NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Meena Kar of Bentonville (right) paints a Christmas wreath on Daisy Fernandez, 8, of Rogers (left) during the first annual Winter Wonderland Fair, Sunday, December 16, 2018 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Bentonville.
Sunday was the final day of the Winter Wonderland Christmas crafts and vendors event with a portion of the proceeds going to Autumn's Reride Youth Ranch, a youth ranch for kids. Youth can spend weekly, 90 minute, therapeutic...
more »NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Meena Kar of Bentonville (right) paints a Christmas wreath on Daisy Fernandez, 8, of Rogers (left) during the first annual Winter Wonderland Fair, Sunday, December 16, 2018 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Bentonville.
Sunday was the final day of the Winter Wonderland Christmas crafts and vendors event with a portion of the proceeds going to Autumn's Reride Youth Ranch, a youth ranch for kids. Youth can spend weekly, 90 minute, therapeutic sessions with horses free of charge. The event included over 50 vendor booths, pictures with Santa, a train ride and horses for people to enjoy.
"We had such a hard summer financially," said Rebecca Christians, co-owner of the youth ranch. "It goes a long way for vet bills, feed bills and whatever shows up [that] we’ve got to maintain."
Christians' daughter Autumn passed away in 2002. A friend at her church gave her a cd of an interview showing a ranch in Oregon that started a youth ranch ministry. She decided that's how she would want her daughter to live on.
In rodeo terms, a "reride" is a second chance given to riders. Many of the horses at the Autumn Reride Youth Ranch are rescues. Christians' said her ranch gives her horses, the kids struggling and her daughter Autumn a second chance.
Autumn's Reride Youth Ranch will start taking reservations in April on a first come, first serve basis. The vending event will return to the fairgrounds from May 17 to 19.
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![NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Meena Kar of Bentonville (right) paints a Christmas wreath on Daisy Fernandez, 8, of Rogers (left) during the first annual Winter Wonderland Fair, Sunday, December 16, 2018 at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Bentonville. <br />
<br />
Sunday was the final day of the Winter Wonderland Christmas crafts and vendors event with a portion of the proceeds going to Autumn's Reride Youth Ranch, a youth ranch for kids. Youth can spend weekly, 90 minute, therapeutic sessions with horses free of charge. The event included over 50 vendor booths, pictures with Santa, a train ride and horses for people to enjoy. <br />
<br />
"We had such a hard summer financially," said Rebecca Christians, co-owner of the youth ranch. "It goes a long way for vet bills, feed bills and whatever shows up [that] we’ve got to maintain." <br />
<br />
Christians' daughter Autumn passed away in 2002. A friend at her church gave her a cd of an interview showing a ranch in Oregon that started a youth ranch ministry. She decided that's how she would want her daughter to live on. <br />
<br />
In rodeo terms, a "reride" is a second chance given to riders. Many of the horses at the Autumn Reride Youth Ranch are rescues. Christians' said her ranch gives her horses, the kids struggling and her daughter Autumn a second chance. <br />
<br />
Autumn's Reride Youth Ranch will start taking reservations in April on a first come, first serve basis. The vending event will return to the fairgrounds from May 17 to 19.](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000XeilLrrhxQs/s/895/1000/BC-FEA-THERAPY-HORSES-001.jpg)
