A Good Time Was Had By All

Who says face paint is for kids? Thank you Nancy for your invaluable leadership year after year. We'd have never done it without you.
Snowball delighted children and grownups alike.There were many astonishing things to learn as children filled out their Market Passports by visiting each booth.
Our Guatemala Project could afford to take it easy with all those Change for Kids Challenge Goats on the way.
Thanking David Boothby for his many years of service with Heifer International. We'll miss you, Dave.Shoppers enjoying the beautiful fair-trade goods Esperanza en Accion brought us from Nicaragua.
We all learned a lot about poultry. Who knew domesticated birds were so diverse--and beautiful.A bin of worms, perfect for a little early Halloween.
The chick, sheep and tree beg to be bought. Who can resist such a sweet sale's pitch!
Eating and Talking in the Heifer Cafe.
A market visitor who had known Dan West assured us that Steve Ellens was very authentic in his presentation of "Meet Dan West" in our Heifer Theater.

Bob Zabonick took the above photographs and we thank him for using his talents on our behalf.

We Broke the Ark Barrier!

Third time's the charm! Heifer Happening earned a grand total of $6,681.49, $1,681.49 more than an Ark. We are so thankful for all the market visitor's who purchased animals. Together they raised $4,567.00. Our Change for Kids Challenge was a great boost raising a total of $1,180.14. We were particularly surprised by Faith United Methodist, which contributed the highest amount at $802.30 and won our "You Really Got Our Goat!" trophy. Other funds were collected through smaller ventures such as the Heifer Cafe and the Take Your Photo with an Animal Booth.
We would also like to thank our business sponsors for their gracious donations totaling 900 dollars. They gave us a head start on exceeding our goal, and we are exceedingly grateful. Be sure and say thanks to Russ' Restaurants, Dan Vos Construction, Quality Industrial Services, H&W Farms, BHT&D Financial Group, Dr. Linda Satterlee, Grand River Physical Therapy, LaFontsee Gallery, Brann's Steakhouse, and Affordable Feasts. Their support gave us hope and confidence.
We also have to thank the many Heifer volunteers who spent hours preparing booths, recruiting partners, coordinating materials and bringing in animals. Heifer Happening wouldn't happen without our dedicated volunteers.

A Child's Day at the Market

Arrive at Wesley Park UMC and say hello to the Alpaca on the church lawn.
Receive the Market Passport filled with games and activities and opportunities to win prizes.
Dash over to the Change for Kids Challenge booth to have the change in the Ark bank counted and be entered into the "You Really Got Our Goat!" Competition.
Meet the animals and learn about how they help families provide food, clothing, shelter and education to children around the world.
Take a tour of the world by visiting the Project booths.
Listen to the Storyteller and learn some songs at the Heifer Theater. Hang around to see the video about Beatrice Biira, from the book Beatrice's Goat, now that she is all grown up.
Take a break and get some food downstairs. All this talk about World Hunger can sure get your tummy rumbling!
Drop by the craft table for face painting and fun craft projects with Lori.
Look at the cool fair-trade purchases mom made.
Pick up your prizes at the Redemption Barn.
Say goodbye to the alpaca on your way back to the car, full of happy memories and dreams for a world without hunger.

Heifer Theater

This year all of our entertainment activities will take place in a separate area we've dubbed, The Heifer Theater. For all of our Change for Kids Challenge families we'll be presenting "Beatrice's Goat" the 60 Minutes program about Beatrice Biira and the goat that changed her life, allowing her to attend school and eventually college here in the US. One goat can make an amazing difference in a struggling family's life. Hopefully we'll have raised enough change to make a difference for a family in Guatemala.

Steve Ellens of Master Arts Theater will be presenting "Meet Dan West" a monologue about Heifer Internationals' visionary founder which will help our guests connect with Heifer's can-do, agrarian roots. Steve has been performing since 1976, and has performed other monologues about visionary leaders. He's also played Gandalf from The Hobbit and Zophar from The Book of Job.

