Mini Friends Farm

11/01/2026

🎅🏻❤️ RAIN OR SHINE, SANTA & MRS. CLAUS ARE COMING TO THE FARM TODAY! 🎄☔️

Well, Mother Nature clearly did NOT get the memo that we had magical Christmas pictures planned today! 😂🌧️

But don’t worry! Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus are STILL HAPPENING! ❤️

We’re moving the magic inside our barn, complete with a beautiful rug, our BIG green velvet couch, and of course, the stars of the show… Santa and Mrs. Claus! 🎅🏻🤶🏻

Here’s a little sneak peek of what your pictures will look like!

Unfortunately, with what looks like a MONSOON outside, our sweet animals will most likely be soaking wet. 🐮🫏 So we’re going to postpone the animal interaction portion of today’s visits.

❤️ BUT HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS!

Every family who booked today will be invited back on another day to spend quality time with our animals! We promise you won’t miss out on that special experience.

I wish we had sunshine and beautiful weather, but we’re going to make the absolute BEST of today! After all, Christmas magic doesn’t wash away in the rain! ✨

We can’t wait to see all our sweet families today! ❤️🎄

10/20/2026

❤️ Today was one of those days that made me absolutely jittery with joy. ❤️

Today, we loaded up three of our farm animals—a cow, a donkey, and an alpaca—and headed to a school near USF that serves students with special needs.

You see, this school doesn’t have the means to transport all of its students and therapists out to Mini Friends Farm.

So we brought the farm to THEM. ❤️

And goodness gracious, my heart is FULL.

Watching students, some of whom may have never had the opportunity to touch a farm animal, experience that connection for the first time is something I wish I could put into words.

The smiles. The hugs. The laughter. The comfort these animals brought to those students.

Those little moments that might seem ordinary to someone else but mean absolutely EVERYTHING.

It’s incredibly humbling to witness what a donkey, a cow, or an alpaca can do without ever saying a single word.

No expectations. No judgment. Just a beautiful connection between a child and an animal.

I wish everyone could experience what I witnessed today. It’s the kind of day that reminds me exactly why we started Mini Friends Farm.

And as I stood there watching those faces light up, I had one overwhelming thought.

I’m right where I’m supposed to be. ❤️

And I cannot tell you how grateful I am for that.

THIS is why we do what we do. 🐮🫏🦙

10/20/2026

❤️ Need to decompress? We know just the place! 🐮🫏

Private visits at Mini Friends Farm are now available to book!

Bring up to 6 people and enjoy the farm at your own pace.

Want a full educational tour where you meet all our animals and learn their quirky personalities? We’ve got you!

Or maybe life has been a little overwhelming and you just want to sit in the pasture with a cow and forget about the world for a bit? We can do that too! ❤️

No crowds. No rushing. Just you, your favorite people, and our four-legged friends.

📍 Valrico, FL

🫏Booking link in the comments!

10/17/2026

🐮 PEACH HAS BEEN SENT TO MANNERS SCHOOL! 😂

Remember two weeks ago when Peach decided to “lift” me with her head to remind me who was boss?

MA’AM. EXCUSE ME?! 😳

I love Peach, but that stunt was NOT cute. Cows are incredibly strong, and their heads can be dangerous. I realized she wasn’t safe for me OR our visitors.

I’d rather teach her boundaries than stall her during visits.

Welcome to BOVINE BOOT CAMP! 🎓

Every morning after breakfast, Peach practices standing calmly, respecting personal space, and learning her head is NOT a bulldozer.

DAYS ONE AND TWO?

GOOD. GRACIOUS.

She looked like a rabid raccoon on steroids. 😂

Bouncing around those stall rails like a TASMANIAN DEVIL.

She was OFFENDED.
She was OUTRAGED.
She wanted to speak to management.

Unfortunately for Peach, I AM MANAGEMENT. 💁‍♀️

Eventually, she learned calm behavior meant we could move on to walking.

Next lesson?

YOUR HEAD IS NOT A WEAPON, MA’AM.

Every time she pushed me with her head, she heard “NO.”

I’ve said NO so often it’s practically her middle name.

Peach No. Has a nice ring to it. 😂

And now LOOK AT HER! ❤️

She’s walking beautifully on a lead! Two weeks ago, taking her outside the pasture sounded like a great way to meet the ER staff.

We’re still working on getting spooked because apparently a suspicious leaf is a national security threat.

🐮 A little cow education:

Cows use their heads to push and communicate. Even friendly cows can seriously injure someone without meaning to.

Respecting personal space is especially important when children visit.

Peach LOVES gentle scratches under her chin and along her throat! Always ask before touching a cow, avoid reaching over an unfamiliar cow’s head, and watch their body language.

Two weeks ago: Furry wrecking ball.

