Sedalia, Mo. — If a modern Noah were looking to load his ark, he might get a pretty good start right here in mid-Missouri.
While cattle may be most prominent in the state's roadside pastures, it's possible to find more exotic breeds. And Noah wouldn't have to go so far.
Since 1983, Joe Bennett has raised a variety of animals on his 430-acre farm on U.S. 65 just south of Sedalia.
Among his lot are three black bears, red and fallow deer, ostriches, black buck antelopes, a kangaroo, wild boars, monkeys, a large colony of prairie dogs and 160 head of cattle.
Bennett's wife, Eileen, and son, Edwin, and one employee help care for the animals, which have become popular attractions for children.
"I am very interested in exotics. I think there is a good market for exotics. A lot of people are interested in raising the exotics," Bennett said.
Just outside Warrensburg, a visitor to the home of Janice and Gary Curtis might be greeted by the gobble of a wild turkey or the flash of brilliant blue peacock feathers. The birds provide but a glimpse of the menagerie that awaits visitors to "Curtisville Minizoo," about 30 acres along Highway 50, where white-tailed deer, miniature donkeys and zebras mix with the likes of llama, ostriches and goats.
"We started this years ago," Gary Curtis said. "We saw there was a chance to enjoy the animals and create a business, too. I love to deer hunt; that's one of my biggest passions. And when you hunt, you just have so much respect for those animals when you are out there. You grow a love and admiration."
That love and admiration inspired a business called Zebras Etc., owned by the Curtises with Helen and John Meyer, also of Warrensburg.
The couples jointly bought a pair of zebras at an auction in Macon, Mo. Now, they own ostriches, rheas, llamas, turkeys, miniature donkeys, zebras, camels, goats, sheep, a potbellied pig and at least 30 white-tailed deer.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.