30 years of making memories

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This article was published 11/05/2018 (2992 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Big yellow school buses will start pulling into Judy and James Thevenot’s yard on Sturgeon Rd. in the RM of Rosser this week, marking Six Pines Farm’s 30th year in business.

The couple bought what was then called Six Pines Ranch from the previous owners in 1997, and since that time have spent thousands of hours turning it into an agri-tourism business.

The educational petting farm operates from mid-May until mid-July when the Thevenots start transforming the site into a Haunted Attraction that opens in October. They also offer Pets on Wheels throughout the spring and summer months with annual bookings at community fairs, barbecues and other special events within Manitoba.

“We put most of our animals into our 20-foot trailer except for the birds,” Judy Thevenot said. “They all get along.”

The Thevenots’ menagerie includes three llamas, two alpacas, sheep, goats and two donkeys. The farm also has a selection of geese, chickens and ducks, dogs, cats and rabbits.

As well as hosting school groups, Six Pines is also an annual daytrip destination for Winnipeg daycares, seniors and youth groups and many families.

“Our customers range in age from two to 99,” Thevenot said.

Once they arrive at the farm, the Thevenots and their employees will tour groups around a series of eight stations. These include Llamaville, bottle feeding a baby calf and visiting the sheep and goats, among others.

There are staff members working at every station, including Judy and James’ children Tessa, 16, and son Thomas, 15. Judy said all staff, many of whom are university students, tailor their information to match each group’s knowledge level.

“They love the hayride,” Thevenot said. She proudly showed off the custom-built wagon that can seat about 50 people and has a plastic curtain to protect riders from rain. The wagon is pulled by a tractor, often driven by James, and riders are taken on a tour through the bush and pasture land on the couple’s property. Deer and other wildlife can be spotted, and riders are encouraged to take part in a sing-along.

“We’re prepared for both heat and rain – everything except for a tornado,” Thevenot said, adding that a tornado did hit the farm in 2005, resulting in some damage and snapping the row of pine trees that gave the farm its name.

Many of the farm’s attractions are wheelchair accessible. There are water stations and a covered picnic area.

Six Pines also hosts weddings and Judy said the animals sometimes become part of the today’s celebrations. “A bride might want to bottle-feed a baby lamb in a photo.”

She added that the farm’s animals also played a role in her own wedding as James’ uncle and aunt gave the newly married couple a pair of emus named Bonnie and Clyde that are still part of Six Pines.

To recognize their 30th anniversary, the Thevenots have launched a new logo that combines the petting farm and Haunted Attraction themes, as well as a newly designed web site at www.sixpinesfarm.org

Thevenot said they are now ordering supplies for their October event, and will promote it to all the spring and summer guests visiting the farm and those they meet through Pets on Wheels.

“As an agri-tourism business, you have to cross-promote,” she said.

For more information on Six Pines Farm Tours, call 204-633-3326 or email sixpines6@gmail.com