Farm provides haven for animals; teaches ag facts

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

Milk doesn't first come from HEB, but rather from a farmer's cow, is just one lesson taught to students who visit Crowe's Nest Farm in Manor. -Staff photo by Taylor

April 4, 2002 -- If you look closely at the little pony, you'll notice that his ears move around more than most of the other ponies you've seen. There's a reason.

He's blind, and enhanced hearing is the way he compensates.

At the Crowe's Nest Farm Animal Life Center in Manor, a private, non-profit 501(a)3 educational organization, many of the animals come to them because of injuries, knowing they will be nursed back to health by Dr. Diane Crowe and her son, Dave Williams.

"Crowe's Nest was started in 1983. It was an 'off-shoot' of my mother, Diane. She's been a principal and teacher for about 40 years, and always had animals in the classroom," said Williams.

It all started when Crowe was principal at Winn Elementary school in Austin. Realizing that many of the "city kids" had no idea about farm animals, wildlife or where food and milk really came from, she found a small plot of land near the school to rent and started her own outdoor education project.

At that time, Williams said there was a small barnyard with a chicken house and a few animals. The students participated in a school garden and other projects.

"Other teachers caught on and said they would like to come and visit, because most elementary curriculums have a farm unit in life science. In 1983, we decided we needed to find a place and try to make a full-time thing out of it (Crowe's Nest Farm) because there was so much demand for the schools," said Williams.

He said that they "struggled along" for 13 or 14 years until a benefactor decided to purchase a 650-acre ranch in Manor and donated 100 acres and a seed money grant to Crowe's Nest Farm to get it started.

At present, the farm is divided into two sections. On one side are the farm animals, and the other is home to the various breeds of wildlife found in Texas. Licensed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife, the U. S.

Department of the Interior, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife and Wildlife Rescue, Inc., Crowe's Nest Farm serves as a sanctuary for unwanted, abused and/or orphaned animals.

Williams said it isn't unusual to find an animal tied to the fence by the gate, or boxes of animals pushed under the gate on to the property by owners who either can't care for the animals or are just tired of them.

The mission statement states that Crowe's Nest Farm was created to "foster public appreciation, knowledge and wise stewardship of both agricultural and wildlife resources of Texas."

"We have about 250 animals, and that consists of farm animals and injured, native Texas wildlife," said Williams.

On the farm side, visitors can view exhibits over 11 acres, and a hayride is included in the field trip. Farm animals include miniature horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, pot-bellied pigs, llamas, emus, ostrich, chickens and turkeys.

On the wildlife side, raccoons, possums, hawks, owls, vultures, bobcats, ringtails, javalina hogs and prairie dogs, among other animals, can be seen.

Williams said that between 30-35,000 school children from eight counties and numerous school systems and private schools have visited the farm each year. The students and teachers gather in the education barn, first, to hear a brief outline of agriculture and the importance of farm animals and food products to industry in Texas.

"When asked where milk comes from, we hear 'HEB'. We hear that all the time," said Williams.

In order to correct that misconception, the students gather in the dairy barn where they are witness to a real cow being milked by a machine with clear, Pyrex pipes (so the students can see the milk being pumped into the container from the cow).

It appears to be a real revelation to some of the kids.

"When you see those kids with things we take for granted ... they see the milk going through the Pyrex pipes ... they just think it's the greatest thing in the world. Just to see them light up and smile ... that's enough," said Williams, wwho said the best part of the job is teaching the kids to appreciate all living things.

More information is available on the internet at: www.crowesnestfarm.org.