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 When / where did Deer Park Morgan Farm come into being?
Deer Park Morgan Farm was established in 1985 by Wes & Rebecca Hompe in LaSalle, Illinois. We have been located in Raymond, Minnesota since 1989.
Why the name "Deer Park"?
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Our first farm was located in Deer Park Township. There is a little more to it than that, though... this property was surrounded by state and county parks, where we used enjoy hiking and going on trail rides. In one of these parks there were some deer and other animals in paddocks that the park was taking care of because they were orphaned or injured, and through visiting them we also developed a relationship with the Park Manager, Terry McCormick.
As winter drew near, Terry knew that Bambi, a fawn who had lost both back legs to a sickle mower, would probably not survive without shelter so he asked if we would be willing to care for her. We had become quite attached to Bambi, so we agreed and applied for an Illinois Rehab License. When Wes was offered a job in Willmar, MN we had to apply for permission from the states of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota to transport her and to the Minnesota DNR to keep her.
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Now that the Minnesota DNR knew that we had one rehab deer, it approached us about accepting other deer in need of care. Over the years many have come through our farm here as well.
This operation sure looks like it is a lot of work - why do you do it?
For more than money; it is truly a labor of love... we believe that everyone should have the chance to enjoy this extraordinary breed, and find great fulfillment in sharing this experience with others.
Why did you choose the Morgan breed?
My introduction to the Morgan breed came in the summer of 1979 when I purchased a very cocky and beautiful Palomino yearling colt named Sokota Gold Spark. "Kota", as we called him, gave countless lessons in our riding program and was a true ambassador for the Morgan breed until his death on September 14, 2002. He is the reason my love and passion for the Morgan breed is so strong.
How did you come to own Deer Park Graphic Design?
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That's a sad story with a happy ending... We were boarding a new gelding for friends over the Christmas holiday, and he was turned out in a paddock next to our mare Arboria Seville, who was heavy in foal and expecting her first baby in the spring. On December 21, 1994 something provoked the gelding to destroy the fence between them and chase Seville, who fell and broke her back leg. The University animal hospital gave our mare less than a 5% chance of survival, so we were forced to make the painful decision to have both mare and unborn foal put to sleep.
This event might have ended the story of Deer Park Morgan Farm forever, had it not been for the love and support of family and friends. We decided to search for a new mare to replace Arboria Seville, which took us to the heart of Morgan country, the state of Vermont.
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One of our farm visits brought us to Luman Wadhams Training Stable, where we met a little chestnut mare named Medomak Happy Hour. "Happy" was expecting her first foal in April by the stallion Mtn. Laurel Maximilian, and she had the most beautiful head I had ever seen.
The rest is history - "Happy" found a new home in Minnesota and gave us a beautiful bay colt whom we named Deer Park Graphic Design. Thus far, "Graphic" has sired over 20 beautiful babies, some of whom will no doubt become champions as well. They say everything happens for a reason, and even though we lost our beloved mare Seville on that warm December day many precious memories were created because of it.
Can I buy stock in Deer Park Morgan Farm?
No, but thanks for asking... Deer Park Morgan Farm is a family business, run by Rebecca Hompe, her husband Wes, and their daughter Lindsey.
This website is dedicated to the memory of "Kota"
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