On farms, the loss of an animal is inevitable. The situation is made harder for animals that must be chemically euthanized. This is due to Wisconsin regulations prohibiting burial. This leaves farmers with limited options for proper disposal. In DePere, one business has stepped in to fill that need. Camelot Cremation, owned by Lauren Underhill, works with farmers across the region to cremate animals of all sizes, from family horses to show cattle and even zoo animals.
Underhill says the idea grew naturally out of the rescue farm she operates. “We have over 64 animals in our care… and along with that comes a lot of loss,” she explains. With only one other company in the state able to handle large-animal cremation she founded Camelot to offer another option. The business provides fully intact cremation, returning cremains in an urn when families request it. If the family does not want the cremains they spread them on the rescue farm.
How It Works
The company handles five to ten large animals per week and travels statewide, even crossing into Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan to meet demand. Their specialized equipment includes a massive incinerator that can hold up to 5,000 pounds, large enough for two horses at once. For farmers looking for a greener option, Camelot also offers aquamation, an emerging, environmentally friendly process that uses water and gentle chemicals to reduce the body to bone. What remains is a mineral-rich liquid called effluent. Also, the effluent can be applied to cropland as a natural fertilizer.
Farmers have quickly embraced the benefits. “It’s really a full circle process… farmers love that for fertilizing their field,” Underhill says. Camelot currently donates effluent to local producers, many of whom report improved growth and better forage yields. The company also offers a 24-hour pickup guarantee anywhere in Wisconsin, easing the burden during an already stressful time.
From offering closure to families to turning loss into something that can support new plant life, Camelot Cremation has become a trusted partner for farmers seeking a clean, legal, and compassionate solution for animal disposal.
