More than 50,000 visitors have experienced education farm opened in 2019

By Marty Cheek

At the Gilroy Ostrich Farm, South Valley families can make friends with a wide variety of barnyard animals and reptiles. A benefit gala dinner March 21 will raise money to improve the educational farm’s facilities to enhance visitors’ experience.

During the past three years since it opened, more than 50,000 people have experienced the farm located on Pacheco Pass Highway, said owner Dan Nelson, who also owns Tempo Kitchen and Bar in downtown Gilroy where the benefit event will be held.

“We’ve had tremendous success with schools, private organizations, and all sorts of groups large and small that have gone through,” he said. “We have a very large education component of the program that includes twice-a-month seminars that we put on for folks. Plus we have education tours going on with private tours.”

Besides long-necked ostriches and emus, visitors can get up close to rabbits, pigs, ducks, chickens, goats, sheep, alpacas, ponies and horses. The farm also has a snakes and reptile collection.

Right now, the Gilroy Ostrich Farm is closed for renovations to enhance the visitors’ experience, Nelson said. Among the improvements is installing permanent restrooms, upgrading the barn to bring it into code, and putting together a “really cool” enclosure for children to better experience rabbits, he said.

“Bunnies are one of the most popular animals we have at the Gilroy Ostrich Farm program,” he said. “Kids love them. They’re just a real  hit at our place and we really want to put together a place with lots of play areas and lots of areas to view and interact with the rabbits on a different level.”

The facility was started by Nelson as a place for parents to bring their kids and have the children get a better understanding of farm animals.

“There are a lot of folks who have never had the experience of being up close to farm animals,” he said. “They have their cats and dogs, that’s great. But we give people an expanded education on farm animals so they can learn about feeding them and what they do and their characteristics. It’s also an opportunity to hold some of these animals.”

The “For the Love of the Farm” benefit dinner held March 21 at Tempo intends to raise funds to help pay for the renovations. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the farm as the costs will be absorbed by the restaurant and third parties, Nelson said. Tickets are $95 a person. Guests will enjoy live music and dancing. Locally-produced fine wines will accent the 10-course buffet-style dinner prepared by Tempo executive chef Oscar Monroy.

“People love his food,” Nelson said.  “He does an amazing job.”

Guests can also enjoy a raffle and  bid in a silent auction that will include more than 50 items including tickets for various entertainment and sporting events and a wide variety of gift baskets. Nelson added there will be a surprise special guest emcee for the night to keep guests entertained.

“We’re also going to have a few animals outside,” Nelson said. “There will be a few baby goats, bunnies and a other animals to show off and have available for people to hold. We’ll have a few of the babies joining us outside.”