DATE: Tuesday, May 13, 1997                 TAG: 9705100081

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: THINGS TO DO 

SOURCE: BY ANN BARRY BURROWS, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   65 lines

VISIT A DAIRY FARM CHILDREN CAN FEED CALVES AND EAT ICE CREAM AT BERGEY'S

THERE IS NO better combination for a warm-weather outing than animals, ice cream, a play zone and a drive home that affords little ones some nap time.

A trip to Bergey's Dairy in Chesapeake is a favorite outing among parents I know.

The farm, across from a corn field just off Mount Pleasant Road, is a breath of country air for my city kid, 5-year-old Morgan.

The tall, blue milk tanks beckon as you enter. Next to the parking lot, Bergey's Dairy Store sells mouth-watering ice cream and other delights.

A walk behind the store takes the children past the milking sheds, where rows of large cows await their turn.

You can get as close as a wooden fence, even stand on a bottom rail, for a good view. And it seems that the cows' tails might flick you. That's close enough for most toddlers.

Across a gravel path is a small barn containing young animals such as pigs, goats and calves. While we were standing in the doorway during a recent visit, a farmhand walked in with a newborn calf and plopped it down on the hay. The calf's hair was still wet from birthing, and its eyes glanced about anxiously.

Morgan stared respectfully. ``You're the first human child this calf has ever seen!'' I told her, and she was further awed.

After the barn, it's a quick walk past lots of tractors. Young children will want to stop, because they are connoisseurs of tractor illustrations - and here are the real things. If it is almost 4 o'clock, however, hurry them on to see the newborn calves. They are fed every afternoon about this time, and kids can help.

Feeding an extra-large bottle with a 6-inch nipple to 100-pound calf is a job that requires a parent's help up to age 4 or so. My daughter could do it, but it required pulling on the bottle with all her might, because the calf was sucking with considerable strength.

Sometimes there are horses in a little field on the way back to the store. Often there will be farmhands around to field questions.

Bergey's Dairy just goes about its business, but has always welcomed supervised children to come and look around any time of day.

Watch out for a few electric fences and an occasional slow-moving truck.

The ice cream store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Small cones for children cost just 75 cents. Adult cones and waffle cones are more.

The store also serves fresh milk. Old-fashioned glass half-gallons are available to purchase and take home for $2.25.

Inside and out you'll find tables with checkered tablecloths. A fenced area has picnic tables and a playhouse shaped like a barn. MEMO: To suggest an outing for this column, please dial 640-5555 and

press 4666. ILLUSTRATION: ANN BARRY BURROWS

Morgan Jane Burrows, 5, uses all her strength to feed a calf at

Bergey's Dairy Farm in Chesapeake.

IF YOU GO

What: Bergey's Dairy Farm

Where: 2221 Mount Pleasant Road, Chesapeake

Information: Call 482-4711

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