A Kansas farm brings holiday magic to life with real reindeer and unforgettable winter traditions.
Unlike the flying reindeer in Clement Clarke Moore’s famous holiday poem and Robert L. May’s book Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the five registered North American reindeer that live at Fulton Valley Farms are real and ready to greet visitors.
The farm, operated as an event center by David and Betty Corbin, along with their son, Richard, became home to the reindeer several years ago after a holiday wish.
“It all started because I wanted to do a live nativity vignette, and that’s why we started our Country Christmas event,” Betty says, explaining her desire to share her faith’s celebration. “There really is a reason for the season; it’s a birthday party and it’s fun, but we have to know why we’re having this party.”
After a successful first holiday event, the family decided to add reindeer the following year and, in the process, gained a wealth of knowledge about this unique species of deer and the specialized care required.
“They are like big dogs with antlers,” Corbin says, adding the reindeer are about the size of a donkey. “They really are fascinating creatures.”
Reindeer are completely covered in fur, including their noses, with hollow hairs that trap air to keep them well-insulated in cold climates; in the spring, the reindeer start shedding their thick winter coats for a shorter, cooler coat.
Reindeer are the only species of deer in which the female has antlers identical to the male’s, though only the males lose their horns during the winter.
Corbin says that tells you something about the legendary stories.
“How we know the reindeer that pull the little jolly man around are female is because the males lose their antlers in October or November, and the females don’t lose their antlers until December or January,” she explains.
But, of course, the holidays are only a short time of the year for the reindeer, which must be carefully monitored and cared for during the warmer seasons.
Often, younger visitors who encounter the reindeer outside of the holiday season will ask if the animals are on loan from Santa.
“We say we are a training ground for Santa’s reindeer; they come here and try to learn all the things Santa needs them to do. If they work really hard, they’ll make Santa’s ‘A’ team and get a name like Dancer or Prancer, but if not, they still are Santa’s reindeer; they just aren’t the ones who make the round-the-world trip,” Corbin explains.
Another popular question from young visitors is, “Can they fly?”
“Our answer to that one is ‘I can’t tell you yes or no because we’re not with them 24/7. They might fly when we’re not watching,’” Corbin will answer.
The reindeer are just part of the fun at the farm’s annual Country Christmas. Each year, over a million lights synchronized to Christmas music adorn the woods, silo, and other buildings.
The farm’s Boot Scootin Barn features a decorated tree nearly reaching the 30-foot-high rafters. The living nativity scene with music occurs nightly. Last-minute shopping is done at the Jingle Bell Emporium. A sleigh pulled by draft horses can provide rides for up to 20 people at a time.
Throughout the rest of the year, appointments must be made to view the reindeer, Corbin says. Those who schedule weddings, conferences, family gatherings or other events at the farm have the option of a private showing.
The reindeer also may be rented for public and private events, such as parades, festivals, corporate parties, grand openings, and birthday celebrations.
“Our traveling squad, Itsy Bitsy and Sparkle, have been to seven different states,” Corbin says, adding the twosome even starred in a movie filmed in Kansas City and have been in several commercials. “They are celebrities.”
