Wilt Family Farms

09/17/2026

It’s not too late to sign up!

🐄📚 BIG NEWS FROM WILT FAMILY FARMS — INTRODUCING BARNYARD ACADEMY! 🌾❤️

We’re excited to introduce something NEW at the farm: Barnyard Academy — where hands-on farm life meets deeper learning!

Many of you already know and love our Learning Herd, where kids come together once a month to explore all things livestock, farming, and agriculture. Barnyard Academy is a different experience! Instead of exploring a variety of topics, the Academy takes a deep dive into ONE species through a 12-week series, combining a more classroom-style approach with real, hands-on farm learning.

🐄 And we couldn’t think of a better way to kick it off than with DAIRY COWS!

Remember our post about Adopt a Cow? Well, that special cow is becoming the focus of our very first Barnyard Academy series! For 12 weeks, our Academy kids will follow our adopted dairy cow while diving into the world of dairy cattle.

We’ll go beyond simply learning what a cow is. Kids will explore dairy breeds, anatomy, nutrition, health, reproduction, milk production, calf care, housing, daily management, the dairy industry, where our food comes from, and the responsibilities that come with caring for livestock. We want them asking questions, building skills, making connections, and understanding what it truly takes to be a steward of agriculture.

🌱 Today’s learning. Tomorrow’s farmers.

📅 Kicks off October 15th
⏰ Every Thursday | 4:00–6:30 PM
📚 12-week Dairy Cow Series
💲 $125 per child for the entire series
🔒 $30 deposit due no later than September 18th to reserve your spot
💵 Remaining balance is due BEFORE the first class
👨‍👩‍👧 Herd Discount: $10 off for each additional child in the same series
🚌 Appomattox County Public Schools: After-school pickup on school days is available for an additional $5 per child

Spots are LIMITED because we want to keep the Academy small enough for kids to truly participate, ask questions, work hands-on, and get the most out of each lesson.

This isn’t replacing the Learning Herd—it’s another way to learn at Wilt Family Farms. ❤️ Learning Herd lets kids explore agriculture. Barnyard Academy lets them dig deeper.

We cannot wait to meet our first class of Barnyard Academy students and spend 12 weeks learning all about the incredible world of DAIRY COWS! 🐄🥛🌾

📞 Contact Ashley Wilt at 434-414-3123 to reserve your child’s spot!

09/17/2026

🍂🐴 October Blessings at Wilt Family Farms 🐴🍂

October is shaping up to be a month full of some of our favorite things—cooler days, happy horses, farm kids, fall adventures, learning, laughter, and memories made together. 🤎

As you look over our October calendar, we hope you see more than just dates and activities. Every riding lesson, Fun on the Farm afternoon, Learning Herd gathering, Horsemanship Club, Pumpkins & Ponies Day Camp, and fall campout is another opportunity for kids to learn something new, build confidence, make friendships, and simply enjoy being a kid on the farm.

We feel incredibly blessed to watch our little farm continue to grow into a place where children can get dirty, love animals, learn responsibility, find their confidence, and create memories they’ll carry with them long after they leave the barn. 🐐🐮🐴🍁

Here’s to October blessings, muddy boots, crisp fall air, pony hugs, barn laughs, new adventures, and a whole lot of memories waiting to be made.

🍁 Hello, October. We’re ready for all the blessings you bring. 🍁

— Wilt Family Farms 🤎

09/16/2026

🐴 Meet Jaclyn — Junior Farm & Horsemanship Helper

Jaclyn is one of our young farm girls who has grown up surrounded by animals, horses, and the everyday adventures of farm life.

She developed a love for animals at a young age and enjoys being hands-on—whether that means caring for livestock, spending time with the horses, working around the farm, or learning something new.

🐐 Goats are especially close to Jaclyn’s heart. She raises her own goats and has gained valuable hands-on experience caring for them, learning about their health, nutrition, daily management, breeding, and raising kids. She enjoys being involved in the entire process and continuing to grow her knowledge as a young livestock producer.

Jaclyn is also an accomplished goat showman. She has spent time learning how to properly handle, prepare, and present her goats in the show ring, and she understands the dedication that happens long before an animal ever steps into the ring. From daily care and training to building a relationship with each animal, she takes pride in raising and showing her goats.

That experience has helped Jaclyn develop patience, responsibility, confidence, and a strong work ethic—all qualities she can pass along to the younger kids at the farm.

Jaclyn is a great example of what we hope our farm programs are all about: giving kids the opportunity to learn by doing.

As she continues to grow in her own horsemanship and livestock knowledge, Jaclyn loves sharing her excitement with other kids. She understands that learning about animals should be fun, hands-on, and something children can be proud of.

Jaclyn is especially excited about helping younger children feel comfortable around the animals and showing them that farm life isn’t just about watching—it’s about getting involved, asking questions, learning responsibility, and building confidence.

She is still learning and growing herself, and that’s exactly what makes her role so special. Our young helpers aren’t expected to know everything. They’re learning alongside the kids they help while developing their own leadership skills, responsibility, confidence, and knowledge.

