How a couple raises emus on a central Minnesota farm
They are the second largest birds in the world, and you can find them here in our state at E2's Emu Ranch in Chisago County.
Beth and Eric Engstrom always knew they wanted a farm, but they never dreamed they'd fill it with non-traditional farm critters.
"I've always had an extreme love for animals. I just didn't know it would go this far," said Beth Engstrom.
At the center of it all are the emus. Their leader is 5-year-old Bud, and he's the official greeter. And he's always curious.
Bud is one of a half-dozen flightless emus you'll find at the ranch. The birds are native to Australia, but nearly 30 years ago the Engstroms brought them to their farm near Shafer.
"We went into it knowing it was going to be a long-haul type thing," said Beth Engstrom.
Back then there were a lot more emu farms in Minnesota, but the market crashed, causing people here to sell off their birds. Now, supply is low, but demand is high.
"The reason why they are becoming more popular, I firmly believe it's because of the TV commercial about the insurance," said Beth Engstrom, talking about the Liberty Mutual's LiMu Emu commercials. "We've got a waiting list that's two years long right now for emu chicks."
Chicks are a big part of E2's Emu Ranch.
The animals are mostly raised for breeding purposes. Not long after they're born, they'll be sent to a new home.
Emu eggs are green to blend in with the springtime vegetation in Australia. The male that sits in the nest and takes care of the eggs and he can sit on them for up to 50 days or more.
But due to cooler weather in Minnesota, the eggs get a little help.
"We've got the incubators running. We've got nine eggs going," said Beth Engstroms.
The Engstroms also make their own emu oil, lotion, soap, hair products and lip balm. Beth is even starting to make jewelry out of leftover emu eggshells.
A full-grown emu like Bud will be about 7 feet tall, when he stands up straight. Because they're not always fans of open spaces and they love to run, the Engstroms built them long pens with tall fences. But when they want to get out, they do.
"They can run 35 to 40 miles an hour, and if he really wanted to and he has, he can run fast enough to jump this fence," said Beth Engstrom.
"That's why you need 6-foot fences. At least a 6-foot fence," said Eric Engstrom.
The Engstroms said that when the emus escape, they always come back. Because for birds like Bud, there's no place like home.
"We are living our dream. It's really fun," said Beth Engstrom.
Emus have been known to live to be 40 years old and a female can lay up to 35 eggs in the spring. The Engstroms say the name E2's Emu Ranch comes from Eric Engstrom's name.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Oregon Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 4 results for June 20
The Oregon Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here's a look at June 20, 2025, results for each game: 26-49-58-61-63, Mega Ball: 09 Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here. 1PM: 6-1-3-8 4PM: 1-6-5-3 7PM: 1-7-4-5 10PM: 4-0-1-8 Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Powerball: 7:59 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Mega Millions: 7:59 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday. Pick 4: 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily. Win for Life: 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Megabucks: 7:29 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oregon editor. You can send feedback using this form. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 4 results for June 20
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Is It Ever OK to Discipline Someone Else's Child? A Pediatrician Weighs In
Is it ever acceptable to discipline someone else's child — especially if your kid is at risk for harm? 'It's a very fine line,' Dr. Flo Rosen, 70, a retired pediatrician and grandmother who goes by 'Ask Bubbie' on social media, tells Rosen said on TikTok that a mother had asked her for advice: Another child, whose parent was nowhere in sight, was bullying her young kid at the park — would it have been OK for this mom to reprimand the other child? Yes, concluded Rosen, but carefully. 'You never, ever want to touch another person's child, but can you speak to another person's child and reprimand them? Well, that used to be very common,' Rosen said in her video. 'It was really viewed as almost collaborative or 'collective discipline.' If any grandmother on the street saw you playing and didn't like what was going on, they would comment and you and would listen. Well, times have changed.' Rosen's advice in the video: 'You have to protect your child, so ... in a situation like that, if another parent is not stepping forward and your child is at risk of being bullied or injured ... you do have to step up and your presence very close by might be enough to deter less than good behavior.' She added, 'If not, it's certainly reasonable to say something like, 'At a public park, we all take turns' or 'We all share.'' Then, said Rosen, stand by to check that your child, for example, gets to have his turn on the playground. If that fails? 'The best thing to do is to leave with your child,' Rosen said in the video. 