The Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management–Eastern States (BLM-ES) will hold a special wild horse and burro adoption at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri, June 23-24, 2007  

“A wonderful selection of animals will be available to good homes for an adoption fee starting at $125” said BLM-ES Director Mike Nedd. There will be about 60 horses and a few burros at this adoption including geldings, mares, and yearling horses. “This is your chance to get that unique wild horse or burro you have always wanted,” he said.

 

The wild horse adoption will be from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Saturday, June 23, 2007. Remaining animals will be available for adoption Sunday, June 24, 2007, from 8 A.M. until Noon. Animals can be viewed by the public between 1 P.M. and 5 P.M. on Friday, June 22, 2007. The arena is located just off US Highway 65, is easy to get to, and is open to the public with no admission charge.

 

Call 1-800-293-1781 for information and applications for the Sedalia adoption.  Potential adopters are asked to call early to be pre-approved to avoid waiting in line. You can also visit http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/adoption or http://www.es.blm.gov/whb/ to get requirement information and download an application and instructions to become a qualified adopter.

 

While the adoption process is simple and straightforward, anyone considering adoption of a wild horse or burro should remember that the animals are wild and require gentling and training. 

Since the Adopt-A-Wild Horse & Burro Program began in 1973, over 216,000 animals have been adopted nationwide, and of those 5,589 were adopted in Missouri.

 

Directions for the wild horse and burro adoption are: Missouri State Fairgrounds, 2503 West 16^th Street, Sedalia, Missouri. From Kansas City go east on I-70 for approximately 76 miles to US 65; go south on US 65 for approximately 19 miles and look for the fairground signs. From St. Louis go west on I-70 for approximately 173 miles; go south on US 65 for approximately 19 miles and look for the fairground signs.  For more specific directions visit: www.mostatefair.com

 

The BLM manages more land – 258 million surface acres – than any other Federal agency.  Most of this public land is located in 12 Western States, including Alaska.  The Bureau, with a budget of about $1.8 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation.  The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.  The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources on the public lands.