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Exotic animals bring joy to viewers |
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By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition |
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September 12, 2002 -- Exotic and traditional farm animals bring grins to those who visit them at a unique 44-acre ranch in Northeast Texas. In today's fast-paced world bringing a smile to someone's face in sometimes hard to do but that is what Billy Jack and Dorothy Sheridan of New Boston try to do at their Buffalo Gap Exotics Ranch. People can leave the fast pace at the gate and enjoy communing with nature and the animals, according to the couple. What began with the purchase of three llamas in 1996 has expanded to include buffalo, camel, water buffalo, mouflon sheep, zebras, nilgai, oryx, and several varieties of deer, just to name a few. "People began to come out and see our collection of animals. As we added animals, the feed bill also grew. We decided we were going to have to do something," Billy Jack said. In 1998, the ranch officially began business with the idea of providing an agricultural entertainment for people who might never get the chance to see, up close, an exotic animal. "We have 30 different varieties of animals," said Billy Jack. "There are animals out here that most people have never seen up close before." "Have you ever seen a half guinea, half chicken?" he asked. "We have one. One day it crows, the next it pat-a-racks," he joked about the sound the bird makes. "Not really, but we do have one out here." The couple also have a Jersey cow that is raising a water buffalo calf. The USDA-approved ranch offers tours and birthday parties for kids of all ages. Tours and parties are by appointment only and require a minimum of 20 people "The springtime is a busy time for us. We have schools from all over the area bring their kids for tours," Dorothy said. "We enjoy people coming out and taking a tour. It is an educational experience for them," Billy Jack added as he recalled a "frog ceremony" from this past school year. Deb Wilson, a DeKalb elementary teacher, brought her prekindergarten class to the ranch. The class had caught a tadpole and raised it to a frog. "Deb called and wanted to have a frog ceremony releasing the frog back to the wild. I thought she just wanted to take the frog out and put it in the pond. Oh, no. She had pumped those kids with so much excitement. We had to haul the frog (and the class) on the wagon to the pond," Billy Jack said. "The frog was in a jar and had already escaped once," Dorothy included. "Deb put the jar down and then started to take pictures," Billy Jack continued. "The frog took the first leap towards the pond and then it made a big leap into the pond. Those kids started clapping and cheering for that frog. It was a big thing," Billy Jack said while laughing. "Now, that's teaching. She's already booked for next year." "That's what we are here for and that is why we will take the animals to fairs and festivals," he added. The Sheridans will take around 25 to 30 head from 12 to 15 different varieties to the Four States Fair which begins Sept. 13 in Texarkana. "This will be our fifth year at the fair. We will put the animals in there on the 12th and then bring them home after midnight on the 21st," Billy Jack said. This year at the fair, people will get to see miniature donkeys, a miniature mule, miniature horses, zedonks, goats, beefalo, and a miniature zebu, among other animals. The animals will be at "Old McDonald's Farm," which is the only two-story barn on the fairgrounds. Kids will have the opportunity, if the animals are hungry, to feed the animals and petting is always welcomed. "We have lots of fun doing this. And, when it is no longer fun, we will close our gate," Dorothy said. "We are not in it for the money. The animals pay their own way. We do this because we like to see the kids' faces light up," Billy Jack said. |