Today: A young lady learning manners. ❤️

I’m SO proud of you, Peach!

Now if we could convince her every unexpected noise isn’t an assassination attempt, we’d be golden. 😂🐮

10/17/2026

🐱 Our barn cats have officially eaten us out of house and home! 😂

We have about 10–12 freeloading barn cats here at Mini Friends Farm, and thanks to your generous donations, they've been eating VERY well! Unfortunately, they've now polished off our entire supply of dry cat food.

If you're at Costco, Sam's Club, Walmart, or anywhere you spot a good deal on dry cat food, we'd LOVE a donation!

In return, you might get a loving rub against your shin. Or they'll eat your food and run away like you don't exist. 🤷‍♀️😂

Either way, these little freeloaders are part of our farm family, and we appreciate your help keeping their bellies full! ❤️🐾

10/15/2026

Update: we are sold out but we always offer free private farm visits for special needs families. If you would like that like just dm us!

🎅❤️ DO YOU KNOW A DESERVING FAMILY? ❤️🎄

We have something special we'd love to give! 🎁

Do you know a neurodivergent family that might not take the time (or have the opportunity) to get a beautiful family Christmas picture?

Well, WE WANT TO LOVE ON THEM! ❤️

Thanks to some AMAZING sponsors, Mini Friends Farm has a few FULLY SPONSORED Santa photo sessions available for families who could use a little extra Christmas magic! 🎅🐴

❤️ Completely FREE to the family!
🎄 Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Claus
🐴 Time to enjoy our farm animals afterward!

📅 They MUST be available Sunday, November 1st!

We know there are families out there who spend so much time caring for everyone else that family pictures often fall to the bottom of the list.

We want to change that, even if it's just for a few families. ❤️

If you know a family who would love this experience, PLEASE PM US! You can nominate a family or reach out for your own!

Let's make some beautiful Christmas memories together! 🎅❤️

Mini Friends Farm 🐴🐮🦙

10/14/2026

10/12/2026

❤️ The picture that started it all. The story behind Mini Friends Farm. ❤️

Meet Johnny Cash. 🐷

Brandon’s first show pig, who made it to the State Fair! (Don’t ask what place he got because I honestly don’t remember. 😂)

But I remember something more important than a ribbon.

Watching Brandon stand before those judges, terrified to speak. We had spent HOURS rehearsing.

And then something happened.

He opened his mouth and it ALL came out. Everything we practiced. He talked about HIS pig like a professional.

Tom and I watched in amazement.

That was the moment we knew we were onto something.

Brandon showed animals for years. Eventually, I decided it would be easier to have them at home.

And somehow, SOMEHOW, I convinced Tom to leave our subdivision and build a farm. 😂

Our first open farm day changed everything. We watched other families find the same peace in our animals that Brandon had found.

These animals weren’t just helping Brandon. They could help others, too.

Here’s what I want parents raising neurodivergent children to hear:

Find what THEY love. Not what YOU want them to love.

With Brandon’s brothers, we could introduce something and encourage them to love it.

With Brandon? NOPE. 😂

If the passion wasn’t there, it wasn’t happening.

Looking back, I should have understood sooner. That’s one of my “shame on me” moments.

I was a trained teacher. I knew the signs. But as a mom, I wanted to live in my little la-la land.

When private testing results came back, it was like someone handed us a manual and said, “Here’s Brandon.”

And I felt PEACE.

Finally, we could meet him where HE was instead of trying to make him fit our expectations.

Now, don’t misunderstand me. That child STILL puts us through our paces DAILY. 😂

But that little boy standing before those judges showed us something incredible.

Passion. Confidence. Purpose.

He wasn’t doing it for us. He was doing it because HE loved it.

And apparently, when your child finds his passion, you buy land, build a barn, fill it with animals, and start a nonprofit. 😂

Mini Friends Farm started with a little boy named Brandon and a pig named Johnny Cash.

Sometimes the thing that changes your child’s world ends up changing yours, too. ❤️🐷

10/12/2026

“Human Interaction Is Overrated.” 💕

Apparently, this saying has become a fan favorite at Mini Friends Farm!

I’ve had so many visitors asking if we sell hats that I finally gave in and ordered 25 of them!

💙 Navy blue hats with our hilarious saying on a leather patch!

They’re $25 each, and I only have 25 available!

If you’d like one, just send me a message!

If you are visiting with us soon I’ll have them available at the barn.

Because sometimes animals really ARE better than people. 😂🐴🐮🫏🐢🐷🐰🦙🐱🐈❤️

10/06/2026

UPDATE: USF CARD just donated to sponsor all spots for ASD families! My mouth dropped! We are so blessed!
________
We have 5 spots left who wants to sponsor? You can Venmo or PayPal our nonprofit account but please message us first.

Pictures are November 1st!