The speaker for the Christian Women’s Connection luncheon on Tuesday, August 10, will Shay Carriger, owner of the C Bar C Ranch. The title of her program: “Finding, and then BEING, the Helpers on the Trail Ride of Life.”
At the C Bar C, which she bought in 2012, Shay introduces riders to all the equine and rodeo disciplines —barrel racing, jumping, trick riding, roping and obstacles — crossing a creek on horseback over a log bridge, for example. She integrates Bible verses into the riding lesson curriculums, which she wrote herself. In the summer, Shay offers weekly trail rides for women followed by a Bible study on the porch of her farmhouse.
She has a master’s degree in Human Services from UCM and is a certified riding therapist.
The ranch hosts spring cowgirl campouts and cowboy camps for boys, and during the school year, a once-a-week Farm School for home-schooled children, with guest teachers introducing students to life skills such as bee-keeping.
The western theme of Shay’s program will be carried out in the table decorations, and guests are invited to wear western attire. Make reservations for the luncheon, which starts at
11: 45 a.m. at First Assembly of God Church, by calling Shirley Rucker, 417-321-0013 by Friday, Aug. 16. Cost is $14 for a catered lunch by Melinda Dehn, which includes entree, salad, side dish, dessert and drink. The program ends by 1 p.m., followed by the door prize raffles. All are welcome.
For the July luncheon, which had a Fourth of July picnic theme, Melinda made pulled-pork sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad and strawberry shortcake. The speaker was Major Rob Hills of the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, who brought a K9 police officer, Eleanor, a German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix, and her handler/partner, Sgt. Scott Brandt.
The message of the program: Don’t Mess with the Police Dog. K9 police officers are trained to protect their partner and defend their territory, meaning the police car, Major Hills said. Do not approach the dog or attempt to pet it, or approach the partner or the police car, he said. Police dogs are especially useful for searching empty buildings, for scent tracking and for apprehending suspects who attempt to run away. Once they hear the dog growl, Sgt. Brandt said, suspects are usually more frightened of the dog than the police officer who has a gun.
Major Hills, who is a director, writer and actor at Heartland Community Theatre, announced that he will be portraying President Harry Truman at a special theater event next May, “Tea with Truman.”
First Assembly of God is located at 1506 E. Ohio in Clinton, on the southeast corner of the intersection of Hwy. 13 and 7. Use the back door to the fellowship hall, which is open by 11:30 a.m. for luncheon guests to check-in.
