Seeing smiles ‘means the world to me’
Published 12:00 am Saturday, November 9, 2024
The crowd watches the dog show as trainer Tracy Crotts directs Sugar Bear to push the cart. — Karen Kistler
Bailey sits at attention during the dog show when trainer Tracy Crotts holds her frisbee out ready to throw. — Karen Kistler
As trainer Tracy Crotts tells her farm story during the dog show, Sugar Bear takes care of the cow.. — Karen Kistler
Bailey shows her agility as trainer Tracy Crotts directs her to jump over a young volunteer. — Karen Kistler
Sugar Bear looks to his trainer Tracy Crotts as he rings the bell on cue in the story. — Karen Kistler
Amy Brown, executive director of Smart Start Rowan, and two young guests, search for prizes at the sensory play station,. — Submitted photo
Denise Heinke, Smart Start Rowan’s director of outreach and development, and Lov LeMaster, right, take time for a photo while at Happy’s Farm. — Submittedd photo
Brayden Withers, who was a surgeon, was one of the costume contest winners. — Submitted photo
Margaret Hart, who came as a mermaid, was one of the three contest winners. — Submitted photo
Samuel Weingart as Dwight Schrute from “The Office,” was a costume contest winner. — Submitted photo
SALISBURY — Creating smiles is what brings joy to Rhonda Stirewalt Roseman, and she enjoys seeing those smiles at Happy’s Farm, which she established in 2007.
This western town setting, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, draws children for tutoring, camps and fun. And it was a day filled with lots of fun activities that drew 150 attendees including Smart Start Rowan families and the community to the Fun on the Farm Oktoberfest on Oct. 30, hosted by Smart Start and Happy’s Farm, which is located at 985 Parks Road, Salisbury.
This special event, said Denise Heinke, Smart Start Rowan’s director of outreach and development, is their annual Oktoberfest and the first year they have held it at the farm.
“We met with Mrs. Rhonda, the owner of the farm, back at the end of the summer and decided we wanted to do a farm theme,” said Heinke. “Her property is like its own little town, and we just thought this would be the best place to have littles come.”
She did note that they get asked by lots of people why they have this particular event during the week, mid-morning.
“It’s not to exclude anybody,” Heinke stressed, but “it’s because the families we serve are primarily birth to age five, so we gear it toward that time when the families need a place to go and do something fun.”
Telling that the week is full of Oktoberfest activities, they wanted to be able to offer “something where that age group could roam and play and have a good time,” she said.
After the families arrived and registered, they were treated to a dog show with dog trainer Tracy Crotts, her husband Jody and Sugar Bear, a nine-year-old Chinese Crested and Bailey, a two-year-old mini Aussie.
Crotts, an AKC trick trainer, said she has been doing this for 20 years, first starting in children’s ministry at church.
“This is my passion,” she said.
Crotts has another passion, she said, and that is bringing to life children’s stories with her dogs, and during the show she read a children’s book about dog safety.
She selected this one because she said, “I like to let the children know that there’s a proper way to interact with animals and that a dog can be their best buddy.”
The second story that was shared during the show was an original story that Crotts wrote that featured both Sugar Bear and Bailey doing tricks.
Following a farm theme, the story began with Sugar Bear, having graduated from the canine academy and dreaming of being a rodeo star, starting his first job working on a farm and taking care of farm chores, including caring for Bessie the cow. He jumped over fences, rolled bales of hay, stood by the cow among other tricks to the delight of the children as they watched his go around and around the stage.
Sugar Bear gets his big break and gets to do concessions at the rodeo, pushing the small cart filled with goodies.
Another chance for Sugar Bear came when the little pony wasn’t able to do rodeo tricks and he took over, climbing over a ladder-type apparatus and doing more tricks until Crotts drew the story to a close with Sugar Bear going home, saying his prayers because his dream came true.
It was then time to meet the cute little cowgirl Bailey that took the stage and provided additional tricks for the crowd showing her agility climbing and jumping.
Crotts said that each dog has special talents noting that Sugar Bear is an elite performer and has obtained all five levels of the AKC trick dog and has a mischievous side, and Bailey is an up-and-coming Frisbee dog, loves people and loves to meet and greet children.
Lots of volunteers were on hand to answer questions as families were encouraged to roam the western town and enjoy the day. They could also see the farm animals and visit the various stations, which included a sensory play station, arts area, games, cornhole, trick-or-treat sites, and activities the children could take home with them.
Everyone also received a pumpkin and some complimentary cotton candy, courtesy of Happy’s Farm.
A costume contest rounded out the fun on the farm with prizes given to the top three costumes. Brayden Withers as a surgeon; Samuel Weingart as Dwight Schrute from “The Office,” and Margaret Hart as a mermaid. They each received a prize of a special goodies package.
“It was a fantastic time,” said Heinke as she was talking about the day.
Being able to see both the children and adults come out to the farm and see them smile, “means the world to me. You can’t put a price tag on that,” said Roseman.
As for the farm and the joy it brings, she said she “gives God the glory for everything that happens here. We’re only here for a short period of time, and I just want to share the farm with as many people as I possibly can, as long as I can. It warms my heart to be able to share what God has given me with other people.”
