Incredible! Once again, the Happy Trails Summer Fundraiser & Festival was simply incredible!

Who made it that way?? You did!

Thanks to EVERYONE who participated in some way to make this event happen. Many thanks to all of you who attended our event and played games, bid on silent auction art, pet fuzzy, furry and feathered farm animals, climbed aboard the big draft horses to have your photos taken, watched in awe as Thor the giant horse proudly trotted out into the arena, laughed at equine trainer Ken Aberegg's typically bad jokes (you know we love ya, Ken!), created unique crafts, and tried a scrumptious vegetarian lunch. Thanks to Doris Straka, Animal Communicator, for visiting with guests and helping to answer pet questions about their animal-companion's health issues, behavior concerns, and what they are thinking about life in general.  Thanks to our festival sponsors (see the sponsor list in the follow-up article) who believe in our farm animal rescue work. Thanks to the other animal rescue groups who participated and set up displays and booths. Thanks to Adam Buttermore for showing off his Happy Trails race car, and thanks to Jim Shekleton who showed off his semi-tractor at the "Pigs Across America" booth. And thanks to the hard-working, dedicated volunteers who brought the entire day together! Who else other than Happy Trails could pull off an event of this magnitude with an all-volunteer staff? To assure that the day ran smoothly, there was nearly 50 volunteers on-hand to help staff booths, handle horses, run the shuttle bus area, hand out lunch, organize the games, teach about animal care, and give demonstrations. Northeast Ohio's animal-lovers really showed their true colors at the Happy Trails Summer Fundraiser & Festival, both in volunteerism and in attendance. All of you were simply amazing!

May God bless everyone who made the day an incredible success for Happy Trails and for the rescued animals!!!

Annette Fisher
Executive Director