 "Photo: Brett Hagreen/Staff Photo")
 "Photo: Brett Hagreen/Staff Photo")
Have you ever wanted to meet a kangaroo?
If yes, you might be surprised to know that up North in Arlington, Washington there is actually a "Kangaroo Farm;" a place where visitors can feed and pet an assortment of kangaroos, wallabies, and a variety of other unique animals.
For a reasonable $8, Green River students can enjoy an afternoon with wonderful creatures from across the globe. There is also plenty of time for visitors to interact and take pictures with the kangaroos while feeding them bread. Ray Strom, the owner of the Kangaroo Farm, guides visitors through his establishment, explaining information about his kangaroos and demonstrating how they behave.
The audience gets to personally experience and enjoy the kangaroos without ever having to own, as Strom puts it, "Their own 200 pound jumping-jack." Strom also displays a number of other exotic animals, such as lemurs and emus, as well as more common creatures such as llamas and alpacas that feed from your mouth!
When asked about his experiences managing the Kangaroo Farm for the ten years it's been in business, Strom enthusiastically said, "It's been a lot of fun!" It all started 15 years ago when Strom attended an ostrich convention and was introduced to a wallaby. He jokingly admitted, "Now I have 50 of them."
He was encouraged to start giving tours through his kangaroo pens by friends and has enjoyed success for the last ten years mainly by word of mouth. The farm was even featured on the television show Evening Magazine.
Although the word has been spreading, most Green River students have no idea the Kangaroo Farm even exists. When mentioned, many students tilt their head and ask, "Is that real?" Others light up with interest. Learning about the existence of the Kangaroo Farm has excited many students, with Jared Walsh admitting, "I always wanted to frolic with the joeys." Trevor Kinder admitted the Kangaroo Farm sounds, "Exciting and interesting."
As summer approaches, Green River students will be looking for fun and unique activities to enjoy. Students should look no further than making a day trip up to Arlington to see the kangaroos. Strom sees his farm as a unique and exciting experience, noting that, "It's not every place you can feed and pet a kangaroo."
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