Just in time for her public debut, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s female Holstein calf has a name: Magnolia. The Zoo invited the public to name the newest member of the Kids’ Farm herd by casting a vote on the Zoo’s website. Fans selected among three floral names chosen by the calf’s keepers: Magnolia, Hyacinth and Daisy. The voting launched Friday, May 11 and closed Sunday night. The Zoo received a total of 841 votes, 406 of which were for Magnolia. Daisy and Hyacinth received 325 votes and 110 votes, respectively. The winning name was announced on the Zoo’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media accounts this morning.  

Magnolia joins Rose, a 15-year-old female Hereford heifer, in the barnyard, along with male alpacas Orion and Cirrus. The Kids’ Farm is home to various farm animals, including cattle, donkeys, goats, alpacas, hogs, chickens, koi fish and catfish. Designed for children ages 3 to 8, the exhibit provides many urban and suburban children an interactive learning experience with animals while teaching them where food comes from. Zoo visitors of all ages can view and pet animals at the Kids’ Farm. Keeper chats and animal demonstrations take place at the Kids’ Farm every day at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., weather permitting.

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