Idaho alligator Farm

Leo Ray’s company in Haegerman Idaho is called Fish Breeders of Idaho.He raises among other species, catfish which thrive in the warm water that emanates from geothermal wells that exist in that area. But Leo has a strategy. Where most agriculture specialized, I diversified. And I may tell you the strength of the company was the diversity. The weakness was trying to manage all that diversity.

We raised about 10,000 alligators in ten years and they get West Nile virus. We didn't know that. And the people could catch West Nile virus from the Gators being carriers and processing them and everything. And I didn't want that risk. So we quit raising the alligators. We had two left. We kept it for the public to come in and look. And one of them turned out to be the largest alligator in captivity anywhere in the world. And the guy bought it and took it over to Alamosa, Colorado, where he has it on display all the time. This one probably about ten. The other one weighed 910 pounds. And with 12 and a half feet long, I'm 84. You're still tinkering. I'm still having fun. And I've got a granddaughter who's getting ready to take over the business. Right now more concentrating on getting things for a generation transfer than trying new things. But I got a few new ideas I'd like to play with.