Spectrum Ranch is home to a large variety of Alternative Livestock, or sometimes refered to as Exotic Animals. Spectrum Ranch is a federally and state licensed private breeding facility. We have been raising and dealing with alternative livestock for more than 20 years, and consider what we do a lifestyle more than a job. We love what we do, and are fully committed to promoting the welfare of companion animals.

Spectrum Ranch is the culmination of a childhood fasination. Today, Spectrum Ranch is operated by Randy Krueger. Randy has been involved with many types of Alternative Livestock, with expressed interest in breeding rare and endangered animals to ensure preservation for the future.



Account by Randy Krueger
I grew up in the small town of Neshkoro, Wisconsin. Altough I grew up in town, I would stay at my grandparents farm, while both my parents worked. This is where my interest in animals first started. My maternal grandparents, Andrew & Evelyn Hopp, mainly raised various types of poultry and rabbits. Following in my grandpas shadow each day, (probably slowing him down, rather than helping) he taught me many things about raising animals. I still use many of the techniques as he did, in my daily chores. While I had a few chickens and rabbits that were my very own, they needed to stay at my grandparents farm. At home in my parents apartment- they bought a parakeet for me to keep, which followed me around like a puppy. Then in grade school my parents moved into a house on the edge of Neshkoro, where I now had room for my animals. Luckily the house was only 6 houses down the block from my paternal grandparents, Arnold & Caroline Krueger. My parents helped me build a coop and pens for my small flock of chickens, which I then moved home. Shortly later those grandparents also moved into town, so I now had alot of support & advise for help as my flock grew.

And grow it did, my parents(Gary & Sherry Krueger) gave me a group of baby ducks and geese for my birthday. Then in 7th grade a family friend gave me 2 young peacock chicks. I was now hooked on nontraditional livestock, reading everything I could find on alternative livestock. My parents were very supportive by taking me to see other animal breeders & swap meets. I worked around the neighborhood- mowing grass, shoveling snow, etc, so I had money to purchase new animals. My parents helped with the costs and labor of building more pens and coops.

My 2 younger brothers, Rodney and Ryan, also became very involved in the animals. While Rodney's efforts focused more on Cagebirds and Parrots; Ryan's interest first focused on pheasants and hoofstock.

In Highschool, raising peafowl was my main interest. Apon getting my drivers license, most weekends were spent visiting other farms and purchasing more stock. Most trips at least one of my 4 grandparents would go along to help. Each had their own valuable lessons- which gave me a well rounded pool of knowledge. By graduation, I was producing 300 to 400 peafowl each year in several different color mutations. I was also very active in FFA, acheiving many awards and acomplishments. I also ranked first at the State Bussiness Management test in 1989, and went on to place 40th out of 200 students at the National test.

After Graduation, I traveled around the states, visiting many farms and ranches, looking at various setups.I returned home with tons of ideas, and a long list of new animals I wanted to work with. One of the first additions was Chinese Water Deer, which we successfully raised for several years. A few years later, while looking at purchasing llamas, I met Troy Luethe. Troy had ventured into the llama industry a few years earlier, an now had about
25 llamas. We combined efforts forming Pine Bluff Llamas & Exotics. Over the next few years, we traveled the nation searching for llamas to add to our growing herd. Within 4 years, we now had a herd of about 200 llamas. We also added new types of animals- such as Alpacas, Camels, Zebra and more. As Troy took on new business ventures, both of our goals went in different directions. After seperating the Pine Bluff llama and alpaca herds in 2001, a whole new ranch was just beginning.

A new beginning meant coming up with a new name. After many ideas, and looking at the vibrant multi-colors of our peafowl with the diverse range of species- "Spectrum Ranch" just seemed natural.  Also at that time I started to venture farther into the horse world.  A few years later on a trip looking at buying some horses- I then ran into Lonnie Sharping. Lonnie and the Sharping family operates SOS Ranch in Pukwana, SD. It is mainly a horse and cattle ranch with a variety of exotics mixed in.  I had done business with the Sharping family over the years.  Realizing Lonnie and I had the same interests- I began spending time helping out at the ranch in SD. Now combining efforts has allowed us to better serve our customers, and offer two usually different viewpoints.

Spectrum Ranch is proud to offer animals that show the evolution of our program, through our foundation breeding animals, and the youngsters represenative of our breeding direction.  

Thank you to all that have helped along this jorney- Especially:
My Parents- Gary & Sherry Krueger
My Brothers- Rodney & Ryan Krueger
My Grandparents- Andrew & Evelyn Hopp and Arnold & Caroline Krueger

~ Randy