31 Mar 2022 ‘A modern day Ellie May!’
By Becky Bell
What began with chickens, has turned into old McDonald’s farm for Ava Beene, 9.
Ava, a third grader at Vilonia Elementary School, had an interest in her friend’s chickens, so when they hatched chicks, she was given a few. And from there, more and more chickens and other animals began calling Ava’s home their home.
“Well, they are pets, but they are my babies,” Ava said. “They are like babies because they come straight to me when I go to feed them. When they see me, sometimes they come running because they know I have oranges.”
The oranges are snacks for the donkeys and pigs. But the picky pigs won’t eat the oranges whole.
“You have to peel them for the pigs. The pigs won’t eat the peeling.”
Ava spends each day before and after school taking care of the animals.
“Every day I have to go get the eggs from the chickens and get the chicks feed and water,” she said. “When dad gets home, we go to the barn and feed the donkeys and goats and pigs, and at night we feed the dogs and put out hay for the donkeys and the goats.”
Her father, Chad Beene, grew up on a farm and likes the lifestyle. Her mother, Amanda Beene, sells insurance. Her sister, Abbie, 17, is a junior at Vilonia High School and does not enjoy the barn nor its inhabitants.
“She does not like any of the animals. She’s a cheerleader,” Ava said.
Ava has thirty chickens to take care of, and she enjoys the differences between how they look and enjoys selling their eggs for $3 per dozen. Her customers are primarily the secretaries at Vilonia Elementary School, and they buy fresh eggs weekly.
“I have a lot of chickens. I have some red ones, some yellow ones, and I have a chicken that looks really weird. It looks like it has a beard,” she said. “Taking care of the animals kind of teaches me responsibility, and I save the money so then I have it when I want to buy something for my sister or my mom and dad.”
Because Missy Ricketts, her second grade teacher knows how much Ava loves her chickens and taking care of all the animals at her home, she made her an apron to wear while gathering eggs.
“It’s blue and it has roosters and hens all over it and has little pouches for the eggs to go in,” Ava said. Ricketts said Ava may have begun her class in August 2020 as a shy and timid child, but in January 2021, she became confident as the class started informative writing.
“She loves to share her love and knowledge of animals, especially chickens. When given the opportunity to write and present about an animal of her choice, of course she chose chickens, and did an excellent job! She adores them and takes great care of them. I love when her mom posts what’s going on in Ava’s chicken’s lives and the adventures they have.”
Her current teacher, Carol Guilliams, said Ava’s love of animals is apparent at school when she shares about them.
“Ava is a modern day Ellie May! She has a sweet soul and love for animals and a passion for teaching others about them,” Guilliams said.
The first goats that Ava’s family purchased would not come to the family, so they had to get new ones. Family friend Erin Lassiter is helping Ava with her 4H skills and has become a mentor.
“She taught me how to show goats and what to do and stuff. Some people don’t know this, but you have to hold their chain up the right way. And if the judges are on the left side, you have to be on the right side. The judges want to see the goat, not you.”
Ava’s mother, Amanda, said she expects her daughter’s interest to continue as the family has purchased 10 acres in the bedroom community of Vilonia.
One of her daughter’s favorite TV shows is “The Incredible Dr. Pol,” a reality show about the adventures of Dr. Jan Pol, veterinarian at his practice in Michigan.
“I like it because it is really funny and helps me to learn about how to work on animals and stuff,” Ava said.
The nine-year-old’s business is doing well, and her adventures are helping shape her into a confident, hardworking, caring young lady.
