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Sponsor To Keep Kids Farm Open At National Zoo

WASHINGTON (AP) -- State Farm Insurance is announcing a $1.4 million gift to the National Zoo to keep the popular Kids Farm exhibit open in Washington.

A Nigerian dwarf goat named Lucy helped announce the gift Wednesday by unveiling a sign on the side of a barn. The gift comes months after the Smithsonian Institution announced the farm animal exhibit would close due to budget cuts.

Zoo officials say the gift will guarantee Kids Farm stays open for at least five years. It was touted as an upgrade at the zoo in the past to give children an up-close view of animals.

The zoo says there has been public outcry over the announced closing.

The goat is among the animals in the exhibit, along with cows, donkeys, rabbits and chickens.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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