If you’re familiar with the name “Matt Roloff”, then you probably watch his family’s reality show on TV. Or, you may be one of his disgruntled neighbors. Roloff and his wife Amy are dwarfs who are showing America that, even though they’re small in stature, they can do the same things other people do, just in a “different way”. Read this interesting article and learn some little known facts about Matt Roloff from TLC’s Little People, Big World that are sure to amaze you!
Matt and Amy
Matthew James Roloff was born October 7, 1961 in San Francisco, California. His parents, Ron and Peggy, brothers Sam and Joshua, and sister Ruth rounded out the Roloff family. Matt and his brothers were born dwarfs, but their sister was normal size. (Sadly, Joshua has since passed away from a heart problem.)
Matt Roloff’s dwarfism is known as Diastrophic Dysplasia. One of his hips has two ball joints while the other has no socket. His joints never formed properly. His fingers are short and thick. He can operate the controls of a powerful bulldozer, yet putting on a pair of socks leaves him feeling helpless. Roloff gets around by using crutches and a scooter. Because this disease is degenerative, his body becomes crippled a little more each day. Yet, Matt Roloff’s mind and imagination stay sharp and inventive.
A little known fact about Matt Roloff from TLC’s Little People, Big World is that he met his wife (full name is Amy Jo) at a Little People of America (LPA) convention in Michigan. Just like her husband, who is an inch taller, Amy is a dwarf who stands four feet, one inch tall. However, she is an Achondroplastic dwarf.
The couple, who married nearly two decades ago, have four children- twins Jeremy and Zachary, Molly and Jacob. Zach is the only “little person”, while the other three are normal.
Their Farm
Part of the attraction in watching the Roloff family every week on TV is seeing their thirty-four acre farm. Unlike traditional farms that have common items like cows and goats and fields of crops, their farm has things like an Old West town complete with a jail and a bank, Pirate Ship, medieval castle, large treehouse, bridges to cross, a tower, a regulation soccer playing field for the kids, a volleyball court, mine shaft, pond, and plenty of underground tunnels. Fifteen operations and time at physical therapy took away much of Matt Roloff’s childhood. So, he decided to build the farm full of fun and attractions for his kids to enjoy. The Roloff farm recieves approximately 30,000 visitors annually. However, parts of the property are only open to the public at certain times, such as pumpkin season.
A little known fact about Matt Roloff from TLC’s Little People, Big World is that he and Amy happened across a fixer-upper farmhouse and a decrepit barn in Helvetia, Oregon a decade ago. The Roloffs decided the place would be a perfect place for their family (Amy was pregnant with the twins), so they bought the 34-acre spread for $185,000 and moved from California.
Their Careers
Being involved in The Learning Channel’s Little People, Big World show isn’t the first time Matt Roloff has been in front of a camera. He worked as an extra in the movie Under the Rainbow. He also was an Ewok in the Star Wars movie, “Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.” As for his day job, Matt Roloff made his money as a software developer and businessman. Today, Matt Roloff runs Direct Access Solutions, a company that develops and markets products for little people.
Amy Roloff is a teacher who is currently a stay-at-home mother.
The Author
Another little known fact about Matt Roloff from TLC’s Little People, Big World is that he is also a talented writer. Roloff published his first book, Against Tall Odds, in 1999. In 2007, he got the family together with Tracy Summer and developed a hardcover titled Little Family, Big Values Book.
Disgruntled Neighbors
A little known fact about Matt Roloff from TLC’s Little People, Big World is that, while his farm is an abundance of entertainment, his neighbors aren’t always amused. They put up with his various projects until he had several dump trucks bring in tons and tons of dirt to his farm in 2002. He needed the dirt to start a Christmas tree nursery. But, instead of “Ho, ho, ho” Matt Roloff’s Washington County neighbors said “Ho-ld it!” Complaints were made against the “hazardous traffic conditions” and dust the dump trucks were stirring up. Saying “Enough is enough!”, his neighbors also complained about zoning violations, building code violations and more.
A temporary stop work order was issued by the county commissioners until the situation could be investigated. Roloff had to prove he was in compliance with the laws, which included having building permits.
