A newborn calf takes about 45 minutes before it can stand on its own legs. This one is just a few minutes old and was delivered in front of onlookers at the Fair Oaks Farms’ birthing barn. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
Three spring break escapes for the whole family, not far from Chicago.
The Dairycatessen is one of several spots to get something to eat at Fair Oaks Farms. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
Kids can climb up a giant milk bottle sculpture at Fair Oaks Farms. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
Some 72 cows can fit on the giant, slowly rotating platform where cows are hooked up to automatic milking machines. It takes about five minutes for the cows to make a full revolution, and that’s enough time for them to be milked. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
This cow just gave birth to a calf in the birthing barn, where people can watch the delivery as it happens. Eight to 10 calves are born in the barn each day. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
A newborn calf spends some time in the cow nursery attached to the birthing barn. It won’t be long before the calf is taken to a different farm. Fair Oaks Farms is girls-only. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
Fair Oaks Farms is like a living classroom, where visitors can go from one facility to the next to learn about cows, pigs and crop farming. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
The ropes adventure course at Fair Oaks Farms’ Pork Education Center is one of several places for kids to run around and play. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
Kids go up to the window for a close look at a newborn piglet at Fair Oaks Farms in Northwest Indiana. (Lori Rackl / Chicago Tribune)
