Small Animals Help Give Children Big Results

(InspireToday – January 2025)
WeeShire Mains in Kimball is more than a farm — it’s a place where children and families of all abilities can connect with miniature animals, explore nature, and enjoy sensory-rich experiences. Founded in 2024 by Ken and Sarah Shropshire, the nonprofit is designed to help kids develop social skills, motor skills, and emotional regulation — all while having fun.

Visitors can feed goats, brush miniature donkeys, care for chickens, and even harvest blueberries in our U-Pick patch. “WeeShire Mains provides families in rural communities a chance to experience the joys of nature and farm life,” Sarah says. “Through interacting with animals and exploring the sensory farm, kids enjoy therapeutic, hands-on experiences they might not otherwise have.”

The farm’s inspiration comes from Sarah and Ken’s own experiences raising their children — including kinship care kids Zaedyn and Bryan. “Routines and daily chores here have helped Bryan more in the last six months than we could have imagined,” Sarah notes. “They provide sensory input, teach responsibility, and help kids understand how their actions affect others — animals included!”

Even before our official grand opening in May 2025, WeeShire Mains has hosted family visits and taken our animals to local events — connecting with the community one hoofbeat at a time. Every activity is thoughtfully designed to balance fun, learning, and sensory support.

Call to Action: Schedule your Animal Sensory Visit today! Contact us at hello@weeshiremains.org or 308-235-5585, and discover how a little farm magic can make a big difference.

Read the original feature in Nspire Today! (PDF, January 2025, story by Joe Dutton). [View PDF]