EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Zoo staff and board recognized Dan and Shirley Power for their $103,000 contribution to build a new up close bison viewing area. The Powers also donated their 15- year- old Bison, Norman, to the bison herd in September of 2021.
Zoo staff and board members recognized and celebrated the Power couple's contribution on Friday morning. Dan and Shirley stamped their hands into the front of the new viewing area.
"When I came down here I said, my biggest knock with the zoo was that they've done a lot of wonderful things but the bison are on the other side of the pond," said Power at the ceremony. "You wouldn't even know they were there half the time unless someone told you, hey I think I see one over there."
Zoo Director Nicole Mantz said the timing for Norman to become an addition to the zoo's bison herd was perfect because their alpha male had recently died.
"We are super fortunate that you have helped us make this a reality," Mantz said to the Powers.
Dan formed a close relationship with Norman who resided with the Powers on Monroe Street in Hutchinson for most of his life. When Dan and Shirley bought 26 acres of land a couple of years ago, they had to face the decision of moving Norman away from their home.
"The home association people around there had rules against building fences and then having livestock go into those fences so that was my dilemma," Power said.
In 2021, Power struck up a conversation with a Hutchinson Zoo employee about potentially having Norman live at the zoo.
"She goes...she had this funny look on her face and she goes, you know we lost our alpha male, and I said no, I didn't know that and so it was just one of those God things," Power said.
The Hutchinson Zoo Board committed to raise the rest of the money for the new exhibit which was $80,000. After the city council approved it, design for the new area was completed in 2022 and construction started in the summer of 2023.
"It's something I think everyone in Hutchinson will enjoy," Power said.
To visit Norman, head to the south end of the zoo where the viewing area renovations will continue to take place as a part of the Zoo's strategic master plan.
More information about the Hutchinson Zoo is available at hutchinsonzoo.org.
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