For over forty years special needs children have looked forward to "the day on the farm".  Coleta and Nick Corey have made Corey's Day on the Farm an experience to remember.  The event takes place the Monday and Tuesday after Mother's Day.

"Corey's Day on the Farm" began in the late 1960's after a show and tell project for the Corey's own special needs son Danny.

After the first classroom visit the family invited the class to their Silverdale farm to share a piece of country living and farm life.

As word spread the event grew and since 1979 has been held  at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds

It's a chance to sample the Western Way.  A chance to be a cowgirl or cowboy "for reals" as one youngster put it.  Each of the many activities is designed to give the special guests a glimpse into life on a farm including horseback and pony rides, a petting zoo, roping lessons, even hay rides in a wagon pulled by an antique tractor.  There's always the chance for an "ambush" by the Rat Pack, the resident bad guys!  Guests have their pictures taken, enjoy a free lunch featuring the "Big Cookie", live entertainment, surprises and more.

The most popular activity at "Day at the Farm" is the horse back riding.  The lines are always long for the chance to ride a "genuine roping horse" or a "champion barrel racing horse", or just a good horse named "Star" lead by a real rodeo queen.  Every child, regardless of physical challenge, is given the opportunity to ride.

The Corey family members make up the nucleus of the organizers.  Led by Coleta the volunteers are an amazing and diverse group.  Horse-show people and their horses, rodeo talent from youth to adult from all over the state show up.  Community volunteers including firemen, police, sheriff's and just regular folk arrive to do what they can to help.

What started as a simple gesture of show and tell has blossomed into an event that serves over 1000 children from four counties.

It's hard to say who gets more from whom at "Day at the Farm", the kids or the volunteers.  More than one cowboy or cowgirl has had a lump in their throat as they watch the grins and hear the squeal of delight from the special guests.  It's truly a special place.

Corey's "Day on the Farm"....part of the Spirit of the West