(upbeat rock music) - Welcome to A Shot of Ag.

My name is Rob Sharkey.

I'm a fifth generation farmer from just outside of Bradford, Illinois.

I started a podcast which led to a XM radio show, which led to a national television show, which led to me being right here today.

But today, today is not about me.

Today is about Roberta English.

Hi Roberta.

- Hi, Rob.

Thanks for having me.

- It was great to have you here.

I am so excited about this show.

- I am too.

- Are you?

- Yeah.

- You're not just saying that?

- No, not at all.

(Rob laughing) I just don't know how you do it all.

(both laughing) - Well, speaking of do it at all, you are the CEO of Wildlife Prairie Park.

- Absolutely.

- Yeah, and everybody around here knows what that is.

- Not everybody.

- Really?

- No, not everybody.

Yeah, I would still find, I'll still run in to people from every now and then who say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about the park."

"Oh, I haven't been out there in a while."

Or they don't know about it, so that's why I'm there, to get the word out.

- I remember like the first time I went to it was a grade school field trip.

- Right, do you still do those?

- I would say that's how most people who've been around a long time got introduced to the park.

But over the years, with school cutbacks and field trips getting cut back, there's fewer field trips going to places, - Oh really?

- you know, so there's fewer kids that get exposed and so that's one of the reasons that I'm at the park, so we can try to build that again because yeah.

- Well that's not fair.

- I know, - I mean, - 'cause who wants to go to school all day.

- yeah, no kidding, when you can look at a bear and stuff.

- Exactly.

- Let's talk about you, Chicago, you were- - I was raised there.

- born and raised?

- I was.

- And then you went to Northwestern.

- Absolutely, Medill School of Journalism.

- Journalism.

- So we got a lot in common.

- Oh, I never did journalism.

I literally don't- - Well you're doing it now.

- I don't know what I'm doing, but it's fun.

We're having fun.

- You're doing it now.

- So you went to journalism school, I mean, what did you want to do?

- I wanted to be a reporter and anchor and I did that for about 10 years.

- It was good.

- [Rob] Right out of college you did that?

- Mhm, yep.

- Okay, that's so you were like, you know, back to you, Tom, you were that person?

- Absolutely, absolutely.

- You were the one, were behind the desk or were you the one like they cut to when you're out there.

- Both.

- You did both?

- Both, so I covered a lot of tornadoes and, incidentally a lot of rodeos and a lot of livestock shows, a lot of state fairs.

(laughing) - When you did the tornadoes did you act like it was blowing you around when it really wasn't?

- No, they're really blowing you around.

(laughing) It's bad - Did you enjoy it?

- and it's wet.

- Oh no, I loved it.

It was great.

- Did you?

- Mhm.

- So you were like comfortable in front of a camera and all that?

- Yeah, and just talking to people.

People want to tell their stories and I think that's why I like being at the park, the opportunity to tell the park's story.

- Okay.

To me, I'm listening to it, it seems like an odd pivot, going from journalist- - Well it wasn't a pivot 'cause I became a stay at home mom and I was at home a long time.

And then when I went back to work, I had an interest in the community and that's how I got in nonprofits and fundraising and the rest is history.

- Okay, so you went from the journalism, then you went to stay at home mom then you started working at a nonprofit.

- Yep.

- Okay, and did that brought you to Peoria?

- Yes, yeah.

- Okay, and then you, were you in Peoria when you heard of the or got the offer from Wildlife Prairie Park?

- Oh, I've been in Peoria for awhile 'cause I was at Neighborhood House and so Neighborhood House has been around for 127 years or so and serves a lot of the community.

And so I was there, I was the chief operating officer there and we did a lot of growth at Neighborhood House, a lot of strengthening from within and building the staff - Yeah.

and growing it and, you know, get to the point where, you know, can't grow anymore.

And it was just an opportunity came up and it was hard to leave Neighborhood House for sure, - [Rob] Sure.

- but now I love the park like I loved the Neighborhood House and so I can't imagine leaving.

- Do you run into people that find out you're the CEO of Wildlife Prairie Park and they go, "Oh."

Well, they try to figure out that you're like a zookeeper?

- No.

- No?

(Roberta laughing) They realize what you're doing.

