Reindeer in Shabbona? Reindeer ranch and tree farm located in DeKalb County

SHABBONA – Although Randy Espe has a white beard and reindeer, and December is his busiest time of year, he’s not Santa Claus, and he lives in Shabbona, not the North Pole.

Randy and his wife Beth own Whispering Pines Reindeer Ranch & Tree Farm. Whispering Pines, located on 80 acres at 2792 Shabbona Grove Road in Shabbona, has 10 reindeer. Espe and his family take their reindeer throughout northern Illinois to multiple events each week.

The Espes began Whispering Pines in 2017 by planting 1,800 trees, and they have planted more each year. They had the idea for a tree farm after they planted 9,000 trees and shrubs as a border around their property. They also planted a forest in their backyard and installed two lakes. Before the holidays each year, family and friends would visit their farm to cut down their own tree for Christmas. With the popularity of tree-cutting, Randy decided to turn his property into a tree farm.

“I googled how to promote tree farms, and owning reindeer popped up,” Randy said.

The Espes purchased their first reindeer in October 2018. The reindeer flew in from Fairbanks, Alaska to Indianapolis, Indiana – but not the magical way. The reindeer came via Federal Express.

“At first, reindeer were an afterthought to Christmas trees, they were a way to promote the tree farm,” Randy Espe said. “Now, they’re our No. 1 business and Christmas trees are secondary. We’re still a couple of years out from having you-pick Christmas trees, but we have had pre-cut trees for sale.”

Reindeer are a species of deer that are native to the Arctic tundra and boreal forests of Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska and Canada. Male reindeer can reach up to 600 pounds and females can reach 300 pounds. Both males and females grow antlers that they shed once a year.

Randy describes the personality of his reindeer as “between a horse and a dog, more like a pet than livestock.”

The most-asked question he said he gets about his reindeer is whether they can fly.

“They love to run and jump, and when they jump, both feet go out like Superman trying to fly,” he said. “I haven’t seen my reindeer take off or fly – yet. But they do fly in on airplanes.”

In the future, Randy plans on training his reindeer to pull a sleigh to take visitors around the ranch.

“I love owning reindeer because it’s very fulfilling to see the smiles on peoples’ faces, especially children,” he said. “Trees are one thing, but reindeer are special. I love how seeing a reindeer can make a person of any age smile. Their eyes get big and they ‘Ooh and aah.’ Reindeer truly are magical creatures.”

For information about Whispering Pines Reindeer Ranch & Tree Farm, visit www.whisperingpinesreindeerranch.com, call 815-739-7014 or email whisperingpinesreindeer@gmail.com.