In difficult times, we all could use a moment of peace, a project that induces comfort, an encounter that brings us joy.
For Kelli Beggs, one source of those therapeutic moments are her farm animals: miniature donkeys, miniature zebu, pot-bellied pigs, rabbits and more.
“Animals are just great for kids,” Beggs explained.
And she’s on a mission to share the healing power of animals with others, specifically through her burgeoning nonprofit project called “Healing Hooves.”
Located on the east side of U.S. 59, just before the turn to Savonburg, lies the farm that will host the nonprofit’s efforts, though Beggs has already had quite a few visitors over the past year as the program has been taking shape.
“I built this barn with the purpose of therapy in mind,” Beggs said, and mentioned how she’d “started the barn a year ago last January” — though she’s lived on the farm west of Savonburg for 20 years.
The program will be connected to the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center. Teams from the center were just out to the farm this week, meeting all the animals and getting a more concrete idea of how school-age kids and others — such as nursing home residents — will engage in therapy while visiting.
One goal, for instance, is to make the farm “a regular stop for SEKA,” Southeast Kansas Achievers, a program operated through SEK Mental Health.
Beggs said she was inspired to establish the program based on experiences with her own kids when they were younger. She also said the program is her way of paying forward the help she and her family has received in times past.
Beggs’ family includes her husband Gary, stepson Michael, and daughters Kaitlyn and Kassidy.
AS FOR specific residents of the farm, Beggs has about 15 miniature donkeys, a few of which she’s bred herself “to help pay expenses.”
She also mentioned that “donkeys are like potato chips; you can’t have just one.”
It’s not hard to see why, especially after meeting Floppy, aptly named for one of his ears, which has a rather distinctive shape.
Another donkey standout is the newborn named Zephyr, whose name means “warm summer breeze” though Beggs thinks he’s “gonna be more of a hurricane.”
Donkeys are “just like dogs,” Beggs added, because they like attention.
