My Dream Starts Here

I have this crazy dream. I want a farm. But not just any farm, it must be sensory friendly. Why one must say? Everyone deserves the chance to learn about a farm and what it has to offer.

I have worked on an alpaca farm for the last 4 years and have loved everything about it! I have had the ability to chase the animals when they escape into the pasture. I can jump into a hay wagon and unload bales which is something many children never get to opportunity to do especially any with disabilities. I want to try and take away some of the barriers they have by having a place they can learn about agriculture. Everyone deserves the chance to learn about farming no matter what disabilities they have or don’t have.

This past summer I was working with an autistic child and invited him and his family to come visit the farm I work at. I was so nervous that the animals would run away, he would hurt them, they would spit at him, he would get super dirty, he would destroy something. So many things raced through my head as the day came closer. I prepped him the morning of, telling him we where going to the farm to see alpacas. The moment he saw the animals from the car he was so happy. Once he got out of the car we brought him right to the animals which he started running up and down the fence line with them. It was so nice to not have to hold his hand or worry he was going to grab anything he shouldn’t have as there was only the fence, the barn and gravel. Yes, he did find a couple weeds I never pulled up and he played with the red feeders hooked on the fence inside the pen. Yet, I do the same things on any day while at the farm. I have never seen him be so still as he touched the baby alpaca I brought out for him to touch. He was so gentle with her, it amazed me. I saw a side of this child I have never saw before. His mother was so happy to be able to enjoy time with her son, not having to worry all the possible things that could happen. On the farm he couldn’t break anything outside. We even brought him inside the store at the end and let him try on hats!

I always knew I wanted an alpaca farm but after this experience I realized that I want everyone to be able to enjoy the farm. I hope to raise not only alpacas but chickens as well. Maybe one day even add more animals if I have the land and the opportunity to expand. As well as animals I hope to have a shop with products as well as an education center.