Ken "Beorn" Turner

Beorn is an experienced animal handler. He worked at The Philadelphia Zoo for 4 1/2 years where he received an animal handling certificate, he has studied wildlife management and biology. During his time at the zoo he had chances to work with a wide range of animals from ferrets, skunks, sea lions, as well as horses, ponies and other larger animals. Some of his jobs at the zoo ranged from animal feeding and maintenance of the animals to assisting the zoo's vet with in the field procedures. This experience has left him well positioned to work with Paragon Jousting's horses.

Since 1995 Beorn has been involved in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) where he served as Chatelaine and Seneschal, this experience gave him an introduction to medieval fighting. In 2001 he worked at The Vermont Renaissance Festival.

In 2003, Beorn participated in The Connecticut Renaissance Faire as an actor, which also gave him the opportunity to gain stage fighting experience. While working at CTRF, Beorn met Scott from Paragon Jousting and they began working together. The idea of combining his love of animals and medieval fighting together was an opportunity Beorn could not resist.

In his time working with Paragon, Beorn has served as a squire, Stablemaster to the horses while the team was on the road, Master of the List, and most recently as an armored fighter during the larger, more complex joust shows. Watch for him at shows as the imposing Russian, Ivan Mosheninkov.