Joah's Ark comes to town
Keeley Meier/BV Journal
JoAnna Olson, owner and operator of Joah’s Ark Petting Zoo, looks lovingly at Photzy (right) and Phizzy, who are father and daughter. Olson has been traveling with her petting zoo for 24 years.
For 24 years, JoAnna Olson has been sharing the joy of animals through her traveling petting zoo, Joah’s Ark.
It started when she brought her pony to a friend’s birthday party for the kids to pet and ride. But, while the other kids were waiting in line, Olson noticed they were bored, so she decided she would bring more animals with her next time.
Olson has over 100 animals, but she says she doesn’t know the exact number.
“I don’t know because then I’m not lying to my husband if he asks,” Olson laughed.
Olson was a veterinary technician for 17 years and has also been raising Labrador retrievers for more than 15 years.
Based out of St. Cloud, Minn., she now travels with a fleet of different animals for people to enjoy. She recently set up shop in Brandon over the Mother’s Day weekend and brought along a variety of animals—a prairie dog, bunnies, a fainting goat, a llama, donkeys, miniature horses, a Patagonian mara, cows and more.
You can learn more about Olson and her petting zoo at joahsark.com or by visiting her Facebook page, Joah’s Ark Pony Parties & Petting Zoo.
For additional photos, visit http://www.brandonvalleyjournal.com/content/joahs-ark-petting-zoo-visits...
