ANIMALS & AGRICULTURE AT THE HIGHER GROUND FAIR
Informative, entertaining, and one-of-a-kind exhibits and demonstrations featuring the animals of the Rocky Mountains!
Interested in participating in the 2023 Higher Ground Fair?
We are accepting applications!
See the Higher Ground Fair 2022 Participants:
Anna Blake - Horse advocate, trainer, international clinician, and award-winning author, Anna Blake's powerful, live demonstrations shed light on the mystery and magic of the Power of the Horse.
Location - Horse Exhibit Barn and Corral - North end of the fairgrounds.
Saturday, September 17
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Calming Signals (a live demonstration!)
If you are standing next to a horse and they look away, do you think they're distracted or even disrespectful? When a horse yawns, are they sleepy or bored? If they move slowly, are they lazy? Maybe you have a reactive horse who seems to spook all the time. Calming Signals are the body language of horses; it’s the way they communicate with the world. Most of us want a better partnership with our horse, but no one tells us how to do it. We want to listen better, but what are we supposed to be listening for? The understanding of Calming Signals is fundamental to understanding horses.
Is this presentation for me? Whether you have a life that’s deeply involved with horses or are simply interested in gaining some insight into this magnificent animal, this demonstration is for you!
Sunday, September 18
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Affirmative Training: The Fine Art of Saying Yes (a live demonstration!)
It’s time to update those old-school techniques. This demo marries the current brain science of how horses think and learn with affirmative training techniques. We’ll train the rider a forward-thinking philosophy and nonviolent techniques that pair clarity and kindness, resulting in a responsive partnership and focus on encouraging confidence and connection for both horse and rider. Affirmative Training is the art of understanding each unique horse.
Is this presentation for me? This mini-clinic and demonstration has much to offer whether you’re a beginning to advanced rider or are just curious about the potential for positive relationships between humans and domesticated horses.
Mountain Shadows Equine Revival
Mountain Shadows Equine Revival is in the process of establishing a horse rescue network between Wyoming and Northern California. With so many horses being sold by the pound in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado to feedlots which ship the horses to Mexico for slaughter, we are on a mission to help change the face of the rescue horse! Mountain Shadows is a small scale rescue that focuses on several horses at a time. Each horse to go through the rescue receives an extensive amount of training to help ensure it will not ever be in a bad position again.
http://www.mountainshadowsequine.org/
Rescue Horses Exhibit:
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Horse Presentations and Demonstrations
Mountain Shadows Equine Revival and their rescued horses will be participating in throughout the weekend, including providing horses for horse advocate, trainer, international clinician, and award-winning author, Anna Blake's powerful demonstrations that shed light on the mystery and magic of the Power of the Horse.
Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
The Rocky Mountain Raptor Programs is a Fort Collins based 501(c)3 non-profit that works in the northeastern Colorado and Southeastern Wyoming region to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured birds of prey and provide educational opportunities to thousands of community members. Seeing over 300 injured individuals each year, the RMRP provides any necessary treatment and care to recover injured eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, and vultures to our natural world, supporting a healthy and balanced ecosystem. Non releasable ambassadors bring the joy and wonder of wild raptors up close to people of all ages through educational opportunities at schools, libraries, and other public venues. Public support helps provide for the care of the patients and ambassadors and has allowed the RMRP to serve the region for more than 30 years. Come out and see live animals with the Raptor Foundation. Their exhibits also include Raptor Themed merchandise, including: t shirts, hats, stuffed animals, books, jewelry, photo cards
Llamas and Alpacas
One of the Higher Ground Fair’s headlining events, the Llama & Alpaca Performance and Fleece Show, showcases llamas and alpacas from all over the Rocky Mountain Region.
Llama & Alpaca Shows:
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fleece & Fiber Shows:
Saturday & Sunday, All Day
J&J Second Chance Small Holdings
J&J Second Chance Small Holdings is a family owned goat rescue based in Rock River, Wyoming. They help find animals in need, get them healthy along with vaccinations and more, and then rehome or adopt out those that they can. Their main focus is to rescue, rehab and rehome goats. They have rescued other types of animals, and currently have Goats of five varieties, Cows, chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, cats and so much more!
Goat-O-Rama
Goat-O-Rama is the small but rapidly expanding goat breeding operation belonging to Nan and Phil Hassey, who are deliberately crossing Swiss and Nubian bloodlines to bring out the best attributes of both types. The figurehead and inspiration for this great experiment is Cuzco the Wonder Goat, an Alpine/Nubian cross of outstanding conformation, size, strength, endurance, intelligence, hard-working attitude, and amazing color.
Rockin' E Dog Training and Consulting
Join team members from Rockin' E Dog Training and Consulting, and the Alliance of Therapy Dogs for a fun exhibit to meet and play with Therapy Dogs!Do you ever wonder what the difference is between a Therapy dog and a Service dog? Well at the Higher Ground Fair’s Therapy dog tent you can learn the difference between the two and what it takes for a dog to become a certified Therapy dog! You can speak with a variety of different Therapy dog teams from different areas across the six rocky mountain states! This is a perfect chance to learn their stories and meet all the different kind of dogs that can become a Therapy dog!
https://www.rockinedogtraining.com/
Therapy Dogs Exhibit:
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Eleazar Estrella Palomino
Eleazar Estrella Palomino are artisans from a small town in the Andes of Peru. They are dedicated to the elaboration of alpaca wool sweaters as well as ponchos among other purely artisanal products.
Silver Sage Alpacas
Silver Sage Alpacas is a Laramie based Alpaca farm. They currently raise more than a dozen Alpacas, who are sheared annually. In keeping with their "All Things Alpaca" theme, they will offer a large selection of clothing, accessories, yarn, roving and gifts.
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Feeding Laramie Valley
Feeding Laramie Valley (FLV) is committed to working toward creating a sustainable and equitable food system, and promoting food security throughout the Rocky Mountain Region—especially here in Albany County in Southeast Wyoming, the community we call home.
Since our founding in 2009, we work to fulfill our mission through increased food production, access, distribution, and educational efforts that encourage community-led food sovereignty. Feeding Laramie Valley grows our own fruits and vegetables, mentors and supports backyard gardeners, develops and helps with management of community gardens, and is deeply committed to partnerships with independent farmers. We share high-quality produce with individuals and families who need it, at no charge to them, with a special focus on elders, children and people living with disabilities and chronic illness.
B.E.'s Bees
BE's Bees produces pure, raw honey and beeswax candles in Laramie, WY
Cow Creek Ranch
Cow Creek Ranch is nestled in right at the Nebraska Colorado border where they raise Yak, Angora Goats, Mangalitsa and Berkshire Pigs. They take the hair form the Angora Goats and hand craft leashes and livestock leads.