Raising reindeer unique, challenging, fulfilling

CANTON, Ill. — Scott and Tracy Snowman have raised reindeer on their farm for about seven years and quickly found via research it’s very different than raising conventional livestock.

There’s much more to caring for the nine reindeer — three of which are from Alaska — on Snowman’s Reindeer Farm than just throwing making sure they’re fed and water tanks are full.

Here are among the many topics the Snowman covered during a recent interview and tour of their farm.

On Regulations

Illinois has tight standards, protocols and regulations when transporting animals from other states. It was a three-year process before the Alaskan reindeers were transported to Indiana by FedEx cargo plane and then trailer to the farm east of Canton.

Scott: “Illinois has some of the strictest standards of any state while some states just basically take them in. We have a good relationship with the state veterinarians. Dr. Mark Ernst and Dr. Staci Slager are excellent.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture also visits the farm regularly for an inspection.”

On Medical Care

If any of the reindeer become sick, they utilize the University of Illinois veterinary program. They also work with veterinarians at the nearby Spoon River Animal Clinic.

Tracy: “We couldn’t do what we do without a really strong veterinary team. That is a critical piece of owning reindeer or them owning you. They have to be willing to learn. No vet going to come out of that school being an expert on reindeer.

“All three of our vets at the Spoon River Animal Clinic are all in and they are tremendous people and resources.”

Scott: “They have their networking down. There are a couple of vets they work with from western and eastern states where they call for information, not just universities.”

Tracy: “Our vets has been really good at teaching us and we have several reindeer owners who do have medical backgrounds who are very helpful to us. We have learned to do our own injections. We can do vitals. We do our own fecal samples. Scott has delivered three of the four babies that we’ve had here on the farm.”

Scott: “I gave two of them mouth-to-mouth to bring them back to life.”

The couple had to tube-feed the four born on their farm.

Tracy: “We’ve learned to do it and we’ve done it successfully. You have to be willing to jump in and learn and do some things that might be a little bit scary, but that is also probably the thing that we’re most proud of is we know that some of the reindeer on this farm would not be alive today had we not been gutsy enough to jump in with both feet and do what ever was needed to be done to save them.

“They matter that much to us that we would do anything for them. Over everything else that we’ve accomplished, that means the most for us, that we have been able to save some lives.”

On Biosecurity

Before entering the barn, visitors go through a biosecurity station that includes sanitizing hands before being allowed to touch the reindeer.

Tracy: “They don’t touch all of them and we have a very controlled sort of interactive experience, but we said from day one, as teachers, especially art teachers, the best way to learn something and appreciate something is to have contact with it and if we can’t offer that then we shouldn’t be open.

“During COVID last year it was very painful because the Illinois Department of Public Health said no touching of any kind. So, we didn’t and it was hard.

“We are being stricter on that and people are very appreciative that we are taking such care of protecting the animals and they’re happy to do it for the pleasure of getting to interact with them.”

On Technology

Each of the reindeer have a biothermal microchip the provides the ability to check the animal’s temperature by simply waving a wand across its shoulders. A second chip is a USDA identification tag.

The three Alaskan reindeer have a biothermal microchip and an ear tag.

On Nutrition

A custom feed mix that includes corn, soybeans, oats and a lot of minerals is used for the very picky eaters.

Scott: “They’re totally different than any other animal. You can’t just go buy feed off the shelf.”

Tracy: “They have a very weird mineral content need. They need a lot of copper, so much that if you fed the cattle the level of copper that reindeer need it would probably kill them.

“When we bring in a new animal we draw blood and do a baseline mineral panel and there are charts out there that say what is normal for a reindeer. We adjust the minerals if we have to. We try to keep an eye on those mineral panels to make sure that they’re getting the right amount.

“They also need fiber and a premium moist fine-cut alfalfa hay that is pre-packed and sealed provides that part of the diet.”

On Predators

Tracy: “There are really no natural predators here. We have double fencing all the way around and we have a dog that runs the perimeter and does a really good job and we have not had any issues.”

Scott: “When they have antlers, you’re talking a 400-pound bull with a rack. A 2-year-old reindeer is bigger than many white-tales with a rack. We don’t really have that issue, but I made sure when I put the fencing in that everything is tight to the ground so I don’t have any issues.”

On Visitors

Over 10,000 people visit the farm each year from several states and it’s been a joyful experience for the Snowmans the past seven years as they expanded and improved the facilities.

Scott: “When we’re opening I park everybody and I’m out there and can see the excitement, the look on their face.”

Tracy: “The employees will tell you that that is the best part of working here. It is also really exciting and rewarding when people come in the gate and say they’ve been here every year that we’ve been open.

“When you see families come back again and again and again, that’s affirmation that you’re doing a good job because you don’t want them to just come one time. You want them to make this a tradition and you want to be able to watch their family grow and change. That’s also really rewarding.

“Most kids today have never even seen a chicken. They don’t live on farms anymore. Even in rural America most kids don’t live on a farm. We think a piece of our success is that people are ready for a different way of life — they’re ready for at least a sampling of what farm life feels like.

“The sweetness of the animals, the sweetness of this farm, it gives them a break from that busy, stressful life that we’re all living in now, and I think there’s incredible value in farm life. We feel it every day.

“We live here and there’s not a day that goes by that we don’t step outside and go this is just the best place to be and they are all so sweet and so comforting.”