Plainview Farms and Reptile Shows of New England Come to the Mount
By Elysian Alder | Editor-in-Chief
On September 21st, the Gardner campus of Mount Wachusett Community College buzzed with excitement as staff from Plain View Farm and Reptile Shows of New England paid a special visit, bringing along an array of animals from their respective facilities. From Plain View Farm, the campus had the pleasure of hosting two alpacas named Lily and Tiffany, as well as one llama by the name of Julia. And not to be forgotten were the reptiles represented by Reptile Shows of New England: a four-foot red iguana, a ball python, bearded dragons, and more.
The enthusiasm and excitement carried on throughout the day, with students posting photos and sharing their joy on the student feed in the Mount’s iConnect app—and some students were still feeling the excitement even weeks later. “My favorite part was simply experiencing something new,” said Cenedra Graham, a Liberal Arts & Sciences major. “Petting a llama and an alpaca and having them lick at my hand, and having the opportunity to freely touch and examine the reptiles was so amazing!”
The alpacas and reptiles were originally scheduled to appear at the Mount’s annual Fall Fest Welcome Back BBQ on September 13th. However, due to weather concerns, their visit was rescheduled to the 21st. According to Kathy Matson, Director of Student Life, the delay was something of a blessing in disguise. “We had a great turnout, and I plan to host them separate from the BBQ in the future,” said Matson. “I think it was better that way. The students loved the event.”
“I was able to attend the event after my class was over, and had ample time to pet the alpacas and llama,” shared Justina Johnson, an Interdisciplinary Studies and Business Administration major. “My son attends the preschool on campus, and his class was also able to attend. The kids had such a great time, too.”
If the chance to spend time with furry and scaly companions wasn’t remarkable enough, the added opportunity to learn about each animal from the knowledgeable staff of the respective vendors made the experience even more enriching. “They can make over 32 different vocalizations, and each alpaca has their own voice, just like people,” explained one of the handlers from Plain View Farm, helping the onlooking students understand some of the puzzling grunts and hums made by the animals.
Although Johnson herself admitted that she may not have enjoyed the snakes as much as the alpacas, the crowd gathered around the reptile pens proved that there were plenty of students who did. This isn’t surprising, considering that Reptile Shows of New England specializes in educational reptile shows for various occasions, including birthday parties, BBQs, and corporate events. Their presentations are conducted in a secure environment with utmost care, and they even accommodate individuals with reptile phobias, particularly when it comes to snakes. On their website, they state, “We can help you conquer your fear while sharing fascinating, lesser-known facts about these remarkable creatures.”
The visit of alpacas, llamas, and reptiles to the Mount wasn’t just a fun day; it captured the core of college life: unexpected, enriching, and exciting experiences.“We have future events scheduled for therapy dogs on the last Monday of October, November, and December,” said Matson. “And student feedback definitely drives what we book in the future.”
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