USD Magazine, Summer 2003

fan ostrich is your idea of a pet bird, then you're used to thinking big. That's certainly the case for Bridget (Stehly}

raising ostriches 20 years ago as a hobby. "We used to play racquetball close to where Oscar was, and anytime the ball went over the fence, he'd eat it.We knew we had about one minute to run and get mom, who would squeeze the ball back up his neck and out his mouth. If we waited too long, it was gone forever." Visitors to Wholesome Heritage Farm usually are lured by the lanky birds, which may date back to the dinosaur. But the farm also is home to other exotic animals, including emus and rheas, lesser known cousins of the ostrich, as well as camels, llamas, sheep and African Watusi cattle, which have larger horns than any other breed.The current star attraction is Lucy, a baby camel the family bottle feeds. "We've always got lots of babies for people to see," says Banner, who has hosted field trips from nearly 70 local schools."We've got baby doll sheep, baby donkeys, goats, llamas and even baby tortoises. In the spring we've got baby geese, ducks and chickens.The kids love them all."

forms into small planters. "At USO, I took a class from Donna Barnes on how to teach art to children, and she taught me how to paint," says the for– mer education major and teacher, who last year sold nearly 200 eggs, and has her own Web site, www.bannerexotics.com. "I started painting the ostrich eggs, they sold like crazy at the local farmers market and they're just as popular here." The mother of three engages customers with her vast knowl– edge of ostriches.The 4-pound eggs, she says, are equivalent to 24 chicken eggs and can feed I0 people. Ostrich meat is low-fat poultry, but looks and tastes like beef. Contrary to popular belief, the 9-foot-tall birds don't bury their heads in the sand. They are the world's second fastest animal and tan run 45 mph.Their kick can kill. And they eat anything, a lesson Banner learned early in life. "When I was growing up, my family had an ostrich named Oscar," recalls Banner, whose father, an obstetrician, started

Banner '95 (M.Ed.}, who's made big business with the big bird. Banner, who lives on a 25-acre agricultural preserve in Escon– dido, Calif., minutes from the San Diego Wild Animal Park, has a wild animal park of her own. Two years ago, she leased some land and hatched a plan to pass on her love for the gangly giants. At Wholesome Heritage Farm, Banner not only sells ostriches, which can go for $500, but all things ostrich, including ostrich jerky and raw ostrich meat from her brother's company, fresh eggs, and purses and wallets made of ostrich leather. Even the feathers are used for elaborate ost rich feather boas and hats made by her husband, Chris. Three years ago, he won a grand prize for one creation that turned heads at the Del Mar Racetrack, where opening day is traditionally a hat extravaganza. The fastest sellers, however, are empty ostrich eggs, which

The farm not only allows the hundreds of weekend patrons to expand their experiences with the exotic, but also to watch African spur-thigh tortoise races, buy fresh fruit grown on the grounds, pick produce from the garden, and cuddle with the ani– mals in the petting zoo. "I consider all of these animals our pets;' says Banner, who lives on the premises."They're all so beautiful, and I'm lucky to live this lifestyle. It's something we can do as a family. Our 4-year– old,Jacob, helps with the farming and the feeding and loves being part of it all. Maybe someday he'll be the next generation of ostrich farmers ." - Krystn Shrieve

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SUMMER 2003