LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) – At Owens Fisher Construction in Lexington, a road sign out front might make visitors wonder if they’re in the Sahara Desert instead of South Carolina.
But down the path, owner Clifford Fisher’s newest pet makes it all clear. This is the second camel Clifford has owned.
“Still don’t really know what to do with a camel, but love ‘em,” Fisher said.
Bonding with a camel
Fisher said the most important process in breaking in a camel is getting the animal to bond with its owner.
“After that, it’s fairly easy. As you can tell, he wants to follow me,” he said.
Fisher first followed what he said was a divine calling 29 years ago to buy his first camel, Abraham, for his church’s Christmas program.
Abraham the 1st at Lake Murray Baptist’s annual “Jesus Is His Name” Christmas show.(WIS News 10)
“The show went on twenty-some years at Lake Murray Baptist, and now it’s at the horse arena in South Congaree every Christmas,” Fisher said.
A fixture at the nativity scene
Abraham became a fixture at the nativity scene for years, touching hearts in the process.
“Abraham was 1800 pounds, and I had people send me letters that said, ‘If he can bow to baby Jesus, I will too,’” Fisher said. “Like I told the preacher, Abraham saved a lot of people and never said a word, so it’s kinda funny.”
Abraham also had a thirst for Mountain Dew. WIS Sports Director Rick Henry found that out at a Lexington County Blowfish baseball game a few years back.
“Abraham the camel challenged me to a Mountain Dew chugging contest. You know I love my Mountain Dew. But I’m no match for Abraham,” Henry said.
WIS Sports Director Rick Henry and Abraham the 1st partake in a Mountain Dew drinking contest.(WIS News 10)
Abraham brought faith and fun wherever he roamed for nearly three decades.
“I did not realize until he did pass away the influence that he had on the community and how many people loved him,” Fisher said.
Finding Abraham 2.0
Abraham passed away last year. After all those years together, Fisher entered a period of grief.
“It was an interesting venture. I wasn’t sure if I wanted another camel. I mourned a lot over Abraham,” he said.
Fisher’s wife and daughter started searching online for another camel and found one in Illinois.
“The guy did not want to sell him to me because he’s so rare. And he did the history of Abraham the 1st and said it would be a privilege to send him to South Carolina,” Fisher said.
Upon meeting the camel, Fisher knew it was a match.
“This is Abraham 2.0. The angels brought him to me, so that’s why he’s white. Very rare camel, very few are ever born white,” he said.
The new Abraham is fitting in with Fisher’s other animals.
“He really likes Jackson for some reason. They like each other. I don’t know why, but they do,” Fisher said.
Abraham 2.0 and Jackson share a playful moment.(John Blashke)
The new camel is picking up where the first Abraham left off, with a similar thirst. When bottle feeding, Fisher said the slurping noise means the camel is drinking.
WIS’s Greg Adaline takes the chance to feed Abraham 2.0 a bottle full of milk.(John Blashke)
Abraham 2.0 appeared in the Lexington St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Fisher said the camel will appear at other community events throughout the year, including the yearly Christmas program titled “Jesus Is His Name” at the South Congaree Horse Arena.
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