Clover Brooke Farm heals and educates with animals
The Hudson Valley has numerous “hidden gems’’; one of the brightest among them is the Clover Brooke Farm in Hyde Park, where guests can take part in numerous activities involving an array of animals.
Starting this past weekend, Andrea Parent-Tibbetts and her family have opened up their farm to guests for events that involve the animals on site. Their two headline events are the Walk-a-Donk and Llama Alpaca Hikes. The Parent-Tibbetts family moved onto the land in 2016, and started these events periodically in 2019.
During these events, guests have the opportunity to walk around a quiet, picturesque, mile long path with llamas, alpacas, donkeys and goats. All of the animals are well-trained and social. They are so social that they even play jokes on visitors, playfully nibbling at and untying their shoelaces. Guests are also encouraged to take pictures with their furry companions.
The Walk-a-Donk event begins with a tour of the farm, followed by an introduction to a number of the animals that call Clover Brooke home. These include goats, sheep, llamas, alpacas, and barn cats. Next, visitors stroll through the pastures until they finally get to meet the donkeys. They then have an hour to spend walking through the trails and pastures with their newfound friends.
There are many health benefits associated with animal companionship. Donkeys lower cortisol levels and blood pressure. This helps to decrease anxiety levels and allows guests to relax. Parent-Tibbetts sometimes notices that visitors who are nervous or anxious at first often appear calmer by the end of their experience.
“Usually by the end, they’ve got the lead further down, and they’re just casually walking,” she said.
The events also have an educational spin to them. This helps educate people on fiber farming and the history of farming in Dutchess County.
“My biggest focus, because I was a school administrator for 30 years, was education,” Parent-Tibbetts said. “The premise of farming in Dutchess County, how it has changed over the years, our focus on fiber farming, and what does that mean in terms of being sustainable.”
The farm and its events are partnered with farming organizations such as 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). 4-H is an organization that aims to develop youth life skills through experience, while the FFA looks to teach children the importance of agriculture. Parent-Tibbetts believes these programs are important, especially because of the deterioration of farming in the Hudson Valley.
“We see it changing every minute, and unfortunately farms are disappearing left and right,” she said.
Clover Brooke Farm and the animals that inhabit it are a bastion of farming, education and relaxation in the Hudson Valley. The animals welcome all guests, and the events are experiences truly like no other. You can destress while being educated, and even get some extra practice in retying your shoelaces.