Libby Kinsey has agreed to be our Storyteller and to teach the children songs. She is a seventh grade teacher with four grandchildren and a lot of experience pleasing an audience of young people. This can be a great break for parents of young children.

Pam Clevenger is also a long time performer who will favoring us with folk music from around the world on her violin. Thrilled to participate for the first time this year, she feel that Heifer's requirement of Passing on the Gift is the best thing about Heifer, turning receivers into givers.

We will also be showing a more general video about Heifer's work titled Passing on the Gift. Below is a time table for all the Heifer Theater activities.

9:30 – “Beatrice’s Goat”

10:00 – “Meet Dan West”

10:30 – Storyteller

11:00 – “Passing on the Gift” DVD

11:30 – “Meet Dan West”

12:00 – Storyteller

12:30 – “Beatrice’s Goat”

1:00 – “Meet Dan West”

1:30 – Storyteller

2:00 – “Passing on the Gift”

Rabbits and Goats and Alpacas, Oh my!

One of the best things about the Living Gift Market is the live animals. Many of us live lives separated from anything more exciting than a pet cat or dog by a long drive out to the country. The market brings the animals to you, and helps us all to remember the intimate connection between human beings and other mammals.
Cartoons have been the only education some of us have had on the habits of farm animals, and not surprisingly a lot of those assumptions are wrong. Our many 4H and other volunteers have been quick to correct misconceptions about such animals as goats. "They don’t really eat everything the way people think they do," Jean Kuhlman was quick to say when I interviewed her about bringing goats to the market. She pointed out that goats are very versatile and fun to raise. In many countries children care for goats because they are so loving and gentle.
Lucky for us the seemingly exotic alpaca is being raised by the Binkowski family who started working with sheep, but after learning how to shear alpacas became increasingly involved in both shearing and raising alpacas. When I asked Nancy why she thought the alpacas are such a hit each year at the market, she said, "I think the one thing that makes them a hit at the LGM's is that they are friendly and people can touch them and feel how soft they are, people love to have their pictures taken with them, which we love to have them do. Sometimes you might even get one of them to kiss you. " Alpaca fleece is very soft, warm and lightweight. Not only are alpacas great for the people of Peru, American alpaca farmers are working to educate Americans about the many benefits of Alpaca fleece.
Rabbits are another favorite, and who can resist their long ears, soft fur and wriggly noses, but a gift of rabbits to a family with little land and few resources should never be underestimated. Families with Heifer rabbits are raising them on the back porch — or even in the kitchen. So long as they are warm and dry, rabbits thrive, and they love to eat leftover vegetables. In turn, families get nitrogen-rich manure to use on gardens or to sell as fertilizer. And since rabbits have up to 40 offspring a year, they provide families with steady sources of protein and income.

Good Eats

As we have for the last three years, we will be offering breakfast and lunch at the market. Sue Alexander, a professional cook, will be slinging the hash. The menu hasn't been finalized yet, but it will most likely include--coffee and donuts for breakfast, sandwiches, chips and snack items for lunch. One of the more unusual items on the menu will be the "Walking Taco." Pictured on the right it features corn chips, taco meat and cheese and at our event it will be served in a cup and eaten with a spoon. Walking Tacos are a neater, handier version of the original. While we all work together to help make sure that others don't go hungry, Sue will be making sure our stomachs aren't rumbling either. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of animals.

Managing the Animals

Keep an eye out for Joanna Willoughby, our animal manager. She'll be responsible for setting up the pens and discretely dealing with the "effluvia" that is the by-product of live animals. A key member of the planning committee, Joanna has been a great help in getting the event organized and recruiting sponsors.

Joanna has heard about Heifer through her church and she was thrilled to discover that a living gift market was taking place so close to her house. When she attended last year she told Nancy she wanted to help. We've been so glad she did.

Our Thanks to Horrocks

Horrocks has come to our rescue by donating all the hay for the animal pens. Horrocks is one of Grand Rapids most unique stores offering specialty grocery, fresh produce, deli, meats, floral, garden center, nursery and home decor items.
Be sure to express your thanks the next time you're shopping Horrocks.