'You don't want your child to feel punished because somebody else wasn't behaving,' explained Rosen. 'It's really important at that point to say something like, 'Wow, you know what ... why don't we go get some ice cream?' or 'Why don't we go for story time?' Or something that you know your child will like and kind of distract your child and remove them from the situation.' Rosen added in the video: 'It's also OK, in a very quiet moment afterward to talk about it and say, 'You know, I don't think that other child was being very nice because he wasn't letting you have a turn. When we're at the park, everyone should share.'' On TikTok and Instagram, where the clip was uploaded, parents shared their own opinions. 'I love this because it sets the scene for future social situations. No one should choose to be around people who are unkind.' 'If you see my child misbehaving, go ahead ... takes a village.' 'I had to leave a park with my granddaughter. I tried to talk to the two kids and be kind and include them ... they continued to call my granddaughter names. So we left. I'm a teacher and I thought I could defuse it. I was really shocked.' 'I watched a table full of older ladies step in when a couple of teenage boys were fighting in a restaurant. It stopped them in their tracks.' 'Never touch another person's kid? I wouldn't say NEVER. If a kid is ATTACKING my grandson, I'm going to touch the kid ... I'm going to pull the kid off mine.' Rosen tells it's a balancing act: 'You have to weigh educating your child by giving them tools to stand up for themselves versus looking after your child so they aren't harmed.' If you walk away with your kid, says Rosen, ask them: 'How do you think you could have handled that if I didn't step in?' When are kids ready to fend for themselves? 'If a child is at risk for being physically or significantly emotionally harmed, you have to intervene,' she says. 'If a child is able to say, 'That's not nice' or 'Don't do that,' then you can stand by and see what happens.' Rosen says parents should teach assertiveness to their children. Can you confront the other parent for not mediating? Listen to Bubbie. 'If a parent doesn't know enough to do the right thing, you getting angry at them on the playground probably won't teach them,' says Rosen. Plus, the other parent might blame you for lecturing their kid. 'That would get my back up,' Rosen admits. 'I would probably say, 'If you parented your child, I wouldn't have to.''This article was originally published on
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
What are the Mega Millions numbers for Friday, June 20? Jackpot stands at $302 million
Have you gotten your tickets yet? Friday, June 20, Mega Millions jackpot stands at $302 million with a $136 million cash option. Here's what to know about the Mega Millions: Friday, June 20, winning numbers are 26-49-58-61-63 and the Megaball was 9. Tuesday, June 17, winning numbers were 16-23-39-46-55 and the Megaball was 12. There was not a winner for the Mega Millions jackpot on Tuesday, June 18. There was three Match 5 winners from Georgia, New Jersey, and Washington. You only need to match one number in Mega Millions to win a prize. However, that number must be the Mega Ball, worth $2. Matching two numbers won't win anything in Mega Millions unless one of the numbers is the Mega Ball. A ticket matching one of the five numbers and the Mega Ball is worth $4. Visit for a complete list of payout information. Mega Millions numbers you need to know: Most commonly drawn numbers Drawings are held two times per week at approximately 11 p.m. ET every Tuesday and Friday. You can watch drawings via YouTube. A Mega Millions ticket costs $2 per play. For an additional $1, players can add the Megaplier to potentially increase their winnings outside of the jackpot. Here's how to play Mega Millions: Here is the list of 17 Mega Millions jackpot wins in 2023 through 2025, according to $112 million — April, 18, 2025; Ohio $344 million — March 25, 2025; Illinois $113 million — Jan. 17, 2025; Arizona $1.22 billion — Dec. 27, 2024; California $800 million — Sept. 10, 2024; Texas. $560 million — June 4, 2024; Illinois. $1.12 billion — March 26, 2024; New Jersey. $1.35 billion — Jan. 13, 2024; Maine. $20 million — Jan. 17, 2024; New York. $31 million — Jan. 24; Massachusetts. $31 million — Jan. 31; Massachusetts. $483 million — April 14; New York. $20 million — April 18; New York. $1.58 billion — Aug. 8, 2023; Florida. $36 million — Aug. 15, 2023; Florida. $360 million — Oct. 6, 2023: Texas. $395 million — Dec. 8, 2023; California (2). Here are the all-time top 11 Mega Millions jackpots, according to $1.58 billion — Aug. 8, 2023; Florida. $1.537 billion — Oct. 23, 2018; South Carolina. $1.35 billion — Jan. 13, 2023; Maine. $1.337 billion — July 29, 2022; Illinois. $1.22 billion — Dec. 31, 2024; California $1.05 billion — Jan. 22, 2021; Michigan. $656 million — Mar. 30, 2012; Kansas, Illinois, Maryland. $648 million — Dec. 17, 2013; California, Georgia. $560 million — June 4, 2024; Illinois. $543 million — July 24, 2018; California. $536 million — July 8, 2016; Indiana. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mega Millions numbers: Winning numbers for 6-20-25; jackpot at $302M
