MARION — Parents, grandparents, and a herd of children turned out to see the animals at Elizabeth Taber Library on Thursday, July 8 where Pine Meadow Farms hosted a petting zoo.

The event featured alpacas, tortoises, rabbits, goats, and zebus — a Indian variety of cow.

Elise Frangos, President of the Trustees of Elizabeth Taber Library, called the event “enormously successful” and highlighted the intergenerational nature of the attendees which included everyone from infants to grandparents.

“We’re coming out of covid and people are yearning for face-to-face time,” she said. “It’s great that everyone came out on an overcast day and got to appreciate the magic of livestock and pets.”

With so many animals to see, kids were divided on which ones to spend their time on, but some favorites did emerge.

“The kids all like the tortoise,” said Jeff Paine, the owner of the family-run farm, identifying the 24-year-old reptile as a sulcata tortoise. “It’s the third largest kind of tortoise in the world.”

Seven-year-old Brantley Dubois of Marion agreed.

“The tortoise was my favorite,” he said.

However, there were other contenders.

“I like the zebu,” said Brody Tripp, 8, of Marion. “It’s fluffy and calm.”

“I just like everything about [the alpaca],” said 10-year-old Morgan Tripp. “It’s just so cute.”