Where Pigs Fly owner Cindy Brenneke said when she got started there was no way to anticipate how much this venture would identify her life.
“This is not what I foresaw for my future, but I love it, and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Brenneke as the business will celebrate its 10th anniversary Oct. 22. “Growth has been gradual over the years, and it’s bigger than I ever imagined.”
Brenneke began the farm 14 years ago at Rosebud, where she would spend time with friends. “We called it, ‘Where pigs fly,’ because I was never going back to a farm full time, but it kind of grew and grew until it was a small petting zoo.”
Where Pigs Fly officially opened in Owensville 10 years ago and she moved the operation to Linn five years ago.
The Where Pigs Fly farm at this time features more than 600 animals and birds, including sheep, goats, Yorkshire and Hampshire pigs, pot-bellied pigs, Juliana pigs, Kune Kune pigs, Meishan pigs, guineas, peacocks, ducks, geese, swans, parakeets, Amazon parrots, macaws, cockatoos, cockatiels, pigeons, and rabbits.
Visitors are welcome to love, pet, and feed the animals crackers, which are included with the entry fee.
“Our critters truly enjoy the love and affection they receive from our visitors,” said Brenneke. “Most of these animals are rescues. Sometimes people get an animal and find out they can’t take care of it, or that it’s growing more than they expected. Whatever the reason, we’re asked to take them in and it’s tough to say no.”
Currently, the farm includes four blind horses and one blind mule, along with other animals that need special attention. “We have one section of the farm that includes animals that need extra care,” said Brenneke. “There are also lots of healthy animals that roam free here on the farm.”
She believes there’s something special about the farm, which some call “Miracle Mountain,” because of the position of the land, and the fact that animals feel at home almost immediately upon arrival.
“We’ve had situations with animals that were restless or uncomfortable, and we were warned they would need time to adjust, but they get here and just walk around like they’ve been here all their lives,” said Brenneke. “It’s really amazing. We’ve become a sanctuary for blind animals.”
While the petting zoo is a big draw, especially for daycare centers and field trips, the Pig Aloft Museum and Oinkin’ Hall have reached capacity, with about 44,000 pig-related figurines and other collectibles on hand.
“This is now the biggest collection in the world,” said Brenneke, who started the venture with 30,000 on display and another 10,000 she had yet to unpack. At the time, a museum in Germany had about 40,000 pigs.
That was 10 years ago, and the collection has steadily grown through donations from family members following the passing of a loved one. “Sometimes we receive figurines from people who move into a nursing or long-term care facility and can’t take the collection with them,” Brenneke said.
In many cases, Brenneke will make arrangements to visit the family and bring the items back to the farm. She recently made a southern sweep through Georgia and Florida. Other times, she gets help from friends who are traveling through the areas with donations.
“The one thing I don’t do is have them shipped,” said Brenneke. “There’s too much chance the figurines will be damaged.”
Her collection includes many figurines crafted from the same mold but in a lot of cases, there are small differences. “A lot of them were made in a time when they were hand-painted, so there are different colors or designs,” Brenneke added.
With continued growth, Brenneke is planning to convert an old milk barn to create additional display space, since the Pig Aloft Museum and Oinkin’ Hall are full. Oinkin’ Hall has undergone a major facelift recently with a little help from University of Missouri students.
Also expanded is the gift shop with a variety of new items, including shirts, and Brenneke is also selling handmade miniature cabins on consignment.
The bird room at Where Pigs Fly will get more space as an aviary is planned in the near future. Brenneke said she wants to give the birds more freedom as well as create an outdoor space for visitors at the rear of Oinkin’ Hall. A peaceful setting with a gazebo will offer a place of rest.
Additionally, Brenneke said she plans to complete the installation of a spay/neuter clinic. The foundation has been poured and the next step will be to get the building erected, once funds are available.
All in all, Brenneke said she loves being on the farm. “I love feeding and watering the animals, and just being alone with them,” she said. “It’s very peaceful and relaxing. I can’t imagine finding anything as fulfilling as this. The animals have so much love to give.”
Since Where Pigs Fly is a non-profit organization, there is a board that includes Jerry Tappel, Randy Flenniken, Dan Jaegers, John Gulick, Dave and Stacy Conley, Penny Kimes and Pam Swanson, many of whom regularly volunteer at the farm.
Gitte Jaegers, Vince Tappel, and Kennedy Bennett spend a lot of time volunteering to help with whatever needs to be done.
“Without volunteers, we wouldn’t survive,” said Brenneke. “I’m so grateful for their help.”
Visitors are welcome by appointment, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
An open house celebrating Where Pigs Fly’s 10th anniversary was postponed due to COVID-19 and is scheduled for April 10, 2021.