As farmers in southeastern Alberta emerge from the devastation of a massive hailstorm, it is not always just about the dollars and cents. Sometimes, it’s taking a step back and making sense of it all.
The community has answered the call to help Denis and Melissa Jackson’s family of six at White Barn Fun Farm, just outside Brooks, Alta.
The exotic animal farm, which has been open to the public since 2018, has been a hit with camp kids for years.
It suffered the loss of five-year-old Stoli, a Bactrian camel, and Butterscotch, a nine-year-old pony, which were killed in the storm. They were seeking refuge under trees that fell on them.
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The two may have been different species but were inseparable as friends.
“Stoli wasn’t your typical camel. He was so friendly and very personable. You could ride him and he’d never bite or spit at people, and he tolerated the kids. Camels can be a little ornery, but he was a complete sweetheart. I would go there and lean up against his enclosure he was in and put my back on the fence talking to people. He would come put his head on my shoulder and kind of lick my cheek a bit and say, ‘I’m here,’ ” said Liza Maurette, who has started a GoFundMe page for the farm, covering costs not covered by insurance.
“His best friend Butterscotch also perished.”
Denis was working in his shop and had 10 minutes to get his animals to more protected areas before the full force of the hailstorm hit.
After Denis settled his animals, he took shelter in the house, only to have Butterscotch and Stoli decide to venture to a different spot under two large and well-rooted trees, which eventually fell.
“It was under two tress on the far side of their pasture. They figured the tree would be better shelter, but unfortunately it wasn’t a good decision,” said Maurette.
The farm also features yaks, emus, alpacas, peacocks, goats, bison, horses, ducks, and geese, which are a source of delight for families, camps and school tours from April to October.
Besides helping run the farm, Melissa also serves as a special needs worker for Maurette’s daughter, Emily, who has Down syndrome.
“Emily is very good with animals,” Maurette said.
“She helps the kids get comfortable around them and show how to feed them. She’s really good between working with the kids and the animals. It’s the most beautiful symbiotic relationship one could hope for.”
People often think insurance means that everything is covered in the event of a natural disaster, but that is not the case, which led Maurette to spearhead the GoFundMe fundraiser.
“There are some things that insurance covers, and a whole lot that they don’t. They’ll cover the big buildings, they don’t cover chicken coops and shelters. There is the loss of income they don’t cover, or the camel or pony they lost,” said Maurette.
She said exotic animal insurance is exorbitant for a farm with a revenue stream that is confined to fair-weather months.
“A camel is like a $30,000 hit. It’s not a cheap animal just to go out and purchase.”
Denis drives truck during the winter to supplement the exotic animal farm small business.
But beyond the financial implications is the grief felt by the young people who make White Barn Fun Farms a regular stop. Letters and cards from camp kids are flooding in to the Jackson family as the children they try and help in their own way.
“They have been getting beautiful cards made by kids with 25 cents taped inside to contribute,” said Maurette.
“This is just a little business. it’s not a big organization that can suffer a hit like this very easily.”
All the windows on the west side of the house were destroyed, and fences throughout the property have been knocked over. Animal pens were wrecked, leaving yaks to mingle with alpacas, creating a Noah’s Ark vibe.
Volunteers from near and far have descended on the farm since the storm to help the Jacksons pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives.
Chainsaws are put to work clearing damaged trees, while other duties include hauling branches, fixing fences and clearing dangerous debris, as well as bringing food for the volunteers.
“They had people come from Calgary to help for the whole day and another guy from Medicine Hat. It was kind of cool to make that journey and do a hard day’s work, showing they care,” said Maurette.
“There was a lot of fixing and a lot of clean up. Between the Saturday and Sunday, they got so much done. It was unbelievable.”
For more information about the fundraising campaign, log onto gofundme.com/f/white-barn-fun-farm.
As of Tuesday, $10,270 had been raised.
