Bella Kreticos has spent the past six years taking care of animals in her backyard farm.

Pigs, sheep, alpacas, chickens, and more, Kreticos is an animal fanatic. She gets enjoyment out of taking care of these creatures every day with her family. Expanding her farm, she hopes to do this for a while.

Q: Why did you choose to put the farm in your backyard and not on a separate piece of property?
A: We never intended to make it into such a big thing, but it happened. We started off with baby chicks and then it just grew. It was convenient to have it right in the back yard where we could go to see the animals whenever, and overall it made it easier to take care of them.

Q: What made you want a farm?
A: It was something me and my brother, Nick Kreticos, could bond over. We both really love animals and the thought of having a farm sounded really fun.

Q: What responsibilities do you have living on a farm?
A: It’s a lot of work. We collect the eggs, clean up, take proper care of all the animals and make sure they always have food and water.

Q: What is so interesting about these animals?
A: They are all so unique. My goats love to go for walks around the block and eat all of the grass. My pig rolls over on his tummy to be rubbed. They’re all so lovable and fun to play with.

Q: Where do you get all these animals from?
A: We got the animals from all sorts of places. The chicks came from a Tractor Supply. Our goat was going to be put down, so we took him in. Our pig came from a family who was looking to give him to a nice home. We got so many because we had the space and it was just amazing to experience having animals of all sorts.

Q: What is your favorite and least favorite part?
A: My favorite part was getting to have this experience in itself. I loved walking in my backyard and seeing all of them go wild to see me. My least favorite part was taking care of them during the winter time. The snow and bad weather make it hard to go back there and give them proper care.