Scant hay yields challenges Kismet Creek

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This article was published 22/07/2021 (1426 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

High heat is giving farmers all over Manitoba high levels of stress, especially petting farms and sanctuaries like Kismet Creek Farm.

“At this moment, we’re a little worried,” said Owner Karl Schoenrock of Kismet Creek.

“Our hay supplier said his yield is down 60 percent, so he doesn’t know if he gets a second or third cut of hay.”

Schoenrock said he picked up hay last year for $95 per bale and now it’s $115.

“We’re taking what we can get,” said Schoenrock.

Schoenrock cut back his request from 120 to 100 bales for the year, to make sure his own supplier doesn’t run out.

“Everybody else has animals, everybody else is looking, everybody else is going to be struggling,” said Schoenrock.

As a sanctuary, Schoenrock worries more about having enough food for the animals he takes cares of, than having the money.

“Any animal we take in, we keep the animal for life,” said Schoenrock.

“If the province calls and they find something – I want to take it in, but you got to make sure you have enough feed.”

As a sole-proprietor business, Schoenrock has been able to tap into government grants and COVID support while working as a construction contractor to support his sanctuary.

Budgeting through the pandemic and relentless heatwaves proves a challenge, as things change quickly.

“Especially with a couple waves of COVID that we’ve had and been shut down for months at a time – you don’t know if you can get the income, that you had for a number years get back up.”

New looser restriction allow for people to go out and about again, and Schoenrock hopes to reel customers in for birthday parties, bridal showers, and weddings.

Schoenrock said he is hoping to expand the farm a bit more and open educational day camps so he can start making a little more income to work the farm full-time.

After working construction for the last five years and building up his dream sanctuary and petting farm, he hopes to go all-in next year.

Schoenrock said he enjoyed seeing the reactions of people taking tours on the farm.

“I’ve spent 13 years in the military, I’ve done many other jobs, I’ve travelled everywhere else, I’m good with that,” said Schoenrock.

“I want to be around my friends, my family, I want to see smiling kids’ faces – that’s the life for me now.”