Traveling petting zoo delights residents
Linda Sappington
Cristy Gibbs meets with Sam, a female Indian Runner duck raised by 4H Ambassador Philip Vaughan, Thursday at St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan.
Linda Sappington
Megan Evelo brings her bunny, "Prince," to St. Luke Extended Care Facility.
Linda Sappington
Edd Stillwell is one of 180 residents in care facilities throughout Lake County who 4H Ambassors will visit throughout the year.
Linda Sappington
Philip Vaughan shares his Indian Runner duck with residents and staff of St. Luke Extended Care Facility Thursday, June 13.
Linda Sappington
Megan Evelo shares her bunny, "Prince," with Jackie Knapp.
Linda Sappington
JoAnn Kraft visits with "Belinda," a year-old, bottle-fed heifer.
Linda Sappington
Megan Evelo shares her bunny, "Prince," with Jackie Knapp.
Linda Sappington
A pony sniffs the hand of 100-year-old Jane Dibble.
Linda Sappington
Sheena Lamach strokes the feathers of a three-time grand-champion Indian Runner duck.
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RONAN — Small droppings marked the trail to the petting zoo Thursday — right up the concrete steps and through the doors of the St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan.
Custodians, nurses and aides didn’t mind keeping tabs on little messes, because the heifer, the pony, the bunnies and the tall Indian Runner duck brought inside the activity room by Lake County’s 4H Ambassadors fascinated the residents.
Philip Vaughan kept tabs on his fowl, wiping the table every few minutes as aging hands gingerly petted the golden feathers. This wasn’t just any run-of-the-farm duck. This feathered female, named Sam, had earned three Grand Champion ribbons through the years at the Lake County Fair. And sometimes, according to Philip’s sister Hannah, Sam runs so fast and so upright she actually falls over backward.
So where does such a special duck sleep — perhaps in the same room as her owner?
“No. She’s a duck,” Philip said.
Many of the residents once lived on farms, and connecting with the critters brought back warm memories.
David Steele said he had 50 acres with as many chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys. The petting zoo, he said, is a great idea.
“I think it’s wonderful. The kids are doing a good job,” he said. “That little (Bassett hound) is just as gentle as a pet toy.”
Resident JoAnn Kraft said her five kids were all in 4H, and loved the farm animals. But does she miss the livestock? “No, I got kind of tired of them,” she responded, laughing.
Cat lover Cristy Gibbs watched the menagerie from the corner of the room.
“It’s amazing. I am really surprised the animals aren’t afraid, being around so many people,” she said.
Mom and 4H leader Amy Vaughan said the project went smoothly without a hitch — no bunny scratches, no chicken peckings, and the dog didn’t run away.
However, Belinda, the one-year-old, bottle-fed heifer did try to sneak off in an adjacent field. And, she was too smart to be enticed by rattling rocks in her grain bucket.
“Note to self: ‘Next time, bring grain,’” Vaughan said.
The bovine was retrieved and calmly visited with residents at both the St. Luke facility and nearby Mountain View Care Center, then moved on to the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County in Ronan.
4H Ambassadors is a youth-led organization of teens who want to be involved with community service in addition to their regular 4H projects. The local group also includes some younger children, who learn from their older siblings and friends.
The youth ambassadors come up with ideas and lead all the activities. This year they will make quarterly visits to several centers, spending time with all 180 residents throughout Lake County.
Grants from the Montana 4H Foundation and one from Blackfoot Telephone funds the Ambassadors' projects, which includes a summer day camp, trash pickup at Polson’s Hoop Fest, and a variety of fair activities.
“They do a ton of different things in the community,” Vaughan said. “All we do as adults is mentor and facilitate. This is a huge learning experience for the kids.”
