Rocking B Farms is on the hunt for volunteers who can help aid with field trips this spring at the farm in Ridgefield.
The farm provides field trip opportunities to the kindergarten through third grade classes in the Ridgefield School District, as well as homeschooled and pre-K students.
Students from Union Ridge Elementary School have visited the farm before, but this year, the students from South Ridge Elementary School will join in on the fun. Along with the elementary schools and pre-K students, a director for local homeschooled students, which features 600 families, has requested field trips to Rocking B Farms as well.
The opportunities expand beyond school-aged children. A retirement center in the area also hopes to bring its members to the farm, Amy Steigman explained.
Steigman and her husband, Terry Kimmons, have taken in over 50 horses and other farm animals. They even helped a family with their animals after they had to evacuate a wildfire.
“The purpose of the field trips is to expose children and people to farming,” Steigman said. “We also shed light on the work we do with animal control. We take in any animals or livestock and birds bigger than a cat and dog.”
Those animals are quarantined, vetted, fostered and then found new homes.
“This was built out of our helping with the fires in 2019,” Steigman said. “We had the privilege of helping 63 horses, numerous sheep, goats and other animals.”
The field trips along with farm tours, events and birthday parties help provide funding for the feed for the animals at Rocking B Farms, which has rescued nearly 300 animals in just three and a half years, according to Steigman.
Rocking B Farms has also collaborated with Clark County Animal Control and Rietdyks Feed and Milling, which operates as a non-profit organization.
A local 4H group also utilizes the arena or covered horse riding area at Rocking B.
“We teach about volunteering, treating animals properly (and) basic farming. They get to interact with the animals,” Steigman said. “We have a scavenger hunt, a gratitude board and other activities, too. Everything is geared toward preserving a country lifestyle and exposing children to farm animals.”
Through its partnership with the animal control department, Rocking B Farms has provided a crucial service and something the Clark County community may not realize is needed.
“(Farm animals) need a safe place with access 24 hours to move animals without notice. They need an area to be quarantined away from other farm animals as to not make them sick,” Steigman said. “They need to be vetted, immunized, typically feet done, and a nutritional program had to be started. This is all very expensive. This would relieve so much stress and stop some of the mistakes in turnover that’s happened over the last decade. More animals could be saved and taxpayer dollars, too.”
Once the proper steps are taken at Rocking B Farms to ensure the animals that are rescued will receive a second chance at a better life, Rocking B Farms helps find the animals new housing with local farms or at other locations.
Those interested in volunteering can send a message on Facebook to the Rocking B Farms page. The farm can also be reached by phone at 360-887-4797 or by email at rockingbare na@gmail.com.
