Little Dude sees expansion

Little Dude Expo, LLC held a grand opening recently. Pictured here are the many friends and customers of the farm, which specializes in miniature horses and donkeys.

Located three and a half miles from downtown Greencastle on U.S. 231 is the Little Dude Ranch, and it's not so little anymore.

Owner Ty Sutherlin recently expanded the ranch by adding a new facility big enough to hold events for 300 people.

Little Dude Expo, LLC held a grand opening on April 22 for a huge crowd of customers and friends to celebrate the new addition.

A lifelong resident of Putnam County, Sutherlin specializes in exotic animals and miniature horses and donkeys. A weekly sale is held in the new building every Tuesday beginning at 4:30 p.m. with miscellaneous items and at 6:30 p.m. with animals.

The new facility consists of two barns connected together. One building has animal stalls and the other is totally finished on the inside with a portable sale ring and bleachers.

This area is also available for rent for parties, receptions, graduations and other special events.

Sutherlin is well-known in the local community for bringing country singers Brad Paisley and Josh Turner to McAnally Center at Greencastle High School for a concert several years ago. He also sponsored a concert by the Oak Ridge Boys.

Besides miniature ponies and donkeys, he ships exotic animals to places like Busch Gardens and the Siegfried and Roy in Las Vegas.

He has traveled the country with camels, tigers, squirrels and zebras as well as many other animals.

"Building this ranch is a long time dream of mine," said Sutherlin. "I've wanted to do something like this forever and now we have."