By Chris Aldridge
Kentucky Ag News

As cars wind their way through the Warren County countryside, drivers may do a double take as they pass a small farm near Bowling Green.

A large animal with huge antlers is grazing comfortably in the pasture. It’s a species of deer all right, but not the white-tailed variety common in these parts. It doesn’t have a red nose, but legend has it that these deer can fly and pull a sleigh filled with toys every Christmas Eve.

In case you haven’t figured it out, it’s a reindeer. Visitors can get in a pen with 10 of these mysterious animals at The Reindeer Farm through Saturday, Dec. 23.

All of the reindeer have names. Obviously, there’s the most famous reindeer of all that’s revered in song, Rudolph, along with Blitzen, a 4-year-old bull. There’s also a couple of reindeer whose names were derived from the classic 59-year-old TV special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” Clarice and Fireball. The other members of the herd include: Flea, who “was small as a flea when born,” farm owner Russell Anderson remembered; Anderson, the first reindeer born on the Andersons’ farm; Nitro Christmas – “I made that one up!” Russell noted; Mistletoe; Snowball; and Sprinkles.

With the purchase of a $15 day pass (ages 2 and younger are free), kids can play in an indoor playground, while adults can visit the gift shop and sample Christmas wine available for purchase from a local vineyard. Visitors of all ages can enjoy Christmas movies playing all day in the Holiday Barn.

Visitors are encouraged to dress warm because there are many games to play outdoors as Christmas music plays all day. New this year is a snowball fight arena using white dodge balls, joining cornhole and a giant chess set. Free hot chocolate is available to help keep visitors warm.

Visitors can book a half-hour Reindeer Encounter for $35, which includes the day pass. Visitors are advised to wear boots as groups of up to 20 guests enter the pen with the reindeer, where they learn about the unique animals from Jessica, Russell’s wife. Visitors are encouraged to take photos.

For $10 more ($5 for children younger than 3), visitors can take their Reindeer Encounter to another level by visiting the reindeer with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Visit TheReindeerFarm.com to book a tour or for other information.

“We started the Reindeer Encounter last year,” Russell said. “People like meeting them up close. Petting is not promised, but it normally happens. We do promise that you can meet them up close and take pictures with them.”

Reindeer are not the only animals on the farm. There’s a petting zoo with Kunekune pigs, who Russell described as “very friendly;” Holland Lop rabbits; miniature cows, horses, and donkeys; chickens; and four alpacas named after “The Golden Girls” – Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia of 1980s and ’90s TV sitcom fame.

The Christmas-themed agritourism venue is entering its fourth year. It opened in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Actually, COVID was great for us because everybody was wanting to get out,” Russell said. “We got lucky because everybody was tired of being cooped up.”

Russell said his wife came up with the unique idea of a reindeer farm.

“We were looking for something to do as a family business-wise,” said Russell, who worked at a factory while Jessica worked in healthcare. “Out of the blue, she said, ‘What about reindeer?’ I said, ‘I don’t even think that’s legal.’

“She stayed up all night researching it and found out we could do it. We spent four years researching it. You sound crazy when you tell people you’re going to have reindeer. Everybody we told laughed, and honestly, it upset me a little bit. Everybody thought it was a joke until it became popular.”

The Andersons’ three kids – daughters Aniston and Ashton, and son Russell – help out on the farm on weekends.

“Aniston is the ‘farm manager,’” daddy Russell said. “Ashton is ‘head of security’ – even though she’s little, she just tested to be a second-degree blackbelt and packs a pretty good punch.

“‘Little man’ (son Russell) just figured out he wanted to be the ‘food truck manager.’ It’s our first year doing food out here. I bought a food truck, remodeled it, and staffed it.

“It’s been a good year so far,” daddy Russell added. “Everything’s going pretty well. Hopefully it continues.”