At Wilt Family Farms, we believe some of the best teachers are kids who are willing to share their passion and experiences with others.

🐴🐐 Jaclyn — raising, showing, learning, leading, and growing one farm adventure at a time.

09/15/2026

Now is your time to start your horsemanship journey! We’d like to spotlight one of our amazing Youth Instructors at the farm . Reach out to us today to get signed up!!

🐴 Meet Your Instructor — Sarah

Sarah has become such a special part of the Wilt Family Farms family, and one of the things that makes her such an incredible instructor is her natural ability to connect with her riders and bring out the very best in them.

Sarah truly has a gift for working with people of all ages. Whether she’s teaching a young child who is just discovering a love for horses or helping an adult rider build skills and confidence, she has a way of making every rider feel comfortable, supported, and capable.

She understands that building a rider is about so much more than teaching someone how to sit in a saddle. It’s about learning each rider—their personality, their fears, their strengths, their goals, and what helps them succeed. Sarah takes the time to develop that relationship, and because of it, her riders form a special bond with her.

Her patience and encouragement create an environment where riders aren’t afraid to make mistakes, ask questions, try something new, or challenge themselves. She knows when someone needs a little extra reassurance and when they’re ready for that gentle push to take the next step.

Sarah focuses on developing well-rounded, confident horsemen and women. Her riders learn riding skills alongside groundwork, horse care, communication, safety, and—most importantly—how to build a partnership with their horse.

One of the greatest things about watching Sarah teach is seeing the relationships she builds along the way. Her riders trust her, look forward to working with her, and know that she genuinely believes in them. That connection allows her to help riders grow not only in their horsemanship, but also in their confidence in themselves.

We are incredibly blessed to have Sarah as part of our team and to watch her continue doing what she does so naturally—building riders, building confidence, and creating relationships that make our lesson program feel like family. ❤️🐴

Sarah — helping riders of all ages discover just how much they’re capable of, one ride at a time.

09/14/2026

Got a horse that needs some groundwork or support in the saddle? A mini that needs to be desensitized? At Wilt Family Farms we are proud to offer this service through our training program. Please reach out to us today for More Information!!

🐴 Meet Brooke — Junior Instructor & Horse Trainer

Brooke has grown up surrounded by horses and farm life, and horses have always been a huge part of who she is. From a young age, she has spent countless hours in the saddle and on the ground learning how horses think, communicate, respond, and develop through consistent training.

Over the years, Brooke’s passion has grown beyond simply riding horses—she has developed a true love for training them and helping them become confident, willing, and responsive partners.

Brooke believes good horse training starts with a strong foundation. She focuses on groundwork, respect, communication, confidence building, responsiveness, and creating trust between horse and handler. She understands that every horse is different and that training isn’t about rushing the process—it’s about figuring out what each individual horse needs in order to learn and succeed.

Whether she is working through a challenge on the ground, introducing a new skill under saddle, improving responsiveness, building confidence, or helping a horse and rider communicate more effectively, Brooke approaches training with patience and consistency.

One of the things she enjoys most is watching the small moments turn into big accomplishments—the first time a horse understands a new cue, works through something that once made them nervous, becomes softer and more responsive, or begins trusting their rider in a whole new way.

Brooke continues to develop her own horsemanship through training, riding, showing, groundwork, and working with a variety of horses. She knows that becoming a great horse trainer means never believing you are finished learning. Every horse has something different to teach, and every training session is an opportunity to become a better horsewoman.

Her experience as a trainer also makes her a stronger instructor. Brooke enjoys helping riders understand not only how to ride, but why a horse responds the way it does. She encourages riders to learn how to communicate clearly, recognize what their horse is telling them, work through challenges, and develop a true partnership rather than simply sitting in the saddle.

At Wilt Family Farms, we are proud to watch Brooke continue growing as a young horse trainer, rider, and instructor. Her goal is simple: to help develop confident horses, capable riders, and partnerships built on trust, patience, respect, and good horsemanship. 🐴❤️

09/13/2026

Happy Sunday from all of us at the farm, we are so blessed to continue to offer these amazing activities to the young up and coming farmers and the future of the agriculture industry. Please reach out to Ashley Mabe Wilt to get signed up for these two before they are gone!

Barnyard Academy-spots are filling fast!
Monthly Lesson Discount- this is an amazing deal!

We appreciate all of your continued support, participation and love you have shown all of us at the farm.

09/12/2026

Our kiddos went to the Franklin County Livestock Show today!!

Where do we even start?! ❤️ We are SO incredibly proud of each and every one of these kids! What a fantastic day at the show!

