(Photo by Annika Cline - KJZZ)

Chandler used to be home to many ostrich ranches, and the city's founder, Dr. A.J. Chandler, owned many of the birds himself.

Annika Cline/KJZZ

Ostriches at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler for the annual Ostrich Festival.

(Photo by Annika Cline - KJZZ)

The Chandler Ostrich Festival began in 1989.

And they’re off! Ruffle My Feathers takes the lead, but closely tailing him is Birdman. This isn’t a horse race, this is an ostrich race.

The Ostrich Festival is this weekend in Chandler. Believe it or not, those large African birds are a big part of Chandler’s history.

"Dr. Chandler, who founded Chandler, used to be one of the nation’s largest ostrich farmers here in the entire country," said Terri Kimble, president and CEO of Chandler Chamber of Commerce, the organization that hosts the festival. 

"This area used to be ostrich ranches," Kimble said. "And back in the early 1900s, they used feathers in hats and on men’s hats and, you know, on lapels and everything."

They’re not just a pretty bunch of feathers though. The birds are fast, too. They can run up to 45 miles an hour.

But according to ostrich handler Amanda Clinton, they just might not know that they’re supposed to be racing to the finish line.

"They have a mind of their own, you really can’t get them to go in the direction," she said. "You never know what these birds are gonna do, and if you come out and see it, they’re all over the arena."

And that’s what makes for half the fun. But if 7-feet-tall birds aren’t your thing, there will also be sharks, tigers, ducks, donkeys and just about every kind of cow you could want to look at. And located at a respectful distance from the live ostriches will be an ostrich burger vendor, and guess what it tastes like?

"They taste a lot like, um, tougher chicken," Kimble said.

You can try one of those burgers for yourself and cheer on the ostrich racers this weekend at the Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. Find out more at www.ostrichfestival.com.