An Inspired Chat with Courtney Roten of Bardstown, Kentucky

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Courtney Roten. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Courtney, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
What is most misunderstood about someone who breeds animals is that they are chasing money or lack intelligence because they work with “lizards”. The amount of money it takes to properly keep and genuinely care for bearded dragons is astronomical. I have to make at least $1,500 a month to simply cover the cost to run my operation. It is not something you do for the money. You have to have the passion! So many jump into it without learning or thinking about the cost to actually run it. I recently gifted a red monster bearded dragon to a little boy who recently lost his brother to cancer (less than 3 weeks ago) and I did this in partnership with kristins bugs. They ensured he had the proper setup and I supplied the dragon. What I am in the business of doing is educating, eradicating improper dragon keeping myths, and pushing against improper breeders that get into it thinking it will instantly give them a quick buck. I did not have a gain the first year I was in business. It took three years before I began to actually make money. It takes a lot of work, integrity, humility, and knowledge to be a breeder!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Courtney and I’m a wife, mother of 3 humans, and I raise tiny dinosaurs. I ship out of Bardstown, ky all over the United States and I do ship to other countries as well. Most importantly, I love what I do! I am a happiness supplier! I aim to bring healthy and unique bearded dragons to all who are willing to provide them the correct home setup and understand the commitment and have the willingness to learn. I will not let my dragons go to just anyone because I love every single one.

I make a lot of content and slides to encourage, not just fun and gorgeous dragons, but to push the importance of proper lighting and diet. It is the most important thing. I also like to give people a look into my life of what it’s like to be a breeder and what all it entails! My content isn’t the typical single dragon pet owner content. I have dragons that have to interact because that’s where babies come from! It shocks a lot of people because they are so used to the golden rule “dragons are solitary, never have them together” so I love being able to show the other side of dragon keeping. People get to watch their own future dragons hatch and grow before they bring them home. And they know they will always have someone who cares to reach out to and provide them unbiased and experience-based advice.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe in the age we are in today, so many people are divided by what they see on their timelines and pushed in their societies. The one thing that unites us all is our pure love for animals. I have dogs, cats, and many different species of reptiles. I can related to just about any animal lover. So while the world tries to break the bond between us with politics and such, I think our love for animals can unite us and restore our faith in each other. This is one reason I love interacting with everyone who shares my love for reptiles and I REALLY enjoy getting updates from my customers as their dragons grow!

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
In 2021, I lost my little brother very tragically and suddenly when he was only 24. Coincidentally, my very clutch of dragon eggs was laid that very same day. I was so out of sorts in the depths of grief that my husband was actually the one who dug them up as I watched, and we put them in our first incubator together. I was still working my 9-5 bank job during this period so my dragons were purely something I considered a hobby and my joy in life. I took off from my job for 2 months as I grieved very heavily. And of course, as I went back to work, I still struggled. My first clutch of dragons hatched 2 months to the day I lost my little brother. The joy they brought to me was shared by the friends I had made in the reptile community. I was blessed that my husband saw how much pain I was in when I went back to work, and he actually began to encourage I give it my all and make it my full time passion. I know not everyone can do that because money can be tight. I still have months where it’s tight but I would not change it for the world. Those dragon eggs we received on the same day my brother left this world changed my life. They healed a part of me that was so deeply damaged and I continue to experience that joy every single time I hatch a new clutch of babies or see one being spoiled by their new family. There is nothing quite as healing as that.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I believe fads are pretty easy to see because you’ll see everyone jumping on it, including those who are clearly lacking in knowledge about it, and then you watch the turnaround slowly die. I like to watch the fads from the sideline and continue to chase what I love. Fads are something people jump into thinking there will be quick and easy turnaround. Foundational breeders know their base. They know their genetics. They know their dragons. I don’t chase fads that I know will fade. I simply make what I know I myself love because if I love it, I know someone else will as well.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people mostly remember that I loved God first and foremost. Everything I try to do in my business honors my faith. I try to be helpful, patient, and always give back. This is why I try to always respond to questions and provide selfmade slides to share my knowledge. While I never consider myself someone who is higher than the next, I definitely find joy in interacting with my customers and helping them provide the best care for my dragon babies, long after they leave. I hope people remember that I was always there to help and guide new owners and longtime keepers alike.

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