When Joseph and Cindy Rogers started their petting zoo they only had a donkey, a mini horse, two goats, and two rabbits. Then, they decided to add exotic animals just for fun. A lemur and a wallaby were added first, "and it's grown from there," says Cindy. She and her husband Joseph started Rocking Dirt Road Farms in 2015. The two started off by just giving pony rides in their own backyard, but they continued to get rained out. "We wanted to build something where we could have it year-round rain or shine." They now have over 25 different species of animals both farm and exotic.

When you walk into their building you will see the multiple inflatables that they have set up for kids to use, plus you can try to get your eight seconds on their mechanical bull. Then, on the way into the barn area of the building, you can find the youngest of their Sulcata Tortoises, as well as Hedgehogs, and the Sun Conure, a type of parrot. Once you walk into the barn there’s a mixture of both exotic animals and farm animals. The exotic animals in their barn area are Green Monkeys, Rhesus Macaques, Muntjac Deer, and Willie their Red Kangaroo. The “farm” animals kept in the barn are Guinea Pigs, Miniature Scottish Highland Cattle, Miniature Zebus, Nubian Goats, Nigerian Dwarf Goats, and Pygmy Goats. In their fenced-in pasture area, Llamas, Miniature Donkeys, Miniature Horses, Pot-Bellied Pigs, Clydesdale Horses, and Quarter Horses roam. They also have a few enclosures with some other exotic animals, such as the African Crested Porcupines, White-Nosed Coatimundis, and Ring-Tailed Lemurs. But wait, there’s more! They also have Southdown Babydoll Sheep in a separate fenced-in area near the exotic animal enclosures. The last two animals they have are their older Sulcata Tortoises. Don't forget to keep an eye out for these two as you make your way around the farm. You will find them wandering about the farm soaking up the sun.

At the petting zoo, they breed several species of their animals, including Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Nubian Goats, Southdown Babydoll Sheep, Miniature Horses, Miniature Cattle, and Llamas. The more exotic animals they breed are Hedgehogs, African Crested Porcupines, and Ring-Tailed Lemurs. Rocking Dirt Road Farms is making a positive difference in the world by breeding them. The Ring-Tailed Lemurs are actually on the endangered species list. They originate from Madagascar where they have lost forest habitat and been hunted which lead to their endangerment. They also have future plans to breed their kangaroos. However, they will have to wait another year until their female kangaroo, Allie, is old enough.

Willie is the male red kangaroo that they raised from when he was still just a little joey. He was seven months old, still in his handmade cloth pouch when they brought him home. Willie lived in the house with Joseph and Cindy until he was about two years old. He even slept in the bed with them! If you go and visit Willie you may notice that he has a couch in the outside portion of his pen. Willie claimed the couch back when he still lived in the house by chewing a hole in it, so Joseph and Cindy decided he could keep it and they got a new one, win-win! The previously mentioned female joey, Allie, that they recently brought home is currently eight months old and still living in her pouch at the Rogers house. Despite being only eight months old, Allie is roughly the size of a toddler. Once she is old enough, she will go to live in the enclosure with Willie.

Rocking Dirt Road Farms offers multiple events throughout the year. In the fall, they host a fall festival complete with a pumpkin patch and fall decorations. During the spring season, they have an easter egg hunt which is their biggest event of the year. They also offer two different camps: horse camp and zoo camp. Their horse camp is intended for beginners. The campers learn about safety around horses, basic horse care and horse riding skills. They also learn how to tack up a horse. During their zoo camp, campers learn about several species of animals at the petting zoo. Campers learn about the different diets and care that exotic animals require. Special guests are invited to bring in exotics that Rogers do not have at the petting zoo to show the campers. The farm also participates in travel petting zoos, fairs, and festivals. You can even book a birthday party with them and receive full access to their inflatables, petting zoo, outside play area, pony rides, and mechanical bull rides. 

Rocking Dirt Road Farms is located in Dyersburg. They are open year-round, rain or shine just like they first dreamed. During their summer season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, they are open from 10 to 6 on Tuesdays through Saturdays and from 1 to 6 on Sundays. During the month of October, they are open from 3 to 7 from Tuesday through Thursday, 10 to 7 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1 to 6 on Sundays. The rest of the year they are open from 10 to 6 on Fridays and Saturdays and from 1 to 6 on Sundays. For more information about Rocking Dirt Road Farms or if you would like to book a birthday party with them visit their website at http://www.rockingdirtroadfarms.com/