Welcome to the Barnyard
Our Barnyard friends would love to meet you!
Our Barnyard Educational Exhibit is a labor of love headed up by the amazing Shelmarie! Along with her team of dedicated volunteers, the Barnyard is home to chickens, donkeys, goats, sheep, turkeys, a pig, a pony, and even a mini cow!
Unlike a petting zoo, where the animals can get frightened, abused, and sick…Shelmarie has designed an educational experience where the kids (and adults!) can visit with the animals in a safe environment.
The majority of our barnyard friends are rescued farm animals who will live out the rest of their lives here at Tanaka Farms.
The Barnyard Educational Exhibit is a project of Helping Farms Feed Families, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Visit our Barnyard Friends
Daily from 9am to 4pm*
No reservations are needed to visit the Barnyard Educational Exhibit during our normal business hours.* We are open daily from 9am to 4pm and the General Admission cost is $5 per person*. (Children 2 and under are FREE. Military servicemembers are FREE. CSA Members are FREE with up to 4 guests.)
*Hours and admission prices may vary during holidays and special events like our Pumpkin Patch and Hikari Festival of Lights.
Baby Goat Yoga
Select Saturdays and Sundays through the end of May
Spend an hour relaxing your mind, body, and spirit! This light-hearted yoga class is designed for all levels and will be led by Sarah Brown and her four-legged baby goat assistants!
The baby goats are provided and cared for by our Barnyard and volunteers. This class is a fundraiser for our Helping Farms Feed Families (501c3) and 100% of the proceeds go directly to HFFF.
This class is limited to those participants 9 years and older. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You must bring your own yoga mat that you won't mind getting dirty. It is a farm, after all!
$40 per person (9 years and older)
Meet your instructor: Over 25 years a yoga student, Sarah Brown received her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training near Cuzco Peru from Moksha Yoga Amazonica, a Yoga Alliance registered school, in February of 2020. During lockdown, she led Zoom fundamental-focused classes that mix vinyasa flow, kundalini, and yin elements designed to gently remind stressed bodies how to relax through breath and movement. Sarah has been leading the Baby Goat Yoga sessions here at Tanaka Farms since the inception of the program.
Storytime at the Barnyard
Tuesdays & Fridays at 10:30am
Join us at the Barnyard Educational Exhibit for Storytime! Our Barnyard volunteers and staff will be reading farm-themed stories right by all of our Barnyard friends. After storytime, visit with the animals! Storytime lasts about 30 minutes. (Geared towards children 1 - 5 years old.)
There is no additional charge for this event, as it is included with your $5 general admission ticket. By registering in advance, you are guaranteeing that your $5 fee goes directly to Helping Farms Feed Families (501c3) - our non-profit organization that funds the Barnyard as well as donating farm-fresh food to local food banks and families who need it.
Chicks & Sprouts
Thursdays & Saturdays at 10:30am
Learn how Chickens and Plants Grow! This interactive STEM workshop teaches children how baby chickens grow inside the egg as well as how plants grow! Children will plant their own giant sunflowers to bring home, harvest a vegetable, and visit with our barnyard friends. This workshop is geared towards children 4 to 10 years old. The entire experience lasts about an hour and a half.
Children (Ages 4-10 years): $30*
*Parents/Chaperones are not required to purchase a ticket. However, we will require your name as you continue the registration process.
Tanaka Farms Chicken Club
Friday nights at 6pm.
Kids 6 - 16, join us for some chicken fun! Learn about raising chickens and how to show them through competitions, activities, and games. Interested folks can join "Team Tanaka" for the opportunity to show a chicken at the Orange County Fair in the summer.
While attending the class is free, there is a one-time fee of $25 to join Team Tanaka for the season. (Fee will be payable at class, when joining.)
Classes meet every Friday night at 6pm.
Chicken Club is a project of the Helping Farms Feed Families (501c3) non-profit organization.
Fund-A-Feed
Donate to feed an animal for a week!
$5 feeds a chicken for a week
$10 feeds a turkey for a week
$15 feeds a donkey for a week
$25 feeds a goat for a week
$50 feeds a cow for a week
Now seeking volunteers who love working with animals!
After filling out an application, join us for orientation!*
Orientations are held on the first Sunday and second Tuesday of every month at 4pm in the Barnyard. (No need to sign up for an orientation, just drop in!)
Our hardworking animal handler and Barnyard Manager, Shelmarie, is now seeking volunteers to work in our Barnyard Educational Exhibit. Year-round we house rescue chickens, turkeys, a pig, a mini cow, donkeys, horses, sheep, and goats. We are seeking volunteers who have a love for animals, love to be outdoors, and have a great attitude!
We need volunteers daily for different shifts throughout the barnyard. We even have Family Volunteer Night! If you love farm animals and being outdoors, we love you!!
Fill out an ONLINE APPLICATION then drop into an orientation!*
Contact Shelmarie for more info: SHELMARIE@TANAKAFARMS.COM
*You MUST attend orientation before starting as a volunteer.
Existing Volunteers! Please sign up for shifts for HFFF!
Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1. Click the button below to go to our invitation page on SignUp.
2. Enter your email address. (You will NOT need to register an account on SignUp)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - SignUp will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Shelmarie and she can sign you up manually.