Gloria, the alpaca, fell in love with Ford Harris.

That is what Patty Zinkowski said after 10 Southport Central School students, accompanied by their teacher, Lisa Clarke, and administrative assistant Eileen Higgins, visited Flying Passage Farm on Kimballtown Road on Barters Island Wednesday, June 2. The farm is co-owned by Zinkowski and Jane McBride, co-founders of Friends of Thai Daughters.

The students were invited to read to the animals – a pony, three alpacas, two goats and nine hens – after Zinkowski and McBride learned of an initiative started by a friend of theirs in West Palm Beach, Florida.

It has been documented that children’s reading improves when they read to animals, Zinkowski said in an email to the newspaper. “Animals don’t judge, there is no time constraint ... and, it’s fun! Southport teachers agree.” Zinkowski said kids in the U.S. are losing their proficiency in reading. “COVID? Too much screen time…lack of time, books, etc.” The students brought books they either enjoy or thought the animals would enjoy.

Zinkowski said it was a great morning enjoyed by all.

“The animals enjoyed the experience as much as we did.” She said one boy read to a goat who helped him turn the pages by eating them!