Lambs and calves
A mother ewe and her lamb born at the Upper Peninsula State Fair rest in a pen in the Miracle of Life building. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Bonnie, a sheep from Dragonfly Farms in Pickford, gave birth to triplets on Aug. 12. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Clementine is seen with one of her two babies born on Tuesday. The lambs were less than a day old when this photo was taken. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
A mother ewe and her lamb born at the Upper Peninsula State Fair rest in a pen in the Miracle of Life building. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Bonnie, a sheep from Dragonfly Farms in Pickford, gave birth to triplets on Aug. 12. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
Clementine is seen with one of her two babies born on Tuesday. The lambs were less than a day old when this photo was taken. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)
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Editor’s note: When proud new parents share birth announcements with the Daily Press, they are printed on the Lifestyles page. As a playful fair week feature, the Daily Press is also announcing the births of other mammals.
ESCANABA — The “Miracle of Life” has been a fixture of the Upper Peninsula State Fair since before the building that now houses it was even built.
The third week of August, when the fair comes to Escanaba, pregnant farm animals due to give birth are brought to a barn on the east side of the grounds.
This year, cows were provided by Melodydell Dairy in Vulcan, and sheep were provided by Dragonfly Farms of Pickford.
Some of the birth announcements received from the Miracle of Life barn are as follows:
– Bessie became mother ewe to three triplets on Aug. 12.
– Farah gave birth to triplets on Aug. 15.
– Hurricane birthed twins, one boy and one girl, on Aug. 16 at 10:15 a.m.
– Snow had twin boys who were born at 11:15 a.m. on Aug. 16.
– Diamond has a female lamb who was born on Aug. 16 at 11:45 a.m.
– Judy gave birth to a bouncing baby boy at 5:15 a.m. on Aug. 17.
– Minnow the cow gave birth at 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 17.
– Clementine welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, into the world at 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 18.
Volunteers remain posted in the barn around the clock throughout the fair, alerting the relevant farmer when an animal goes into labor.
Fairgoers sometimes witness births, but for most Miracle of Life visitors, they’ll see the farm animals with their offspring. Newborn sheep begin walking fairly quickly, nudged to do so by their mothers. After giving birth, cows don’t tend to remain at the fairgrounds long, as they need to be milked promptly, said Supervisor Diana Abram.