- I think most people realize the CEO is very financially focused.

- [Rob] Yeah.

I did not realize what, how big, what a monster Wild Life Prairie Park, it's 2000 acres.

- It is, it's a lot and part of it is a farm.

And, so that was one of the things that even though I knew a lot about fundraising and how to build programs and you know, grant writing and all that stuff, I didn't know anything about farming and that was actually the first thing I had to learn.

I mean, I got to the park and I was excited to start learning about animals and it was like, oh, hold on a second, we got to get some of these farming contracts together.

So the first couple of months, all I was doing was learning new terms and learning about farming.

- So 150 acres out of that 2000 is corn and soy, it's agriculture.

- There's about 120 in corn and soybean, - [Rob] Okay.

- and then a hundred in like just hay and then there's undeveloped parts so that's how much we contract out to farmers.

- Does the hay that you grow there, does that go back to, because I mean, you've got bison and- - Yes, so with the particular farmer that we work with, we do a 50/50 split on the hay, - Gotcha.

- and sometimes it's enough.

- [Rob] Yeah.

- Sometimes we still have to buy hay, it depends on how hungry the animals are, - [Rob] Yeah.

- how many babies they had that year.

(Rob chuckles) - Yeah.

- Is the farmer you work with, is he a pain in the rear?

- No, he's awesome.

I work with Jimmy Stinger at Stinger Farms.

He's awesome actually.

- Because most farmers are.

- You know, I've heard that, but it's been great.

- Okay.

- It's been great.

- You must have got one of the good ones.

- Yeah, I even gave him a key.

- Yeah.

- Key to what?

- To our gates.

(Roberta laughing) - [Rob] So he can- - He was really shocked, but now he's great.

- [Rob] He can go in there and he can look at the bear and stuff and all that.

- Well, he could, but it wouldn't be advisable, so.

(both laughing) - What I mean from outside the cage.

- Well people, you'll be surprised what people try.

(both laughing) - Now was this like a long-term?

- Yes, so he's been with us for since 2015.

So we hope it's long-term.

- [Rob] Gotcha.

Yeah.

- Yeah.

And we're continuing to grow, we found, we added some property to some farming area last year.

We'll continue to do that as we find areas that we can do that because our animals are growing and the more we can grow ourselves, the better.

- So 2000 acres, an acre is, not exactly, and because I love getting corrected on this.

So if you take a football field and you've got the track around the outside of it, inside that track is pretty close to an acre.

So 2000 of those to maybe help people give kind of an idea of how big this is, because you go to the park and like the actual, like the, to see the animals in that you walk around all day and you're tired, and you're like, this place is big.

They are only seeing a fraction of it.

- Absolutely, yeah.

It's hard to get your arms wrapped around Wildlife Prairie Park.

It really is a small city, - [Rob] Yeah.

- but you know, what people think of is the animals and they should that's, you know, that's part of the education, but we also do conservation, we do recreation.

So there's a whole other parts of the park that are there that, you know, require time and effort, money, all those things so it can be challenging.

We have a lot of revenue streams.

- Is it bison or buffalo?

- It's bison.

- Is there a difference?

- Yes.

- Is there really?

Okay.

- I try to keep it simple and tell people buffalo live in Asia.

- Do they?

- Yes, but the American bison is North America's national mammal.

- [Rob] Yeah.

- And we have 35 of them currently at Wildlife Prairie Park.

- An animal that is like so important to like the history of this country and, you know, what really helped develop, you know, between the native Americans and how they survived off of it.

It is when you think of America, you think of a bison, but yet, so many people have never really seen one up close until they go to your place.

- Absolutely, and that's one, that's the education part.

So we have, you know obviously many animal keepers and we educate the public about the bison.

We even have, you know, a vehicle that takes people out.

You know, trek out into the bison field to learn about them.

They're really majestic.

They're my favorite at the park.

- Generally, when we have a guest on the show, Emily, my wife, she has them bring something and we put on the desk, that kind of represents what they do.

We don't have anything on the desk, but you did bring something.

- I did.

- All right, so we're gonna stop tape here for a second and we're gonna bring another guest on.

- Yeah, I thought about bringing you a plush animal, but I decided to bring you a real one.

- I'm glad you didn't bring like a rattlesnake or something like that.

