Here’s why there were cows and sheep on Boston Common on Tuesday

Visitors to Boston Common on Tuesday were greeted by more than just the usual dogs and squirrels in the city’s historic park.

Livestock pens with cows, sheep, and goats were set up as part of the annual event — Livestock on the Common — put on by the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, WBZ reports.

Meghan Gennings, director-at-large of the federation’s board of directors, told the station the event began as a way of connecting with nearby lawmakers in the statehouse but has evolved to become a public education event and a chance for the public to interact with farmers and animals.

“There are still laws on the books that say you can graze livestock on Boston Common,” Gennings told WBZ. “Now you’ll see mostly dogs here on the Common, but it used to be where people would bring animals from all over the state.”

State Sen. Jason Lewis was among those who stopped by the event, sharing a photo of the park’s unusual visitors.

“Meet our fluffiest advocate!” he wrote on X. “Not a baa-aa-aa-d trip to the Common!”

Dialynn Dwyer

Dialynn Dwyer is a reporter and editor at Boston.com, covering breaking and local news across Boston and New England.

 

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