Welcome to Animal Encounters

Get up close and interact with your favorite farm animals! You'll encounter big life lessons about animal husbandry, life cycles and silly and surprising animal behaviors. Speak one-on-one with the specialists who care for animals year-round on our grounds. Make sure you ask about our rare historical breeds of livestock and the important role Conner Prairie plays in preserving these animals.

So Much To Do and Explore!

At Conner Prairie, you have the opportunity to get up close to unique heritage breed animals.
We are home to one of the largest stocks of these rare breeds in the United States!

Follow along as we capture the journey of agriculture at Conner Prairie from the Lenape tribe and William Conner to Eli Lilly and who we are today.

Encounter Something Rare

Get a closer look at animals from our world-class rare breeding program, including English Longhorn cattle, Ossabaw Island hogs, Tunis sheep and our newest residents, Arapawa goats.

Observe Incredible Behaviors

Learn how farm animals are different from people—and your pets at home! Watch as they eat, sleep, play and interact.

Chat With a Pro

Conner Prairie’s animal specialists care for these animals year-round. Speak directly with these agricultural experts to learn what life is like on a working farm.

Make a Diet Discovery

What’s an Arapawa goat’s favorite snack? How much does a hog eat each day? Ask questions and see if you can discover how an animal’s diet differs from yours.

We Have Dozens of Adorable Mouths to Feed

Did you know that we subsidize 60% of each visit to Conner Prairie? That means every one of the animals on our farm, including our rare heritage breeds, depends upon the generosity of visitors like you. Have you ever seen how much a goat can eat? Help us remain a one-of-a-kind animal experience by donating today.