- Yeah.

Yeah, that doesn't say the park.

- No.

- I mean, it does 'cause there's lots, a lot of snakes but rattlesnakes aren't native to this area, so.

- Oh, so you don't have a, in a cage, you don't have a rattlesnake.

- We have lots of snakes, but only the snakes that are native to this area of the country.

- Oh, gotcha, okay that's good.

All right, so at this time, we're gonna bring in Adrienne Bauer and guest.

- Yes.

- So Adrienne, welcome.

- Adrienne is our director of wildlife and she's bringing our lovely barn owl with us today.

- [Rob] That is so cool.

So that is a barn owl?

- Correct.

- And what's, is it a he or a her - This one is a she, this is Jessie.

- [Rob] Jessie, and how old is Jessie?

- Jessie is 19.

- [Rob] Okay, is that old for an owl?

- That's getting pretty old for a barn owl.

Twenties is their life expectancy.

- Yeah, the barn owls, they're always, they're my favorite.

The gray horns, they're a little smug.

(Adrienne laughs) You know, everybody pays attention to them and that, but these guys, these are like the workhorse of the owl world.

- [Roberta] Jessie is a workhorse for our education department.

- She is, that she is.

Lots of field trips meet Jessie over the years.

- So Adrienne, what is your title again?

- I'm the wildlife director at the park.

- How long have you been doing that?

- I have been at the park as an intern and as a seasonal person and now permanent for about eight years total.

- You enjoy it?

- I do, yeah.

- She's great.

We've got a great team.

- That bird's eyeballing me though, but actually no matter where he looks he's eyeballing.

(Adrienne and Rob chuckling) So tell me something interesting about the snow owl.

- So Jessie, - [Rob] Barn owl.

- can hear a mouse's heartbeat about a football field away under up to six inches of snow.

- [Rob] So can I.

- Great, well, gosh, you guys have something in common.

- What?

- See that look he gave you.

(laughing) - This is the kind that are around here.

I know I've seen these on our farm, in fact, this is the type of owl that seems to follow the tractor when we're doing tillage the most.

So are you assuming that he's getting the critters that we're stirring up?

- Probably, yeah, these guys are in Illinois.

Their numbers aren't super high.

Most people are probably in their backyards hearing or seeing the barred owls.

Those are the ones that do the hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo kind of who cooks for you sound.

Jessie- - The what?

- The "Who cooks for you?"

Who, who, who, who, who.

- [Rob] Who, who cooks for you?

- [Adrienne] Yeah!

(all laughing) - [Rob] So, you learn something new everyday.

- It's the best way to learn their call.

But Jessie is also known as the owl that doesn't give a hoot and that's 'cause she doesn't actually make a hoot.

She probably won't talk on screen, but she makes a high pitched like chirp when she's happy or a scream when she's upset.

- Okay, I noticed, you're not wearing like the big leather gloves.

- Correct, I don't have the full big leather on with her today.

I have a pad that's under my arm, but Jessie doesn't grip like the other owls do typically and she doesn't go after my fingers, but I have different gloves depending on which bird and which personality I'm dealing with.

[Adrienne Laughing] - Okay, maybe it's just 'cause you're really tough.

- She is very tough.

- Maybe.

- Our animals are crafty, - Yes.

- so we have to always be prepared for what they might do.

- Okay, you're from La Salle originally?

- Originally, yes.

- Okay, I don't quite know what to say about that.

[Adrienne and Rob laughing] - Sorry, just where I grew up.

- Because my wife was from Princeton.

- Okay.

- So of course we can't, I mean, we can't admit that we like you.

- That's okay, understood.

(laughing) I lived in Princeton for a while.

Does that make up for it?

- No.

- No?

(beep) can't win.

- Okay, well thank you for bringing the bird out.

- Yes!

- There's super cool.

They look so neat.

- And this is the kind of experience that you can have at the park where people can come get close to the animals.

They're usually out in the forest hall, in our education building or, you know, that's why we have lodging and hiking and all these things so just so people can spend some time out there and learn.

- Yeah, you really can't appreciate getting this close.

I mean, what a cool bird that is.

I still think he's sizing me up.

(laughing) All right, well thank you Adrienne, for bringing him out.

