ROCHELLE ­— James Supancic had always dreamt of becoming a veterinarian and although life’s path took a different direction, he is still living the dream surrounded by what he loves.
Supancic, known as “Spud” in Rochelle and the surrounding communities, lives on a five-acre farm in rural Rochelle amongst miniature horses, miniature donkeys, goats, sheep, peacocks, swans and ducks.
Supancic, a self-proclaimed animal lover, is a proud member of five different pet, bird and game breeders clubs in Illinois and surrounding states. He is also a state-certified blood tester for pullorum, an infectious poultry disease. Before any poultry-type animal can be brought to a 4-H or county fair or swap meet, they are tested for the disease. Once the bird is tested and passes, Supancic issues a certificate, good for 90 days.
Supancic will often assist 4-H and FFA clubs to make sure their birds are cleared to show. At the heart of it all is his passion to help the youth foster their interests in all types of farming.

“I do it to help the youth…the youth is where we should emphasize. Raising animals and selling produce, chickens, gardening…I think the kids learn a lot. They learn responsibility and how to care for things,” Supancic said. “To me the whole thing is all about the kids.”
Field trips
Helping the younger generation has been Supancic’s mantra for years, even hosting Rochelle elementary school kids for field trips to his farm. He would order baby chicks, turkeys, and ducks just in time for the youngsters’ field trip visits.
“It was set up so they could look and maybe touch them. All of the kids were good, never had one problem and they were all well behaved,” Supancic reflected. “I did it because some of those kids had never seen a baby chick. Sometimes we had baby rabbits…it worked out really well.”
Over time, Supancic started bringing in some of the animals to his grandson’s classroom each spring. He also furnished fertile chicken eggs for classroom incubators, in turn gladly raising the hatchlings.

Supancic shared the time he and a friend attended a swap meet in Freeport, where they encountered a young boy walking around. When he approached Supancic, the boy said he didn’t have any animals prompting both men to gladly give a chicken and a rabbit. About an hour later the boy was spotted trying to sell his new animals.
“My buddy and I laughed about it. He was an enterprising little guy,” Supancic said. “He didn’t ask for the animals, we offered and he took them.”
That is not the first time Supancic and his friends have given animals to youngsters, still carrying the belief in helping the younger generation.
“We’ve had parents come over and thank us for doing that,” Supancic said. “We did it to encourage them, because they learn a lot of responsibility. I think with animals they build up a rapport…they understand them and are not afraid of them. I’ve seen kids at swaps walk around with their eyes really big. Sometimes people can’t afford to make a trip to Chicago or Milwaukee to a zoo, but at the swaps you see all kinds of animals.”
Daily life
Together with fiancé, Laura Holzlander, the pair tends to the brood from sunrise to sunset. Supancic credits Holzlander, who is retired, for taking care of the farm while he is at work at his insurance business in Rochelle.
For Supancic, it all started as a 4-H member while attending Rochelle Township High School, always wanting to be a veterinarian. Although he enrolled in pre-veterinarian courses at Kishwaukee College, family obligations took a priority.
Supancic remembers growing up nearly every farm had a small orchard, chickens and ducks, raising their own beef and chickens for food.
“Hardly anymore…Lots of the buildings got old and fell in. Not too many people are interested in animals and livestock anymore in this area. It’s changed,” Supancic said. “Now there are very few small guys around here. Mostly corn and beans.”
In 1966 he purchased a farm and started with a couple of quarter horses and some chickens. It grew quickly after that. He explains with pride the time he achieved a goal.
“One year everything but the flour was raised on my farmette, the eggs, bacon, milk...came from the farm,” Supancic said. “It was a personal thing for me, knowing everything we had there was raised without additives. We lived how people lived a long time ago, low key.”

All these years later after raising four children and four more that “adopted him,” Supancic and Holzlander enjoy visits from the grandchildren. They both spend time attending swaps several times a year. One in particular is in Kalona, Iowa. Supancic lists all of the exotic animals he has seen there, including kangaroos, zebras, camels, and chinchillas — just to name a few.
“My favorites are goats…I had them when I was 5, 6 years old. I’ve always liked them,” said Supancic when asked if he has a favorite and if he names the animals. “I name them more than I should. I had a goat for 14 years, named him Hector. He was a pet, followed me around like a dog. He would sit on the couch and watch TV. Laura’s grandkids would ride him when they were little.”
Now his miniature horses follow him everywhere much the same.
Join the club
Along with the swaps, Supancic and Holzlander both enjoy their time with members from the various clubs they both belong to. He said it’s a great time to exchange information or just pass the time with others that share the same interests.
“We exchange information on what works for them…it might be how some birds can be housed together, or some might be aggressive and need to be separated. Some need boxes above ground, while others nest on the ground,” Supancic explained. “Some of these members spend a lot of money fitting their properties with small ponds and trees to imitate the natural habitat. Some donate their time to zoos, sharing knowledge.”
Along with continued efforts on fostering youth’s interests, Supancic said his hobby is helping to preserve several species. He shared some advice to anyone interested in raising and breeding animals and birds.
“It’s the joy of doing things to promote the species that might be endangered. It’s going to be hard work. It’s addictive. You get a lot of pleasure from it…It’s not for the money, but more a personal accomplishment that you’ve done something very few people do.