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Old McMicky's asks for help

The farm and petting zoo still are operating in the red despite a transition to nonprofit status.

By JACKIE RIPLEY
Published February 20, 2005

ODESSA - It was about this time last year that Old McMicky's Farm was celebrating its move to nonprofit status and the promise of better financial days to come.

The festivities, however, may have been premature.

The petting zoo, a favorite among area schoolchildren, is still operating in the red, and owner Janice Rodda fears for its future.

"I know there are people out there who could give us a hand," said Rodda, who has contributed $250,000 over the years for operating expenses at Old McMicky's. "Everywhere I go there are people out there who say, "I've been there, or my grandkids have been there.' Nobody wants us to close."

Going nonprofit was intended to improve the farm's financial standing. However, the strategy has not worked as well as Rodda had hoped.

"We're $13,000 in the hole with hurricane repairs and didn't get to do the normal fix-up in January," she said.

The Roddas said they have not insured the farm against structural damages because it is too old.

Janice and Earl Rodda bought the 48-acre wilderness on Crescent Road, west of Gunn Highway, in 1991. They later added Old McMicky's Farm to the 58-year-old camp. When financial difficulties became too severe, they applied for not-for-profit status for the property. It was granted last year. The Roddas still own the camp and petting zoo but are leasing them to Odessa Education Park of Yesterday, a nonprofit organization.

Janice Rodda is the organization's chief executive.

"We're appealing to the public to take some responsibility," she said. "Paying for things like a decent bathroom needs to come from them."

Rodda is asking the public for help, either through donations or with the Old McMicky's Farm second annual celebrity golf tournament, to be held March 7 at Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd. Celebrities will include Tampa Bay Buccaneers Derek Brooks and Ronde Barber and Atlanta Falcons Jay Feely and Michael Jenkins. There will be 18 holes of golf, an awards dinner, and silent and live auctions. The auctioned items will include a signed Michael Vick football.

For more information about the tournament or to donate items for the silent auction, call 813 610-6648. -Jackie Ripley can be reached at (813) 269-5308 or ripley@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 19, 2005, 08:08:05]