Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Badger.
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always loved animals when I was a child. I especially loved to read books about animals and daydreamed about seeing them in person. I thought nature was beautiful, and there was always something new to learn. However, I grew up in a modest household, and we never had family trips to the zoo. I really wasn’t sure what career options there were other than being a veterinarian, which I knew I wasn’t suited for or could afford the college degree. As an adult, I pursued my other interest of art & design and worked as a designer for a few major firms in Dayton and Cincinnati. Although I was successful to modern standards, something was missing deep down. I kept pursuing my interests in nature with adult classes at nature centers and parks, and then one day, I walked into a zoo and asked if they needed any help. They asked me to volunteer with some marketing, and after a few weeks, I started with small tasks of caring for the animals and helping with tours. I remember that I felt like my world went from black and white to full color. I loved learning about each animal, their stories, the problems they are facing in the wild, and most importantly, inspiring people to care about conservation. One day, I had a transformative moment when I was explaining the natural history of a leopard to a group of women who said something we hear a lot – They said they like animals more than they like people. We all nodded knowingly together. Then, I noticed something as I went into depth about this particular leopard and his back story. Suddenly, I felt a level of trust between myself, and these ladies begin to grow. They were leaning in. It occurred to me that even though they had just made the comment about liking animals more than people, they began valuing their relationship with me just as much. That’s when I realized that you can’t save or love animals without people and empowering them to care and make a difference. At this time in my life, I had personal changes happening, and I knew it was now or never to make a change. I got a big dry-erase board and wrote key areas I knew I would need if I was going to make this work: education, experience, first-hand knowledge of conservation, professional networking, and funding. I wrote a business plan, enrolled in a master’s program that allowed me to study in Africa, took any job that allowed me to gain hands-on animal experience and started attending zoological conferences. One day, I had a chance coffee meeting with a philanthropist, and she agreed to buy the farm that is now Wild Hearts. It was amazing! I started with rescued wildlife and domesticated animals like goats and sheep. About a year later, I met my future husband, Brian Badger, who was working at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia, Africa. I learned all about their holistic conservation program, where they work with the African livestock farmers who share the land with the wildlife to help both prosper. This became the foundation of what we teach at Wild Hearts African Farm, where we teach about coexisting in integrated landscapes between humans and animals.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the biggest challenges are the permits and licensing required. Each one was a huge milestone as we formed our non-profit, applied for state permits, then federal permits through United States Department of Agriculture and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. We initially struggled to align the vision of our farm with local zoning, but with persistence and a clear plan, we were able to persevere. One goal we had was to be accredited, and while exploring options, I noticed that no other zoo in Ohio was Humane Certified. We began the process, and in 2019, Wild Hearts African Farm became the first Humane Certified™ zoo in Ohio! A major achievement.
Currently, we are fundraising for the last 6.5% of our goal towards completing our new Education Center, where visitors can explore the real conservation programs implemented to save wildlife in Africa, all while creating better livelihoods for people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think what sets us apart the most is that you see large pastures with grazing content animals that are our family. We greet each one in the morning and tuck them in at night. When visitors come here, they feel the difference and are really receptive to learning about a side of conservation they may have never heard before. We are known for giving really interactive tours where visitors feed & pet some of the animals while learning about their stories.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice would be to volunteer as much as possible and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. Save up and study abroad so you can balance real-world experiences with academics. Buy a plane ticket and volunteer at a wildlife center in Namibia or Kenya. You’ll rack up more applicable experience than your student counterparts and will see the world in new ways. Be a dreamer but not an idealist. Most of all, be a humble & genuine person. Be thankful to those that help you and offer to help others whenever possible. Be willing to listen and work with others that have differing ideas than your own. Build community.
Pricing:
- $14 adults and $12 kids ages 3-12
- Mobile Teaching Zoo starts at $250
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wildheartsafricanfarm.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildheartsafricanfarmohio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildHeartsAfricanFarm
Image Credits
Wild Hearts Staff
