Once an old dairy farm, a new fall farm is open in Centre County and it’s offering family fun

For the past two years, Ryan and Jess Shawver, alongside their seven children, have been rebuilding and renovating the old dairy farm on Crater Lane. Now after countless hours of work, corn planted and fences built, Living Faith Acres is open to the public.

The farm officially opened in August but is now hitting its stride as the fall settles in. Open Thursdays through Saturdays, Living Faith Acres boasts a 6-acre corn maze, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, local food vendors and a barrel ride.

The idea to open the farm up for local fall activities came last year when the Shawvers were visiting another farm, believing they could host something similar for their community.

“We believe we have a purpose being here,” Ryan Shawver said. “We knew our community needed something like this.”

From the start, the farm was a family affair. In spring of 2020, the Shawvers needed a new home and fast. They took a leap of faith on the 23-acre farm on auction by the Penns Valley Area School District. Immediately, the Shawvers set to work on rebuilding the farm with the seven children, ranging in age from 2 to 18, five of which are from the couple’s previous marriages.

“As a blended family, I feel like you need something to work together on,” Jess Shawver said. “They’ve been super helpful and it’s great family bonding.”

All of the kids help out, feeding animals, cleaning pens and building fences. Lots and lots of fences.

“The main thing we did the first year we were here was just repair and rebuild,” Ryan Shawver said. “Fences were broken down, trees were knocked down, fields were overgrown. So we spent the first year literally just reclaiming it from the land.”

One ever-growing part of the farm is the petting zoo featuring alpacas, ponies, peacocks, rabbits, goats, pigs and a Scottish highland cow. The Shawvers’ farm and petting zoo also serve as a private animal rescue. They’ve taken in animals from across the state, some as cases of severe neglect and others that were surrendered by owners.

The farm not only serves as a safe haven for these animals but as a place they can regain trust in humans. Jess Shawver said she’s seen many of the abused animals recover through the petting zoo, associating people with positive attention and treats.

She’s also seen an outpouring of support from the community, from people bringing in cases of neglect or abuse to neighbors helping with sick or injured animals the farm takes in. Jess Shawver says the community has filled in the gaps when humane officers or specialized vets can’t be found.

“I mean, it’s not perfect, but its 100% better than where most of them come from,” Jess Shawver said.