Ollie is back with his tried and true message about learning to be yourself and accepting others.
Ollie the miniature horse and his owner, Jolene Buchenroth of Hardin County, recently presented Ollie’s story to ILES second graders. Buchenroth told the students that when Ollie came to her farm, he felt ashamed because he is much smaller and looks different from her other full-sized horses, cattle and donkeys. To feel more accepted Ollie pretended to be a cow, Buchenroth explained. The students helped the mini-horse put on his costume including a spotted cape, cowbell, and ears. But they learned that the costume did not make the other animals believe Ollie was a cow, so he decided to take all that off and just be himself.
Buchenroth explained, "If you wear glasses, if hair is a different color, if your shoes are different than your friends, all of that's ok. It's important to be nice and accept our friends just the way they are!"
It turns our the other animals a Jolene's farm love Ollie as he is.
Guidance Counselor Mrs. Onyema compared Ollie's story to that of "Bouncy the Service Dog" that she's been sharing with second graders. She also read students a book on acceptance called "You're Different and That's Super" by author Carson Kressley about a colt who does not look the same as the other horses.
Ollie’s visit is again sponsored by Gathering Grounds and is part of an ongoing effort to prevent bullying at Indian Lake Elementary.