule by Sugar.

Established public safety practices include:

• Hand washing facilities available
• Liability insurance already approved the California State Fairs & Expositions ( Cost $3,500/year)
• Signs in English and Spanish to remind people how to act around animals
• Don't feed animals
• Don't tease by sticking fingers in cages 
• Public is not allowed in cages & corrals with animals
• Any manure is cleaned immediately
• Public is not allowed to feed animals
• Each animal is presented to the public to pet, but not hold

Additional Educational Benefits of The Friendly Farm Foundation

• Handlers who are knowledgeable about all the animals to answer public questions
• Substantial downloadable curriculum available on this page for each school that supports agriculture and meets State Standards for Math, Science, Language Arts is available for each school on Friday
• Horse shoe display
• Egg collection display from chickens, geese, ducks, and guineas.
• Educational display boards on 1) Beef Products & By-products, 2) Cattle, 3) Sheep & Wool,4) Branding 6) Poultry and eggs
• Butter making exhibition once a day
• Freebies for public to promote agriculture - pencils, piggy banks, coloring books, recipes
• A display of feeds used for the animals

About Dotty Bergmen

Dotty has 50 years experience raising, training, and showing livestock. She has 38 years experience as an educator with a Master's degree. During the past 20 years, she has also worked closely with Mendocino County Farm Bureau agricultural Committee, which she now chairs, Ag in the Classroom, and contributed to the Food, Land and People program and the Mendocino County After School 4-H curriculum program. 

Dotty is seen here along with husband,  Dan, and farm friends, Sugar, Frosty, Taffy, and Peter.