Mini Highland cows dressed up in costumes to return for Boo Bash
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RIGBY — An upcoming event will bring trick-or-treating, hot chocolate, and mini Highland cows in costumes together in one place.
Rigby Lake Memory Care at 470 Rigby Lake Drive, is hosting “Boo Bash ft. Highland cows,” on Friday, Oct. 23, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Rigby Lake Memory Care specializes in residential care for those who struggle with memory issues like Alzheimer’s and dementia, according to its website.
Trick-or-treating will take place inside, with residents handing out candy. The event will include activity booths, a photo booth, hot chocolate, an adult raffle, and baskets to give away. It’s free to attend.
“We had the cows back in April for Easter. The Easter event was very successful. The cows were such a hit. We decided to bring the cows back and do it Halloween-style this year,” said Alexis Romrell, administrator of Rigby Lake Memory Care.
The Easter event was a first at Rigby Lake Memory Care, and Romrell estimates around 3,000 people came.
“I was speechless. I didn’t expect the turnout we had. Obviously, there was a lot that contributed to that, like the mini Highland cows,” she said. “That’s something that is still talked about to this day. Like, ‘Oh my gosh, do you remember Easter and all the people?’ It was just something enjoyable that we will forever be talking about.”
At the Boo Bash this year, there will be four mini Highland cows brought by their owner, Shantell Goodenough. She runs a farm in Shelley and created a business called Posh Mini Farm.
Goodenough will bring out two cows at a time during the two-hour event. She has two babies: Kansas, a girl, and Trucker, a boy. She will also have her two older cows, Zara (a girl) and Burrow (a boy). It will cost $5 to take a picture with the cows.
“I’m going to have the cows dressed up, and that’s going to be super fun so the kids get to enjoy that. When they come up to take a picture, they can, of course, snuggle into them. It’s their time. They get to love on the cows and see the cows,” Goodenough said.
The cows tend to be docile, calm, gentle, easygoing, and affectionate, according to a Nebraska ranch that raises Highlands.
Goodenough has six mini Highland cows on her farm. They participate in special events like weddings, birthday parties, and visits to homes for the elderly. She offers Cuddle and Feeds, a one-of-a-kind experience. She also has events like Pilates on the farm. The newest attraction is the monthly craft night.
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“It’s been super fun. We always do a Highland craft. The cows are out there with you. You get to hang out with the cows while doing your craft, and we just make it a really fun night,” Goodenough said.
She will offer Christmas photos in November with the mini Highland cows, which people can use for Christmas cards or family photos.
Goodenough said she is looking forward to the Boo Bash.
This will be the fourth time she and her cows have visited the facility to see the residents, who have not met the babies yet.
“A lot of the residents have memory issues and it’s so fun to go back there because they actually remember the cows,” Goodenough said.
There will be other businesses at the Boo Bash, including:
- BriO Home Health & Hospice
- Mission Home Health and Hospice
- Enhabit Home Health & Hospice
- Hallmark Homecare
- Symbii Home Health & Hospice
- Alliance Home Health and Hospice
A new business called Drip Stacks will be selling cake pops, cakesicles, dipped Rice Krispies, and dipped Oreos.
Romrell invites everyone to attend and says it’s another way to give back to the community.
“Most places just do your trunk or treat, or trick or treating and we figured adding the cows was a great idea,” she said.
