Making Christmas Magic
MOUNTAIN GROVE, MO. – Years ago, Sara Prescott visited a reindeer farm with her family. This ignited within her a curiosity about the species – and was the impetus for what would become Prescott Family Reindeer Farm.
The operation was founded in November 2021, when Sara, her husband, Michael, and their three children purchased land just south of Mountain Grove, Mo. When they moved to the Ozarks, they knew they wanted to create something that would help share the Christmas experience with others.
The farm is managed solely by family for the majority of the year, but when Christmas comes around, additional employees are brought on board.
“We treat our employees like family,” Prescott said.
Many of the employees, who are locals, help promote the farm’s agritourism-based philosophy.
“The Ozarks are beautiful, and we want the opportunity to share that with our guests,” Prescott said.
The farm is designed to be the “ultimate Christmas experience,” hosting a variety of holiday-themed activities, including a snowball fight area, horse and carriage rides, face painting, and holiday character interactions.
But the reindeer are center stage. The farm started with two females and has since built its herd to seven reindeer (four females and three males). Last spring, three calves entered the scene.
Prescott, who is highly passionate about educating others on the reindeer species, is excited to continue to grow the herd.
All staff members receive extensive training on how to handle, care for, and educate others about all of the farm’s animals, which include more than just reindeer. Llamas, alpacas, miniature horses, beef cattle, poultry, horses and a miniature donkey are all a part of the Prescott family.
“We spend time with all our animals developing the best feed program for their needs, providing enrichment in their designated areas as well as spending quality time with them,” Prescott said.
This attention to animal welfare is what makes Prescott Family Reindeer Farm stand out; reindeer are rare, and Prescott feels fortunate to be raising them.
She dedicates her time to educating visitors on various reindeer facts including antler growth, eating habits, cold tolerance, and breathing capabilities.
“We want our guests to learn as much as they can about the animals and have the opportunity to get up close to see their unique personalities,” she said.
Local community, she mentioned, is the backbone of the farm. The Prescotts support various local charities, small businesses, and school programs such as FFA and 4-H.
“We bring them out to the farm to discuss small business management as well as responsibilities that take place on a working farm,” Prescott said.
“We focus a lot on agritourism as well as different opportunities in the agricultural field.”
The operation is currently the only public reindeer farm in the State of Missouri and has a large Facebook following, which they use to share farm updates.
This established following will give the farm a chance to provide more opportunities for visitors throughout the year. She wants guests to be able to witness the physical changes the reindeer undergo throughout the seasons.
“We want to provide new experiences for our guests as well as more unique events throughout the year,” she said. In the future, the Prescotts plan to add an event venue, as well as continue growing their herd and educating the community on the magical creature that is the reindeer.
“We are in the business of making Christmas magic and we all take that role very serious.”
For directions, search “Prescott Family Reindeer Farm” on Google Maps. To contact, call (815) 228-0336 or visit prescottfamilyreindeerfarm.com.
