For most people, a weekend job in high school is something you eventually leave behind but for Martin resident Chris Whitney, it became a way of life for the next 25 years.
Chris was just in Year 8 when a family friend put him in touch with the original owners of Old Macdonald’s Travelling Farms WA East.
What began as casual weekend work soon grew into something much bigger.
“I was just doing it as a weekend job while I was in high school,” he said.
After finishing school, Chris travelled frequently, working six-month intervals at the farm.
Throughout the decades, he visited communities, schools, events and care facilities with his animals in tow, sharing moments of joy, curiosity and connection with thousands of people.
For Chris, those human interactions are what linger most.
“Meeting and interacting with people was the most rewarding part of the job,” he said.
“Another thing was witnessing the healing power of animals.”
The farm’s visits to therapy and disability support services left a lasting impression on Chris.
“We used to do a lot of jobs for Rocky Bay and places like that,” he said.
“I saw the impact the animals had on kids with autism and other disabilities.”
When asked to sum up his quarter-century on the road, Chris chose one word: lifestyle.
“It’s an all-consuming lifestyle,” he said.
“It’s something you do every day of the week. Even if you want to call it a day off, you still have jobs to do.”
The animals lived with him, needing around the clock care.
“But it’s a really enjoyable, really rewarding lifestyle,” he said.
The job carried him through different stages of his life, shaping his outlook along the way.
“I’ve grown to learn not to judge people by how they look or what situation they’re in,” he said.
“We did a lot of jobs for a few of the different prisons, and some of the people I met there were great people who just had bad circumstances.”
“You learn as you go, and you grow as a person from experiences with other people.”
Now, after 25 years, Chris is stepping back and slowly saying goodbye to life on the farm.
He has sold most of his animals as he prepares to move to a smaller block, a key reason behind his decision to sell the business.
But two companions are coming with him, his beloved dogs Milo and Oi.
“They’ll still be by my side,” he said.
Chris admits, in another world, he might have stayed longer at the farm.
“Under different circumstances I would have given it a heap more years,” he said.
“But at the same time, I’m getting tired.”
The workload intensified after the pandemic.
“I’d been working seven days a week since the beginning of Covid,” he said.
“I’ve been working at the stock feeders as well, and the weekends are usually 30-40-hour day weekends.”
Although retiring from the travelling farm, Chris isn’t stepping away from work entirely.
He said he’ll continue working at Feedman stockfeeds, with Milo and Oi tagging along.
And for anyone who has loved meeting the dogs, the invitation is open.
“If anyone wants to drop in and visit the dogs, they’re more than welcome to.”
Sunday, December 7, will be the last chance to say farewell to Chris’ farm animals at the Roleystone markets from 3-8pm.