- Yes, thanks for having us.

- Her out.

- Yes, very cool.

I'm not going to make any sudden movements now.

(Adrienne chuckling) - Thanks Jessie.

- Thanks Jessie.

- Bye.

- So let's get back to the park.

If you go to Wildlife Prairie Park, there's a couple of things that I think you remember.

the train?

- Yes.

- What's the train called?

- The Prairie Zephyr.

- The Prairie Zephyr.

Okay, and it's still rolling, right?

- Oh yeah, it's still rolling.

It rolls until like Halloween and it's still rolling and we'd hope for hopefully in the future we'd love to make it even bigger and expand the tracks.

- The train?

- Oh yeah, the train is wildly popular.

- You mean like the tracks bigger, - Yes.

- not bring in a bigger - No, no, - bigger locomotive?

- make the tracks bigger.

- I always wonder like if you tied a person up like the old snidely whiplash thing, if you know, like if you tied me up and put on the tracks, - Oh!

- where I'd be big enough to derail that train.

- You probably would, it's a small train.

- Does it have a cowcatcher on it?

- No.

- I think I'm- - What's a cowcatcher?

- Well the, in the beginning of the train where it's got a little grate.

So when it hits a cows, it just pushes them out of there.

- Oh yeah, it does have that.

- Okay.

- Yeah, - I probably couldn't - the engine, - derail it then.

- Yeah.

- I bet you've never been asked that.

- The train has gotten derailed.

- [Rob] By somebody laying on the tracks?

- No, not by somebody laying on the tracks (laughing) but it would be cute.

You know, we should do that during scary park that would really freak the people out.

- Derail the, oh, put somebody - [Both] on there.

- That would be so cool.

I love that idea.

- I've got some people I would volunteer for it.

- Yeah, well we give community service hours for volunteers.

(laughing) - So I think I would do it.

- You think Adrienne would do it?

- As long as the engineer remember to stop I think it would be fine.

- Well, whatever happens.

- And we'll do some screaming, oh, I love it!

- Okay, I got a serious question for ya.

- Sure.

- Do you still have the slide?

- Yes we do.

- I remember that thing as a kid.

That's an old slide.

- It is.

- How long is it, do you know?

- I think it's only like 35 feet?

- 50.

- 50 feet, yes.

- [Both] 50 feet.

- See I remember it.

- but we're actually we want to build an even longer slide.

- I remember that slide being three miles when I was a kid.

(laughing) - It's long, but it's still really popular and we actually just did some refreshing to that area and repainting because people love it and we want it to look good.

- It's the simple things like that, - Yes.

- that are so cool.

- It is.

- Yeah.

- And just even like people are using a sandbox, you know, that we put some toys in.

- Oh really?

- And now I see people there all the time.

I think one of the things that COVID did for everyone is just make them appreciate nature more, you know, wanting to come out and enjoy being outside, but also simpler things.

- Yeah.

- And I think that's why the park is so important, it brings people to the area.

I'd say most of the people who visit the park, not most, but a lot are from outside of this area.

So it really draws people to Central Illinois.

And that's why it's a critical part of this community.

And we want to keep it going because we bring in a lot of tourism - Yeah.

- and we want to keep that moving because now we have lodging and you know, biking and we have a triathlon, you know, there's so many things going on that brings people from all over the country.

And we want to showcase Central Illinois and Wildlife Prairie Park is just one of those places that we can showcase.

- What do you think something about the park that is almost a little frustrating to you that people don't know about it?

- You know, people don't know that we have lodging you know, I still today, even though we've had lodging for like 20 years.

- I didn't know.

- See?

We have cabooses, you can stay in, grain bins, luxury cabin.

- What?

- Yes.

So that's 25% of our business.

- Really?

- There's a lodging now, so.

- Okay.

- Yeah.

So, and we want it, we're going to build more, you know, one day before I leave, I want a lodge at Wildlife Prairie Park, so.

- Okay, I think we can make that happen - Yeah, no it's gotta happen.

Our founder, Bill Rutherford, that was his dream.

He want to have a lodge at Wildlife Prairie Park and it's my dream too.

- Does it, is it frustrating on your end because I'm trying to put myself in your shoes, you talk about like the simple things, like the slide, that's an old slide and the sandbox, right?