We took 5 goats—Brooke, Jaclyn, Sarah, Lacy & Parker—and every single one of them did an amazing job! 🐐👏

🏆 GOAT SHOWMANSHIP
Intermediate Showman Heat
🥇 Jaclyn – 1st
🥈 Parker – 2nd

Senior Showman Heat
🥇 Brooke – 1st
🥈 Sarah – 2nd
🥉 Lacy – 3rd

Overall Goat Showman
🏆 Grand Champion – Jaclyn Wilt
🥈 Reserve Champion – Brooke Wilt
🥉 3rd – Sarah Witt
4️⃣ 4th – Parker Bender

🐐 BREEDING DOES
Heat
🥇 Jaclyn – 1st
🥈 Brooke – 2nd
🥉 Lacy – 3rd
4️⃣ Sarah – 4th

Overall Breeding Doe
🏆 Grand Champion – Jaclyn Wilt
🥈 Reserve Champion – Brooke Wilt

🐐 MARKET GOAT
🥇 Parker Bender – 1st in class
🏆 Overall Grand Champion Market Goat – Parker Bender

Then we brought 2 cows, and Brooke & Ashlyn absolutely knocked it out of the park! 🐄❤️ Randolph and Daisy looked fantastic!

🐄 SENIOR SHOWMANSHIP
🥇 Ashlyn Heaney – 1st
🥈 Brooke Wilt – 2nd

Overall Senior Showman
🏆 Grand Champion – Ashlyn Heaney
🥈 Reserve Champion – Brooke Wilt

🐄 YEARLING HEIFER
🥇 Ashlyn – 1st

Overall Heifer
🏆 Grand Champion – Ashlyn Heaney

🐄 MARKET STEER
🥇 Brooke – 1st

Overall Market Steer
🏆 Grand Champion – Brooke Wilt

But honestly, the ribbons are only part of what made today so special. ❤️

We are most proud of the memories these kids are making, the teamwork they showed, and the way they support and cheer each other on. They celebrate each other’s successes, help each other when things get tough, and truly act like a team.

Even the judge commented on what a fantastic job they were doing and how respectful and well-mannered they were. That means more to us than any banner ever could.

This is what we hope our kids learn through showing livestock—hard work, responsibility, sportsmanship, respect, friendship, and cheering for the person standing beside you.

Today was a GREAT day for our show team, and we couldn’t be more proud! 🐐🐄❤️

The ribbons will eventually fade, but these memories and friendships will last a lifetime.

All glory to God for giving these kids the opportunity, the strength, and the blessings to do what they love. 🙏❤️

What a day. What a team. What a blessing! 🐐🐄🏆

09/11/2026

We will always remember 🇺🇸

09/10/2026

Wilt Family Farms- Where riding becomes horsemanship and horses become teachers

We’d like to introduce the heart behind our lesson program and spotlight our fearless leader Ashley Wilt! She is the heartbeat behind all the work that happens in every program we have but the true inspiration behind developing horsemanship from the ground up and creating experiences for every rider and any age or level. Tomorrow we will also share the young ladies under her instruction that are developing into amazing young women and trainers to continue the legacy that Ashley and her family have built.

Meet Ashley Wilt-Head Instructor / Trainer
Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Being raised around horses gave me the opportunity to learn not only how to ride, but how to truly understand, respect, and care for these incredible animals.

Over the years, horses have taught me some of life’s greatest lessons—patience, responsibility, confidence, communication, perseverance, and trust. Those are the same values I strive to pass on to every student who comes through the gates at Wilt Family Farms.

As a trainer and horsemanship instructor, my goal is to teach more than just riding. I want my students to understand the horse underneath them and the partnership they’re building. Lessons include everything from safe horse handling, grooming, tacking, groundwork, and horse behavior to developing correct riding skills and confidence in the saddle.

I work with riders at different ages and experience levels, from those climbing into the saddle for the very first time to young riders who want to take their horsemanship to the next level and prepare for the show ring.

One of my favorite parts of teaching is watching a nervous child become confident, watching a rider accomplish something they once thought they couldn’t do, and seeing that special bond develop between a child and a horse.

At Wilt Family Farms, I want every student to know that they are part of our farm family. We work hard, we learn together, we celebrate the little victories, and most importantly, we put the relationship between horse and rider first.

I’m not just raising riders. I’m helping raise confident, responsible, compassionate horsemen and horsewomen—one lesson, one horse, and one child at a time.

09/10/2026

🐴☀️ Another Wednesday Fun on the Farm after school in the books! ☀️🐴

We couldn’t have asked for more amazing weather to spend the afternoon outside together! Of course, riding horses was a favorite part of the afternoon—because around here, any day spent in the saddle is a good one. 🐎❤️

But we’ve also discovered that our round pen is good for WAY more than horses! 😂 When the horses aren’t using it, it turns into a pretty awesome kickball field, tag arena, and all-around place for friends to run, laugh, play, and just be kids!

That’s what we love so much about Fun on the Farm—the horses and farm activities are wonderful, but so are the friendships, laughter, fresh air, and simple memories being made along the way. 🌾🤎

Sometimes the best part of the afternoon is simply being outside, being together, and having FUN!

🐴🌻 Wilt Family Farms — where farm days turn into favorite memories.