Doughty Valley 4-H Club makes special visit to County Home
Members of the Doughty Valley 4-H Club ventured to the Holmes County Home on Monday, June 5 to visit with the residents with a petting zoo featuring small animals.
Holmes County is well known for its people’s willingness to go the extra mile to connect with others and lend a helping hand.
The nice thing about that attitude is there is no age limit.
On Monday, June 5, the youth involved with the Holmes County Doughty Valley 4-H Club paid a visit to the Holmes County Home to visit with residents, and accompanying the kids were some four-legged friends (and some with two legs).
The annual Holmes County Home petting zoo trip allows the residents to get outside under the big pavilion, where the 4-Hers brought plenty of smaller pets, like dogs, rabbits, chickens and more, for the residents to pet and hold.
Deb Miller, Holmes County Home executive director, said this is one event the residents cherish for many reasons but mainly because it breaks away from the norm of everyday life for an evening of connecting with the 4-H youth and the animals.
“Studies have shown that being around animals helps stabilize blood pressure, decrease anxiety and adds many health benefits,” Miller said. “So for us and our residents, this is a great opportunity to get outside and experience a unique and fun evening.”
Marcia Troyer, advisor for the Doughty Valley 4-H Club, said her group has been coming to the Holmes County Home for the past four summers, and the gathering provides an opportunity for both the residents and her club youth to get outside with the animals, but more importantly, it opens the door to connecting with others.
“One of the things we’re here to do is share our pets with the residents,” Troyer said. “They can pet them, hold them and enjoy them. But from my perspective, the interaction between our kids and the residents is what is truly important. It’s something that we like to expose our 4-Hers to each year, and our kids really look forward to being able to share the animals they are passionate about raising with the residents and talking to them.”
Another benefit for the kids is it exposes them to meeting senior citizens, which can be a daunting task for young people. Troyer said part of 4-H is expanding 4-Hers’ horizons when it comes to developing their social skills and ability to carry on conversations with others.
Miller agreed, saying not only is it advantageous for the kids, but also it’s a good way for her residents to connect with others outside the home facility setting.
And having animals bridge the gap to give them something to talk about is a perfect way to set up conversation, as the youth shared about their animals, how they raise them, and about other projects they are doing individually and as a group.
“The animals help bridge that awkward gap when people first meet and make it more comfortable for everyone,” Miller said. “Animals don’t pass judgment, they don’t get angry and they tend to love you no matter what. They’re a perfect way to break the ice, and our residents couldn’t be happier to make that connection, especially when they can get outside on such a beautiful evening.”
She said this type of event is another example of how the community cares for one another despite perceived differences.
“We care for each other, and it’s humbling to see these young people willingly give of their time and themselves to come here and share with us,” Miller said. “This might seem like an insignificant thing to some people, but in our community and for our residents, it’s a big deal. We see the smiles and hear the chatter, and it’s uplifting, so we are grateful for their willingness to connect with us.”
Not only was the petting zoo a success, but also the 4-H club provided root beer floats and popcorn for everyone there, making it a fun evening of fellowship for both humans and animals.