Texas

Central Texas camels and livestock travel all over the state to participate in live nativity scenes during the Christmas season

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VALLEY MILLS, Texas (KWTX) – Valley Mills residents are taking their camels on the highway for the twenty sixth yr to be part of stay Nativity scenes throughout the state.

“We’ve traveled throughout the state offering the entire manger scene, principally all the pieces besides the newborn Jesus,” Doug Baum, Valley Mills rancher, mentioned.

Baum’s household began the custom virtually three many years in the past together with his household and livestock, together with donkeys, sheep, goats and camels.

As a former zoo keeper, Baum all the time felt a heat connection to camels, and, whereas domesticated camels are a rarity within the U.S., Baum left the zoo and began elevating camels in Valley Mills.

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“They actually captivated my consideration,” he mentioned. “I fell in love with them. After which, at some extent, I noticed these animals have some form of impact on individuals. They get completely satisfied, they get heat emotions…”

Understanding that camels are a staple within the Nativity scene, Baum, alongside together with his household and the camels, began collaborating in stay nativity scenes for church buildings and organizations.

It shortly turned a cherished custom for the Baum household because the demand for them elevated dramatically over time.

“Although we’ve completed this for 3 many years, I by no means take as a right that there are people who’re seeing a camel for the primary time,” Baum mentioned. “I see it within the youngsters’s eyes, I see it within the mum or dad’s eyes…They’re wowed, however, extra importantly is that the message of Christmas will get introduced to those people by our camels.”

Baum mentioned, this yr, the group is touring all corners of Texas, together with spots in Central Texas, to take part in 36 Nativity scenes in 28 days.

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He mentioned it’s an especially busy season for the crew, however they’d not need it every other manner.

“The factor I like is that it’s our household custom for a whole era now,” Baum mentioned. “My children have grown up realizing that, at Christmas time, that is what we do.”

Often, church buildings request three camels to correspond with the three clever males; due to this fact, the Baum’s are capable of schedule a couple of occasions at a time.

Baum raises seven camels with one on the best way, and the oldest camel, Richard, is 26 years outdated.

They are going to be at Baylor’s Christmas on Fifth St. Thursday night in addition to First United Methodist Church in Valley Mills on Dec. 18 5-7 p.m. He mentioned they are going to be wherever from Texarkana to Austin to San Antonio.

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“Anyone shall be driving down Waco Drive or Valley Mills Drive or Freeway 84, after which off to the aspect they’re going to see a stay nativity scene…not the factor that you just’ve received in your kitchen desk or your eating room desk, the lovable little scene there, however a stay model of it, and that wows people,” Baum mentioned. “However, the very best half is that heat vacation feeling that folk get.”



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