Showing animals therapeutic for Stillwater teen

By Shane Vietzke Stillwater NewsPress

STILLWATER, Okla. — While Laurie Fitch was concerned about how she would stack up against the rest of the competition at the Central District Junior Livestock show, her brother, 16-year-old Brian, had other things on his mind. He was more concerned with speaking to friends and sharing the sounds of his favorite song.

Jerry and June Fitch said they did not know anything was different about their son when he was born nine weeks premature. When Brian neared age 2, the couple become concerned.

 “He was our first, so we weren’t sure what normal was,” Mr. Fitch said.  “We thought there were probably going to be some learning disabilities. About six to eight months later, we went through some diagnosis stuff and found out he’s autistic.”

Mild autism was not enough to slow down Brian or his family.

Brian is active in 4-H and FFA, showing sheep through the FFA as freshman at Stillwater High School.

Mr. Fitch is an Extension sheep specialist and undergraduate coordinator for the animal science department at Oklahoma State University. Mrs. Fitch is the leader of the Payne County Livestock 4-H Club. Laurie, 15, actively competes with her lambs through FFA. They all work together to complete daily chores and prepare for the next show.

 “He does everything with us,” June said. “We don’t treat him any different.”

That togetherness has enhanced Brian’s natural love for animals, and according to his dad, it is easy to see the draw to fauna comes from his parents. Mr. Fitch met his wife while studying agriculture at California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo. Both received bachelor’s degrees, his in animal science and hers in agriculture business.

They were involved with livestock through their youth, and have continued to share their passion.

When the children were infants she would sometimes carry them in her arms as she fed the sheep, Mrs. Fitch said.

“Sometimes I would put Laurie in a feeder until I was finished,” she said. “She did not mind.”

Now, the Fitch family has 65 breed lambs they show and sell, but Brian is more partial to fowls. He has raised three ducks and several broiler chickens. At one time he had gerbils, but has decided to not continue with them.

“No gerbils,” Brian said. “They eat things up and die.”

When the unusually cold winter conditions came this year, the family helped him, but it is his duty to feed, water and look after all of his animals.

His parents said they consider a sense of responsibility as an essential part of his personal foundation that will last well into Brian’s future.

While the development of that area is still in the works, his social skills did need any help. Mrs. Fitch said he loves meeting people.

“He has never met a stranger,” she said. “If you talk to him for just a few minutes, he considers you a friend.”

With his welcoming manner, Brian has made friends like 14-year-old Austin Hicks. Austin shows Dorset sheep at many of the same shows as Brian and Laurie. They travel together to far-off shows.

“Sometimes we will play video games and chess in the trailer until we get there,” Austin said.

Last October the friends traveled to Louisville, Ky., to be among the 4,000 competitors at the North American International Livestock Exposition.

“We got to see Churchill Downs while we weren’t showing,” Austin said. “It was the best part.”

As much as Brian loves to travel,  normal things bring him the most joy. On one occasion Brian spent the night with Austin and his brother Dalton, just like his sister does with her friends.

“That doesn’t happen very often,” Mrs. Fitch said.

Brian’s involvement with animals has proven to be a helpful avenue for social interaction, managing with stress and developing positive habits, Mr. Fitch said. But only a handful of studies have investigated the potential of using farm animals in a therapy setting. Animal-assisted therapies for people with disorders are frequently limited to cats or dogs.

The Norwegian University of Life Sciences performed a three-year study in which they documented the response of patients with a variety of disorders to extended exposure to farm animals. Researchers concluded individuals in the control and treatment groups indicated a positive influence to self-efficiency and coping ability following the interaction.

In addition to showing sheep, Brian is a part of a weekly therapeutic riding program. It is a joy for him, but it can be very challenging for some kids, Mr. Fitch said.

“When you see the other kids that grow up in the city that don’t have access to animals or are not around animals, initially when they first do it they are scared to death to get up on a big horse,” Mr. Fitch said.

“After doing if a few times the majority of them, from one Tuesday to the next Tuesday, are looking forward to that next Tuesday when they get to ride a horse. I think it’s huge.”

 Bob Davis, associate dean of the OSU College of Education, has seen benefits from the use of animals in his nearly 30 years of experience in special education.

Davis said animal-assisted therapy helps persons with disabilities learn how to handle responsibility and cope with stress.

While some, like Brian, have flourished from their working with animals to that is not true for all children, according to Davis.

 Sometimes, much more is gained through the helping of others. Brian and the 4-H club visited local nursing homes and assisted-living centers with their animals.

“You give him the opportunity and he has his dog or goat,” Jerry said, “and he will talk with people all day long.”

The transition from caring for his animals to helping meet other peoples’ needs re-assures his parents as they watch Brian grow closer to being an independent young man. According to his father, he still has much to learn. So, he learns one show at a time.

This week Brian will be immersed in the atmosphere he relishes so much as his family travels to Oklahoma City for the Oklahoma Youth Exposition.

The expo runs through March 22 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds, with sheep competing on Thursday.

Although Brian will not show, there is work to be done. Laurie will compete with her club lamb, so the whole family will pitch in to prepare. While Brian wants his sister to do well, he is not worried about the results of the show. He is just excited to see his friends, animal and person alike.

In addition to showing lambs, Brian has shown ducks, chickens and a goat.

 

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