Some might call Jennifer Owens an art collector. Her walls are adorned with highly coveted, one-of-a-kind masterpieces. The artists? A sloth bear, an armadillo and Jewel the elephant.
Despite appearances, Owens isn’t an animal art connoisseur, but rather a dedicated volunteer for the Little Rock Zoo and chairperson of the Arkansas Zoological Foundation (AZF). Her 10th year volunteering for the zoo coincides with its 90th birthday, and Owens is excited to celebrate both the zoo’s past and its future with Wild Wines of the World and the opening of its newest exhibit, the Arkansas Heritage Farm.
Little Rock native, Owens has been a patron of the zoo since her childhood.
“I have distinct memories of coming here as a child, which was so different because the Zoo has grown so much since then,” Owens says.
Owens even had her first volunteer experience as a Candy Captain at Boo at the Zoo, the zoo’s Halloween event, when she was in her early teens.
“I’d still like to have a t-shirt that says ‘Candy Captain,’ ” she says with a laugh.
Owens’ long-time love of, and history with, the zoo meant it was only natural for her to return to her volunteering roots as an adult and join the committee for the first annual Wild Wines event 10 years ago.
“Any nonprofit organization would love to have a Jennifer,” says Susan Altrui, the zoo’s assistant director and Executive Director for the Arkansas Zoological Foundation. “Not only is she there for development, working to get money and donors, but she also shows up in sneakers to work. She brings the resources and the sweat.”
Owens, however, promises she isn’t the only one.
“That’s the amazing thing about the AZF board,” she says. “We have people that work on special events, and members that are docents. This is a working board and every single member gets their hands dirty and is 100 percent involved in every aspect of the Zoo.”
Pet Project
Throughout her years as a volunteer, Owens has been involved in a number of exciting firsts, including the opening of the Laura P. Nichols Penguin Pointe and Cheetah Outpost exhibits.
“I’ve been on the AZF board for five years and I’ve played lots of different roles, but I’m super excited to be chairperson of the board this year because I’m so excited about the new Arkansas Heritage Farms exhibit,” Owens says.
The newest addition to the Little Rock Zoo, Arkansas Heritage Farms will have its grand opening with a celebration on April 2. The big day will kick off at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by special presentations from the educational staff, live music and giveaways.
“We did a lot of research before we decided on this exhibit,” Altrui says. “When people think about zoos, they immediately think of exotic animals, but there’s a big desire to see and get to know domestic animals as well. We interviewed members and guests, and they all wanted an interactive exhibit.”
Interaction with the animals is exactly what the new Arkansas Heritage Farms will offer. Guests will have the ability to pet, groom and feed animals such as goats, cows, miniature horses, sheep and heritage breed chickens. The zoo’s educational staff will offer special programming, and through a partnership with Heifer International, guests can learn about sustainable farming initiatives that can be implemented on Arkansas farms of all sizes.
“We’re giving children and adults the opportunity to learn more about what their state has to offer in an interactive environment, and that’s so important,” Owens says.
The zoo hopes to seamlessly weave this conversation about sustainable farming into the ongoing education that has become a priority over its 90-year history.
(See Timeline: A History of the Little Rock Zoo)
Bears and Bars
The Little Rock Zoo has quite a humble origin story, beginning in 1926 with just two animals: a timberwolf and an abandoned circus bear. The unlikely pair were donated to the city of Little Rock and, as local lore suggests, kept in the basement of City Hall until they were moved to the Arkansas State Fair, then located at Fair Park.
The Zoo became an official part of the Department of Parks and Sanitation and slowly began to acquire new animals, including the beloved elephant Ruth, who was a favorite among guests for more than 40 years. When the state fair moved to its current location off Roosevelt Road, the zoo was able to expand in both space and animals.
With President Roosevelt’s New Deal came new funds for public works in the 1930s, allowing the zoo to build structures to house both monkeys and big cats. These structures, built from Arkansas native stone, are still part of the zoo today.
It was during this time that a stronger emphasis was placed on safer enclosures and the mental health and well-being of the animals. When the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 was passed, the zoo committed itself to moving away from barred cages and, over time, recreating the natural habitats of its occupants. This led to the zoo’s “Bring Down the Bars” campaign in 1980 and massive fundraising efforts to create exhibits such as Big Cats, Great Apes, and Lemur Island.
In 1985, the zoo achieved national accreditation from the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, which offered increased funding and saw the addition of many new natural exhibits. The 1990s were marked by budgetary strains and a handful of animal deaths, and the zoo leaned heavily on donations from the community during this period. Following a series of events involving leadership changes and missed deadlines, the zoo found itself stripped of both its AAZPA accreditation and licensure through the USDA. Shortly after this, the Zoo overhauled its governing system and separated from the Department of Parks and Recreation to become a stand-alone city department, eventually achieving reaccreditation in 2001.
Back on solid ground and under strong leadership, the zoo created a $5 million dollar master plan that overhauled many of its exhibits, as well as turning the old cat house into Café Africa and adding the Laura P. Nichols Penguin Pointe and Cheetah Outpost. Today, the zoo is one of the largest tourist destinations in central Arkansas, welcoming more than 300,000 guests a year.
Into the Wild
The zoo’s longstanding history of overcoming the odds will be celebrated at this year’s “90th at Night” themed Wild Wines of the World, an event that Owens has elevated over the years by lending her talents as a sommelier.
“My parents love wine, so I’ve been lucky to travel to the wine regions of California, France and Germany,” Owens says. “I’d say it was a happy coincidence that I was able to get involved with Wild Wines.”
This year’s Wild Wines, presented by Wright, Lindsey, Jennings, will take place April 30th at the Zoo. Guests can sample foods from 50 restaurants and more than 200 high-quality wines donated by O’Looney’s Wine and Liquor.
Altrui credits Owens with adding authenticity to Wild Wines, which its guests have appreciated.
“You need someone that understands wine for an event that’s about wine,” Altrui says. “If we want to have a Reserve Wine Room experience that’s specifically for higher end wines, we need someone who knows the difference between a good wine and a lower end wine. Jennifer’s helped to give us a variety year to year, which has given a sense of quality and authentication to the event to help it grow.”
Funds raised at Wild Wines will be used by the AZF to further its mission of providing experiences that teach the importance of conservation and education.
“Anything we can do to foster a sense of family, we should,” Owens says. “We should do that every day. That’s exactly what the zoo does. It does it with family, friends, field trips. It gives us a sense of community, because we’re all on the same page when we’re inside the zoo.”
Wild Wines of the World
April 30
Little Rock Zoo
Tickets & Info:
LittleRockZoo.com/WildWines