Otters Sadie and Ron Win Second Term as Farm President
Children's crayon ballots reelected the river otters, who will serve another one-year term at Stamford Museum & Nature Center's annual Election on the Farm.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Large Animals
River otters Sadie and Ron won a shared second term as farm president at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, receiving 55 votes. Petunia, a 22-year-old Scottish Highland cow, was elected vice president with the second-highest vote total.
Why it matters
The annual election, held every November since 2011, lets young visitors take part in a civic-style vote for the center's animal leaders. This year's contest was the 15th Election on the Farm.
The vote drew 271 crayon ballots from children across 20 candidates representing 15 animal types. Write-in candidates received 20 votes, including 12 for turtles.
The players
Stamford Museum & Nature Center
A nature center in Stamford, Connecticut, that runs the annual Election on the Farm and houses the farm's animal presidents.
Sadie and Ron
A pair of river otters who won a shared second term as farm president at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center.
Petunia
A 22-year-old Scottish Highland cow elected vice president in this year's farm election.
The details
Children used crayons to mark their choice among 20 candidates at the Heckscher Farm polling location, which closed at 3 p.m. The otters' reelection marks the second term for the duo, while Petunia takes the vice presidency.
Timeline
2011: The first Election on the Farm was held, starting the annual series.
November 3, 2026: This year's Election on the Farm vote was held and the otters were reelected.
Season Trajectory
The 15th Election on the Farm extends a tradition that began with the pigs Pippa and Lulu as the first presidents of the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. Since the vote has been held every November since 2011, this year's result continues a steady annual run of animal-led elections.
Residents and visitors in Stamford can see the farm's animal leaders at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, where the 2026 election results are now in effect. The election itself is a family event, with children casting crayon ballots at the Heckscher Farm polling location.
The takeaway
The annual farm election shows how a simple crayon ballot can give young visitors a hands-on look at how voting works. Families in Stamford can follow the farm's animal leadership through each new November vote.
Further reading
For more on the animals at this kind of community attraction, explore Large Animals coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Hour.