That's what is drawing people or whatever, if I were you it's like I would get involved.

I would try doing these elaborate projects, trying to bring people in and then you find everybody just go onto the sandbox.

- Well, they go to the animals and so they go to the sandbox, but we also, people don't know that we have seven lakes and you can fish on five of them.

So it's like, it's getting the word out, - Like anybody can?

- telling our story.

Anybody can, mhm.

- Gotcha.

- And we just built new docks this year too, so it's easier to get the boats and the kayaks in and out of the water.

So I think that this is a simple thing, you know, fishing is not very expensive, you know, it helps people relax.

It's good for mental health.

So it's just getting people in the outdoors, just, you know, communing with the animals is good for you.

But also taking a walk, we have 25 miles of hiking trails, going fishing, going kayaking, those simple things that really help mental health, and it helps the community.

- Is there like a yearly pass or things like that?

- Sure, we have all kinds of memberships.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

- So family passes, individual passes.

So it's really, it's a bargain.

We are the bargain in town, so.

- But to get that message out locally, I mean, you find that difficult at times?

- It can be, it can be.

- Yeah.

- Because people think we're a lot further out than we are, but it really it's just right outside of Peoria, you know, on the edge of Hanna City, - Oh, yeah.

- so it's really quick to get to.

And, but when you get there, you feel like you're in a different world and that's why, you know, all of us love to work there because it's such a beautiful place and it's really not that far outside of Peoria.

- No, like how long from the station here?

- 15 Minutes.

- Yeah.

- 20 minutes, yeah.

- That's nothing.

- It took me longer.

It took me an hour to get here from Bradford.

- Yeah.

- See, see people.

- Come to the park.

- So much fun you could have at the park.

- Yeah.

I want to go to the park now.

- Yeah, and you know, a lot of people they come, it's become big with mountain bikers because we have a lot of mountain bike trails.

And so people from all over come because our trails are not for the weary.

They're not beginner trails so they're fun.

- Okay.

So people that's, they become, they become popular.

- I noticed you pointed at me when you said weary.

(laughing) - Well, you know, I'm weary too.

- Okay.

- I'm weary too.

(both laughs) I can hike.

I can slide down the slide.

- Well now, you know, as it's getting cooler, I mean, even in winter, when does that, when do you guys shut down?

- We don't.

- So we're open all year long.

- Are you really?

- And we have people that come out all year long so, - Yeah.

- which is great because a walk in the winter is a wonderful thing plus we have all the lodging.

So people like to get weekend getaways or staycations.

Staycations were really became popular this last year and a half so we're there for them.

- How bad was COVID for the park?

- It was challenging just like anybody else.

But we did see an uptick in membership because I think people gained an appreciation for what we have here.

So, you know, none of us could go to Europe last year, - Yeah.

- but we could go to Wildlife Prairie Park.

And I think people had meaningful experiences at home, you know, I think all the state parks and you know, a lot of the things that inside this country that are worth seeing saw an uptick in visitors and so did we.

- Do you know what my favorite thing was?

- What was it?

- The wolves.

- Oh, at the park?

- Yeah.

- Oh, we're good.

I love the wolves too.

Well our goal is to get a new, a wolf pack.

Well, you know, all animals, they don't live forever, but that's one of our immediate goals as new cougars and a young wolf pack.

- Cougars talking to the cats?

- Yes.

- Not the- - Not the- (both laughing) I guess technically I could be a cougar.

- I'm gonna leave that one alone.

I don't even know where to look right now.

(laughing) - You're blushing.

(both laughing) - It's a fun place.

- It's a great place.

- Yeah, oh yeah, you know, not many people throw me for a loop, but here I am.

Like what is any upcoming attractions that you would like to see and then let's say the next five years?

- Oh, in the next five years, we will gonna increase our animal population.

We we're gonna get new cougars, new wolves.

We're experimenting with some animals that we haven't had.

Adrienne came up with some great ideas of things that are native, that we haven't had in the past that we want to have.

But also we're going to build a lot more lodging because people want to come out and be close to the animals.

Our cabins, you can, the bison come right up to the fence near the cabins.

So there's really nowhere else where you can do that.

So we're gonna grow in terms of recreation.

