Hi, my name is Christy Nicholson, and I’m the owner of One Happy Herd.
People often ask me why I started this journey. The answer is simple: I fell in love with the special needs community long before One Happy Herd ever existed.
As a teenager, I spent my summers volunteering at Camp Smile as a counselor from 1988 to 1992. Those years changed my life. I didn’t just meet incredible people. I found a community that forever captured my heart.
Even after I became a wife, a mother, and spent years working as a veterinary technician, I never stopped thinking about those summers. Eventually, I returned to Camp Smile and had the privilege of serving as the Arts & Crafts Director for 14 more years.
Animals have always been my second love. For years, I dreamed about creating a place where those two passions could come together — a place where adults with special needs could experience joy, friendship, creativity, structure, and the unconditional love that animals have a way of bringing into our lives.
That dream became One Happy Herd.
I never wanted it to feel like an institution. I wanted it to feel like spending the day at Grandma’s farm... a place filled with laughter, creativity, animals, good food, hugs, friendship, and people who truly care.
A place where every person is known by name.
A place where every person is celebrated for who they are.
A place where every person is reminded that they belong.
There comes a day that every parent of a child with special needs quietly worries about.
The school bus stops coming.
The routines change.
Friends move on.
And suddenly, families are left asking one heartbreaking question:
“What happens now?”
For far too many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, opportunities become fewer after they leave school. Days can become lonely. Families begin searching for somewhere they can trust, not just a place where their loved one will be watched, but a place where they will be loved, encouraged, respected, and given the chance to continue growing.
That is the family we hope to be.
When our participants walk through our doors each morning, they are not just checking into a program. They are walking into a place where they can paint, dance, cook, play games, spend time with animals, make friendships, and experience the simple joy of being part of something bigger than themselves.
When parents and caregivers drop off their loved one, I want them to leave with peace of mind. I want them to know their son, daughter, brother, sister, or family member is safe, respected, and deeply cared for.
There is no greater compliment than hearing a family say, “This feels like home.”
My husband and I have sacrificed so much over the last few years to build One Happy Herd because we know this community deserves more. Every long day, every late night, and every obstacle has been worth it when we see the smiles on the faces of the people we serve.
They have filled my heart more than I ever imagined possible.
As we continue to grow, our dream is to create even more opportunities for the adults and families we serve. We dream of more community outings, more accessible transportation, more activities, more memories, and more ways for our participants to experience life with joy, dignity, and connection.
Most of all, we dream of continuing to build a place where no family has to wonder if there is somewhere their loved one belongs.
One Happy Herd has never been just about building a business.
It is about building a place where adults with special needs are seen, valued, celebrated, and loved.
A place where families find peace.
A place where friendships are formed.
A place where joy is part of the daily routine.
A place where everyone belongs.
This is our herd, and we are so grateful you are part of our story.
