On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer…..you can find Santa’s reindeer, even Rudolph, at Jeff and Cindy Phillips’ farm in the town of Erin, Wisconsin.  You might ask why we left the suburbs for a rural life of raising reindeer?  

 Actually, it was our goal in life to move from the city after our kids, Jen and Jon,  graduated high school. After doing research on many exotics, reindeer were what we wanted; they were most extraordinary and unique. In 2000, we were lucky to find a five acre hobby farm with a 130 year-old log home and an old dairy barn.  It’s been lots of work since then, but we have loved every minute of it. 

Comet and Cupid arrived on May 26, 2002.  They were both two weeks old.   Reindeer are very tame, and as these first two, most of our’s are bottle fed babies.  We haltered and trained them, starting at 2 weeks old. We continue to have fun with them all year around, going for walks, sleigh rides, and just watching them doing very goofy things usually because of their curiosity. 

Although we consider our reindeer as pets, reindeer are to Christmas what snow is to Wisconsin – a natural.  Requests for Comet and Cupid to participate in local Christmas activities encouraged us to start Reindeer Games.   

Members of Santa's fleet have appeared in Pewaukee, West Allis, Grafton, Port Washington, Delafield, sometimes pulling Santa in his sleigh.  The reindeer have been known to show up at schools, daycare centers and nursing homes.  Comet has even made appearances at private homes. 

Rudolph was the first one born on our farm on May 4, 2004.  Every year we breed our cows and have reindeer babies for sale in the spring.  Our babies are usually spoken for before Christmas.   

Our two children, Jennifer, 25, her husband Bryan 22, and Jonathan, 23, his finance Jessica, 20, help out on the farm every Saturday.  The girls dress up as elves for school visits and parades.  The guys are along to set up.  We are having a wonderful time with the kids and the reindeer.  It’s hard to explain the joy we experience when we share the spirit of Christmas with our community, friends and relatives.