We'd love to have zip lines in the future, - Really?

- Low ropes, all kinds of things like that.

- Now we're talking.

I would be careful with ideas from Adrienne now.

- Oh, yeah.

- La Salle.

- Oh.

- She's from La Salle so you gotta watch it.

- She's got an owl that bites in her hand so be careful.

- So is it moving that way to where you want maybe the local people to come several times during the- - Yes, so that's why membership is great - Yeah.

- because things happen all year long.

You definitely get your money's worth when you know come three times and your membership is paid for, and we have things going on all year.

- That's it?

- Mhm.

- That's a bargain.

- It is, it's a fantastic bargain.

- You still do weddings out there?

- Tons, I think we're at about 90 for this year.

- 90 weddings?

- Yes, yes.

- So, more than just Saturdays?

- And wedding season just, true wedding season is no longer June, It's September and October, like, especially October.

So we are just gearing up for the crazy where we've got, you know, three, four weddings and a weekend.

So we're grateful, we're grateful.

- You ever think about like having the bride come in, riding a buffalo?

- They would love to do that, - Yeah.

- but it wouldn't end well.

- The bison would not enjoy that.

- Yeah, it wouldn't end well.

- I bet you you get a lot of requests for like that, because if they have a wedding there, it's like, oh, you know, we want a picture of whatever animal and that.

- You can do that, you know, we do allow them to do take pictures with animals or we'll take like, Jessie will take the animals to their weddings if they wanna do that.

But I think from afar, that seems like a good idea.

But when you really get close to a bison, you really see how big they are.

- Yeah plus they're all nice and dressed up and everything.

She's got the dress on, he's on a tux.

- Yeah, but we'll still do it.

We'll get you close enough, - Close enough, - so you can get your picture - probably closer than they want.

- Yeah, close enough.

- It's like you guys have everything.

- Yeah, we do, it's a city.

It's a city, there's a lot going on.

- And you're the CEO.

- Yeah.

- You're the mayor.

- I'm the mayor, but I've got a good team.

- Do you?

- Mhm, I've got a good city council.

- Is that hard to find employees that are willing to work with animals and the natural barn- - Not willing to work, everybody wants to work with animals I'd say, I mean, there- - I, no.

- No?

- No.

- No, I've had livestock - So many people.

Oh, okay, but they're so fun and unpredictable.

- Did that, your half right.

- They are very unpredictable.

So you never know what's gonna happen when you get there, yeah.

- Okay.

- You never know.

- On the other, I mean because I imagine all the maintenance in that.

I mean, do you find problems finding work with that?

- Yes, it's a challenge.

- Yeah.

- It's a challenge because it all costs money.

And that's what, you know, why we're here to try to build our business, increase revenue, increase our community support through donations and get the things corrected that need to be corrected.

And, you know, obviously take care of our animals and continue to grow so we can continue to be a resource for the community.

- Okay, I'm sure everybody watching now is wanting to go to Wildlife Prairie Park.

- Absolutely.

- Where can they find more information about it?

- wildlifeprariepark.org - .org, okay.

You're on Facebook too.

- Oh yeah, we do.

We get a lot of, we have a lot of Facebook followers and we do lives every day, so.

- Oh really?

- Adrienne is a queen of Facebook live and we educate whether you're at the park or not.

- I mean, is that an official title?

- Yes, she's the queen and oh, yesterday she wanted me to come help them clean Asian carp and I conveniently forgot.

- At the park?

- They did it live yesterday.

- You guys do everything, we can't.

- Yeah, well you know, the animals like it.

- We had one right here on this desk.

- Did you really, an Asian carp, did it slime down?

- No, but I can still kind of catch up a whiff of it when the lights get hot.

- Yeah.

(laughing) - But my staff they're amazing, they'll do whatever it takes.

- Roberta English, CEO of the Wildlife Prairie Park.

It was been a true pleasure.

- Thank you, it's my pleasure.

- I mean the owl was cool, right, but actually meeting you and getting your story, I've really enjoyed it today.

- I enjoyed it.

Thank you.

- So I really, really appreciate you coming.

- Thank you very much.

- All right, Roberta English, thank you.

Everybody else, we hope you catch us next time.

(upbeat rock music)