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The Weekender — Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Ostrich ranch attracts visitors throughout year Continued from Page 4
his recipes to ranchers across state borders in exchange for his label on the product. He calls these fellow producers the Blue Feather Growers Network. While Joel works to expand Blue Feather offerings, his nephew, David Brust, heads the ranch’s operations with Christine Kelsey, general manager. Both are very knowledgable about ostrich, Indian Point and ostrich products. Near an ostrich pen,
David bent down to break off a flat, dry piece of dirtlike matter. Then he sniffed it. “I don’t do this on the regular tour,” he said. “But smell this.” The crumbling scrap was from days-old ostrich waste and had no scent. David explained how ostrich are very efficient digesters, making their waste less of a cleanliness hazard. “Ostrich don’t require a lot of work, in relation to cattle,” he said.
David continued to pepper out ostrich tidbits, his enthusiasm for the birds and his family’s ranch becoming evident. Christine, who has worked on the ranch for many years, praised the organic nature of ostrich products. She said the ostrich do not receive medication or steroids, making their products more “pure.” “There’s never been a case of E. Coli or Salmonella in ostrich products ever in the United States,” Chris-
tine said. Respected and soughtafter products aside, tourism is a big draw to Indian Point. Joel used to handle the tours, but Christine has primarily taken over for him. “They used to call me ‘The Ostrich Guy,’” he said with a laugh. “Now I guess she’s ‘The Ostrich Girl.’” Schools from every corner of Kern County pack buses with students and truck down the highway to see Joel’s large birds. Over
the years, once-small elementary students will return to the ranch to visit. “I’ve had kids come up and say, ‘Remember me?’” Christine said, beaming. The trio emphasized the importance of keeping the money from Indian Point local. “We use local artists and independent contractors for our jewelry and painted eggs,” David said, referring to the gift shop. “Our focus has been to create as many jobs as possible in the
Tehachapi area. It’s important that the money be spent here.” Despite traveling to expand Blue Feather, Joel said his passion stays at home. “My real heart is in putting my arms around a bird and putting him in a truck and going somewhere,” he said with a twinkle. “I hope to see the ranch stay in the family for generations. It would be a wonderful legacy.”
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