The Altamahaw Ossipee Civitan Club hosted Halloween Hoot-on-the-Farm, an event that was specifically created for people with autism and their families on Oct. 25 at Buttermilk Creek Farm.
Attendees experienced horseback riding, face painting, pumpkin decorating and live music. According to Steve Smith, the owner of Buttermilk Creek Farm, being one of the few events made for persons with autism, it is a “no-judgment zone” of different characteristics individuals may have.
Smith said he loves hosting this event every year and giving attendees a good day.
“The parents tell us it's like their state fair,” Smith said. “The kids get to come and have a great time without people staring at them.”
This event started about 24 years ago after Elizabeth Bramble, a co-founder of Halloween Hoot-on-the-Farm, experienced her nephew’s struggles with autism.
“My sister has an now adult son with autism,” Bramble said. “ My parents wanted to do something in honor of Thomas when he was little, which was, about 24 years ago. They started the event, and it's just grown and grown and grown.”
Originally starting on the back porch of Bramble’s family home, this event has had as many as 700 people. Bramble said she loves the people who can come back and grow with this event.
“We've had some kids that have been here since the beginning that still keep coming back.” said Bramble.“We call them repeat offenders, so they come every year. We've got some that have been coming since they were little, or maybe in high school, and now they're adults.”
Bramble said she can remember children who have been participating in Hoot-on-the-Farm since 2001. She said she finds it very exciting that this is something attendees look forward to each year.
Bramble said she knew that this event should be open to all, which opened the doors for one of her repeat attendees, Ben Bouldin.
Bouldin, born with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, has gotten the chance to grow up with individuals who now feel like his family due to the inviting nature of Bramble and her volunteers, according to his mother, Jan Bouldin.
“He had two good friends in middle school who were autistic, a brother and sister.” Bouldin said. “I called the people up and said, he’s not autistic, but he has Down syndrome. ‘Can we come?’ and they said, ‘Sure.’”
In comparing Ben's sociability with that of children who have autism Mike Bouldin, Ben’s father, said that most children with autism are very intelligent but tend to shy away from talking to people, whereas those with Down syndrome are very social.
“Ben's just very outgoing,” Mike said. “He might not be that mathematician. He's more outgoing instead.”
Mike Bouldin said that Ben’s outgoingness helps to get a lot of other attendees out of their shells, and he has made very good friendships and connections through this event.
“He's grown up,” Jan said. “He used to like riding the horses and the hayrides, and he liked doing everything,But now I think he just loves the music.”
Ben gets to sing with the band every year, and loves one song in particular.
“It's ‘Fly Away,’” Ben said.
Later in the event, Ben was able to share his voice with the event crowd as he sang “Fly Away” with the band, ending the song with a hug for the lead vocalist from Ben.
“He loves to get up there and dance, sing, and dance. It's wonderful, really,” Jan said. “We look forward to it.”
Like many others, this is an event that Ben looks forward to every year, and according to Bramble, it is something that attendees can expect to continue for years to come.
“When the weather changes and pumpkin spice coffee gets in the shops, they know Hoot-on-the-Farm is coming up,” Bramble said.