‘I can’t keep going’: Kismet Creek Farm up for sale

A Manitoba petting farm and animal sanctuary is up for sale after visits never rebounded following COVID.

A local family farm that offers a petting zoo and a chance for kids to learn about animals is preparing to close its doors.

Kismet Creek Farm, which is just south of Steinbach, announced the farm is being put up for sale as money has been tight recently.

“You kind of hope and pray things are going to turn around,” said Karl Schoenrock, the owner of the farm. “Sadly, not a lot of people come out, and if people don’t come out and support, then I can’t keep going.”

Schoenrock said the second-generation farm has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic and has been unable to get visitor levels up ever since.

He said this was one of the hardest decisions he’s ever had to make.

“I always wanted to run a petting farm and teach kids about the animals, and sadly, now a decade later, the whole farm has to be sold,” he said.

“There was a time in COVID that I wasn’t allowed to have people out in the open air. If they can’t come in the open air, then you’re going into debt. And that just keeps on going, continuing further with interest rates and everything else. So sadly, the farm I’ve known all my life will have to be passed on to someone else.”

While the plan is to sell the farm, Schoenrock said it will be business as usual until that happens. He encourages people to keep coming out and enjoying the animals and outdoor experience.

The hope is the farm will be open until the beginning of summer with a possession date once it is sold set for July 1.

Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Schoenrock said he is so appreciative of all the people who have helped and supported the farm over the years, noting seeing kids happy when they were around the animals kept him going.

“For the first number of years that we were open, I think it was five years, I was working full time and then doing this on the weekend, and it was just those weekends that actually recharged me for the rest of the week of work.

“That’s what life is about. It’s about kids experiencing, enjoying things, being out in nature, learning about animals, and just the fresh air. It’s just very disappointing that this won’t be there for those kids in the future.”

Schoenrock said all the animals will be rehomed once the farm is sold, noting most have already been spoken for.