We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kimberly Myers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kimberly below.

Kimberly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, one thing many business owners consider is donating a percentage of sales or profits to an organization or cause. We’d love to hear your thoughts and the story behind how and why you chose the cause or organization you donate to.

We donate in a different way. We donate our MM RANCH SERVICES Mobile Petting Zoo to schools, summer camps, and retirement communities. The reason we do this is to give back to our community. It’s important to us that the youth and the seniors have an opportunity to experience farm animals that they may never had before.
Unfortunately in the world we live in today, so many people have little to no understanding of where our meat in the grocery stores come from, or the wool that made their sweaters. It is more then this, I’ve been asked more times then I can count, “what kind of dog I have?” Or “is that a camel?” These questions are about my goats, or my calf. So it’s important to me to bring my farm animals to our youth as education so they can touch, brush, and feed these beautiful animals. It’s a memory that they hopefully carry throughout their lives. Maybe it will inspire them to be farmers or ranchers. For our seniors the smiles and laughter is all the joy I need to give back to the community.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into my business by accident. Prior to my business, I spent 30 years in the swimming pool industry. My entire life I have grown up with livestock (farm animals). I have had as a child and in my adult life what you would call a hobby farm.
A few years ago my daughter asked if I could bring a few of our animals to her friends baby shower as the theme was barnyard babies. So we brought a couple goats and a donkey. Everyone loved it and many stated I need to do this as a business. I laughed not taking it seriously. As a result we had a few gigs from friends of friends that suggested me for their childs birthday partys along with other things. I never took it to serious but it was always a dream of mine to be able to work with my animals and get paid to do it. This dream didn’t seem realistic to me at that time.
A little over a year ago my employer filed bankruptcy and closed the doors. I was not aware this was happening. I went on vacation, returned back to work only to find they were packing up the office, when I asked what was going on I was informed of the unfortunate circumstances. Now I’m unemployed and worried how am I going to feed my family, pay the bills, and feed and care for my animals. My husband is my biggest fan and supports my decisions. Although my husband asked me to stay home and continue to heal from the back surgery I had 4 months prior. So I did as I trust my husband. However I got board staying at home. So I put an ad on social media for a mobile petting zoo. We bring the farm to you. Much to my surprise I received calls and bookings. What I thought was only going to be maybe a few gigs a month turned into full booked weekends. Within a few months I was doing public events. Now a little over a year into this business I’m booked for a full year with private events, City and town events, festivals, farmers markets, you name it we are bringing the farm to you in the city. I have now started a second truck and trailer to try and keep up with the demand.
I provide a mobile petting zoo. We bring the farm to you. I have many packages to choose from, different size pens from small 10’x10′ with a few animals, to a large pen 30’x20′ with a lot of animals. We bring goats, sheep, rabbits, donkeys, calfs, horse, pony, pigs, chickens, chicks, Ducks, ducklings, peacock, turkeys, Guinea pig, tortoise. We breed and raise our own goats, sheep, and pigs. We hatch our own birds chickens, ducks, turkeys, peacocks. Our animals are hand raised and introduced to the petting zoo at a young age. This ensures they are socialized with the public and all situations the same as you would with our children and dogs.
There really hasn’t been any problems, the main issue is where are we going to set up, maybe the yard is too small, this is probably our number one problem. We just set up in the driveway of our customers homes. As far as what sets us apart from other petting zoos. My pens are made for livestock, they are portable and sturdy. We use a tarp under our pen with straw for bedding, we continuously clean up after the animals during an event, when we leave we haul all debris off with us. You would never know there was a petting zoo in your yard or a public place. We decorate with inflatables for fun at public events. Our set up is clean and inviting.
I’m so proud of my son and crew that work with me, there is so much work that goes into preparing for an event before we leave our property, the set up once we get there, then the clean up when an event is done, last the unloading when we get back to the property. Im proud of my animals, for many of them they love working. I will call out “load up kids”, that’s what I call my baby’s, many come running and will load up in the trailer on their own. My goal is that our fans and customers know that I provide friendly farm animals to give the public an unforgettable and unique opportunity of having a farm in your own backyard. I not only care about our customers property, children, and family’s but I also care for our animals and their saftey, which is just as important.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Farmers Markets, festivals, City/Town events. Being in the public eye is what has given me the edge and a reputation.
I’ve got to give a big thank you to the producer and owner of Get Local AZ Farmers Market/ mommas organic market. Christa found me and asked me to try out the farmers market. I did and it was bigger then I had imagined. As a result this has led me into doing other just as amazing opportunities with festival producers, Citys, and Towns.
Not only have I met and made friends with many other small local businesses owners, But I’m in front of the public. They see exactly what I offer and what joy we can bring to their backyard parties.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Besides social media being a huge source of new clients, I would also have to say being at the public events; such as local farmers markets, festivals, and many other public opportunities. It gives that face with the name. MM RANCH SERVICES Mobile Petting Zoo and horse/pony rides is becoming a household name. It helps people understand what to expect, it becomes personal and friendships are developed. This is what is so rewarding to me being a business owner and what I love (working with my animals) and the smiles it puts on so many faces young and old.
This is the most rewarding job I’ve done in my life. It is a dream come true.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mmranch_services
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doubleMranchmobilepettingzoo?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Yelp: Mmranch Services

Image Credits

Kim VanOs Photography

Kimberly Myers