Slater Family Farm Outreach using animals to enrich mind, body and spirits

Marybeth Crider-Slater has wanted to work with animals since she was a child.

“I grew up with horses and one of my horses was used for therapeutic riding and I just thought that program was so amazing,” she said. “As long as I can remember, I’ve been daydreaming about having a farm and making something special with it. I love to help people and I know animals can have a real connection with people, especially when they need it most.”

On June 12, 2023, Crider-Slater’s dream came true. The non-profit Slater Family Farm LLC and Slater Family Farm Outreach was started.

She said they began taking the farm animals to nursing facilities during the COVID pandemic. “I work as needed at a local nursing facility and the staff was so concerned about the well-being of their elderly. Most of them had not seen family or left their rooms due to being quarantined. We decided to bring some animals to do window visits to lift their spirits.”

“The facility favorite was our huge tom turkey, Jake. You could see the joy on everyone’s faces and the staff’s, as well. The staff relayed to me all the stories from the residents of the farms they grew up on, the days they went hunting and reminiscing about the good old days. We witnessed a man with Alzheimer’s cry while hugging a cow because he remembered his farm as a young man.”

“These are truly beautiful moments we have had the privilege to be part of.”

Crider-Slater took her animals to a city school and she said many of the children had never seen a goat, cow or pony before. “They loved asking questions and learning all about the different animals. To see teenagers put their phones away to walk a pack goat through obstacles was amazing.”

Crider-Slater said at events, the animals sometimes will walk away from the crowd and the kids always want to know why they do that. “My response is ‘Sometimes being in a new place with lots of people can be overwhelming, so if they need a little break, I let them. They will come back when they are ready.’ Every child has been able to relate to that and their demeanor immediately changes to a calmer approach.”

“When the animals come back, I always hear them tell the animals something like ‘It’s ok. Sometimes, I get overwhelmed, too.’ That kind of understanding of emotions is too hard to teach but when they see it work – it’s just so hard to put into words.”

The mission of the farm outreach is to enrich mind, body and spirits through positive and creative animal assisted services. The farm strives to promote an inclusive faith-based therapeutic environment for participants and their families.

When the farm outreach makes a visit, they usually bring a mini horse, mini zebu (a type of cow), lion-head bunnies, ducks, a pack goat, Nigerian dwarf goats and a chicken. The Farm Outreach is available for any type of group, such as schools, churches, or service-type clubs.

The Slater Family Farm has also started scheduling visits to their farm. “There’s a link on my Facebook page. It’s $30 for up to eight people. I’m making a small storybook trail and visitors can meet all the animals and take pictures.  We have a preschool size playing area.”

Crider-Slater said they are looking for sponsors to help cover the cost of a mobile animal visit to groups that may not have the funds to bring the outreach to them.  “That was a huge determining factor to make the Slater Family Farm Outreach a non-profit. I wanted to be able to bring the farm to people and groups that may not be able to do something like this.”

“Our long-term goal is to have a permanent location that is fully accessible to wheelchairs and have a special sensory area for those with sensory processing disorders. But this is probably a long way down the road.” Right now, everything is taken care of by Crider-Slater, her husband, Daniel, daughter Isabell Crider, son Danny and Kelsie Donaldson. She is looking for volunteers to help with events.  For more information about donating, volunteering or setting a time for the farm to visit your group, please email Marybeth.slater@slaterfamilyfarm.org.

Category: People & Places