meet your neighbors Photos by Terry Ropp
Combining Loves By Terry Ropp
Branson, Mo., entertainer brings his farming operation to the Ozarks
From a very early age, Brian Caraker, now of Omaha, Ark., was empowered by strong passions for both raising animals and entertaining people. He clearly remembers playing with toy farm animals, fences and barns with his parents Bob and Betty Caraker when he was a toddler and being frustrated when his father had a toy horse jump a fence and then to the top of the barn. Indignantly, Brian wanted no part of fanciful imagination. He wanted his animals to be real, with plastic being okay as long as they behaved normally. At the age of 7, Brian began playing the oboe. He listened, imitated, and rehearsed songs from classic movie musicals and had his first public singing debut when he was 10 when his elementary school staged a musical revue. His teacher wanted him to play Jimmy Durante, which he thought was impossible, but the teacher insisted. He went home and looked at the old Jimmy Durante
16
clips and practiced. His performance successful show at the county fair that was a success, and immediately ignited year. Then his father asked if he had a passion not only for animals but for signed up for the youth auction, and entertainment as well. young Brian was shocked because he Bob and Betty raised and showed Ap- loved his lamb. His father then asked if paloosa horses in Illinois throughout he had fed Waddles twice a day, every Brian’s childhood. However, his deep day as they agreed. The boy tipped his love for animals exploded when he was cowboy hat over his face as he sold his 9. He purchased a commercial market beloved lamb, believing his life was over lamb because horses were so big they and his father so cruel. intimidated him and because his catHowever, the following spring, Bob tle-raising neighbor said calves were too took Brian to purchase his first regisbig as well. tered Hampshire ewe with the money Bob was insistent Brian work to pay he earned selling his lamb. He loved for the lamb himself, so the two of them the breed because Hampshires were not picked up aluminum cans on Saturdays only big with black faces and legs but and took them to a recycling center to also had beautiful wool on their faces. redeem for money. Then, to Brian’s surprise, Bob Then his father said Brian bought him a second lamb Omaha, Ark. could keep his new lamb if with the pair becoming seedhe watered and fed her twice stock for his current Hampa day until show time. Being shire herd. That year Honey a typical kid, he was consciwon grand champion ewe at the entious but not perfect. He Union County Fair, reinforcing and his lamb Waddles had a his understanding of the value of Ozarks Farm & Neighbor • www.ozarksfn.com
consistent and hard work. As importantly, Brian also won champion showman, which taught him that his love for his sheep and their affectionate willingness to work with him during the show was as important as hard work. Eventually Brian added dairy goats and chickens. Early on, he won a show with a White Leghorn Bantam hen and fell in love again. His passion was so deep that he began studying every breed, easily passed the stringent judging exam and became a general licensed judge in 2015. Through the years, Brian performed in countless musicals and operas in addition to studying classic films and music. After graduating high school, Brian kept his sheep and chickens at the family farm while attending Millikin College in Decatur, Ill. He began studying opera as his major and then switched to musical theater. Brian left college to pursue his professional career, which began with playing Riff in “West Side Story” at the McLeod JUNE 28, 2021
