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by Doug and JoAnna Starkweather
Living a country lifestyle and having a home-based business are two reasons why Doug and I began raising emus on our farm. Someday, when I "grew up", I wanted to raise animals, probably horses and cattle. But, traditional farming and ranching wasn't feasible because we didn't have land, equipment, nor money to purchase what was required. It seemed to be an unapproachable dream.
In February 1995, at the Crookston Winter Shows, I saw emus being promoted by the Emu Association of Minnesota and they had emu chicks on display. They sure were unusual animals...and ugly! I listened "politely" to Diane Anderson (emu and ostrich grower from my home town, Fosston, MN) as she talked about what "great things" they were. But, it wasn't until she said a key word - livestock - that I got interested in what she had to say. I took information home and talked to Doug. In September that year, we heard about an emu convention in ND. We attended it along with visiting about 5 emu farms in North Dakota and in Minnesota. (Inkster is located about 40 miles northwest of Grand Forks, ND.)
By October, we had 2 chick pair (different genetics and 2 each from ND and MN). We used an existing building on the property, built a 45 x 55 foot fence; and, of course, made sure we had a "wife, wheelbarrow, and a pitch fork" (something learned from Tom Murphy and Jim Pojorlie at the state convention).... Ha Ha!