November 15, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

SJO FFA holds petting zoo

An annual tradition is taking place at St. Joseph-Ogden High School today—the SJO FFA petting zoo to celebrate National FFA Week.


The petting zoo features 16 animals plus six baby chicks, said FFA Reporter Mallory Ames.


The animals include two donkeys, two pigs, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks and a llama.


Ames said the FFA members bring in as many animals as they can and have often raised the animals since they were born.


Ames said the petting zoo is an important service to the community.
“It’s important for us to have the petting zoo because many students don’t have ag backgrounds,” she said. ‘So it’s often the first time for them to see these animals.”


The petting zoo invites students from St. Joseph Grade School and the Prairieview-Ogden school district to attend. The grade school students get to learn about animals and complete activities like coloring and planting seeds.


“We absolutely love it,” Ames said. “I really enjoy teaching the students because most of them have no idea about agriculture and they are all so adorable.”


The public is welcome to attend the petting zoo which is open until 2 p.m. in the agriculture room of St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Banner
Related Posts

Remembering B.J. Hackler: ‘He made people smile’

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

B.J. Hackler liked to stay busy. He belonged to the St. Joseph Tea-Totalers, a group of residents who meet in...

Ask the Doctor with Dr. Jeanelle Murphy

March 10, 2020

March 10, 2020

What are the pros of breastfeeding your newborn? How long would you recommend breastfeeding? Breast milk is the perfect food...

Ask the doctor: Do adults need vaccines?

November 4, 2020

November 4, 2020

“Do adults need vaccines?” By: Jeanelle Murphy, DO Yes, adults definitely should have vaccines and keep up their childhood vaccines...

Auto shop offering free oil changes to healthcare workers

June 12, 2020

June 12, 2020

St. Joseph Automotive and Diesel is helping the people who help us. During the month of June, in collaboration with...

10 things you don’t know about me… Brad Krall

February 20, 2019

February 20, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week it is Brad Krall,...

SJO Drama department is ‘All Shook Up’

April 5, 2019

April 5, 2019

“All Shook Up” has been almost a year and a half in the making. St. Joseph-Ogden Drama Director Chandler Dalton...

‘I love feeling a part of the community’

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

Almost a year ago exactly, The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the naming and grand opening of...

Live at Heritage High School Board March 15, 2021

March 15, 2021

March 15, 2021

I am here at Heritage School Board. My dog ate my computer charger so I’m on chromebook instead of my...

Pence hired as full-time superintendent once again

September 2, 2022

September 2, 2022

Todd Pence is a full-time superintendent once again. On Wednesday, the St. Joseph Grade School Board of Education voted to...

SJO still waiting on property tax money

July 16, 2019

July 16, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden High School has only received roughly $22,000 of the money it is due from Champaign County property taxes....

Benefit to be held for Fisher family

March 18, 2019

March 18, 2019

Next Saturday the St. Joseph IGA and Wagner Signs and Graphics are coming together for a good cause. From 7...

Athletic complex to be dedicated tonight

April 16, 2021

April 16, 2021

 The St. Joseph-Ogden School District will honor Glenn Fisher tonight.The district voted in June 2020 to name the athletic complex...

Heritage Junior High Honor Roll

March 26, 2019

March 26, 2019

Heritage Junior High has compiled the list of honor roll students for the second quarter. A student must have a...

What are some good ways to deal with stress?

November 10, 2021

November 10, 2021

By Jeanelle Murphy, DO Stress is part of life and the human body has a built in system to deal...

‘I always have a blast putting the show together’

April 2, 2022

April 2, 2022

Mallory Wagner’s favorite part of a drama production may shock people. It’s rehearsing. “It doesn’t matter what scene we’re doing...

Comments
Leave a Reply