The Shea Center’s 47th Annual BBQ & Family Faire Brings the Community Together inSupport of Life-Changing Programs
Photos courtesy of Pixel That! Photography
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center welcomed more than 1,500 guests through its gates for the 47th Annual BBQ & Family Faire. Set in the Center’s beautiful equestrian grounds, the event united sponsors, donors, business and community leaders, families, friends, clients, volunteers, and staff for an unforgettable evening packed with joy, community spirit, and a whole lot of fun in support of a great cause.
This beloved event supports Shea Center programs that improve the lives of individuals with disabilities through therapeutic horse-related services. In 2024 alone, the Center served over 1,200 clients with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges, including autism, cerebral palsy, genetic syndromes, PTSD, and anxiety.
The festivities kicked off with carnival-style games, a petting zoo, face painting, barn tours, a custom hat booth, line dancing lessons, a magician, and an old-fashioned general store stocked with prizes. Guests enjoyed appetizers and beverages hosted by Nick’s Restaurants in the Sponsor Saloon, followed by a hearty Western-style dinner catered by TGIS Catering.
A highlight of the evening was the inspiring Client Parade of Stars, where more than 70 clients and their families were celebrated with a standing ovation. The featured client story of the evening spotlighted the Jennison family, who shared their powerful journey and connection to The Shea Center through a heartfelt video tribute.
Guests enjoyed an inspiring demonstration of our programs, including adaptive riding, physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies, as well as services for military families. They also had the opportunity to support The Shea Center through Fosheim Fund-a-Need, which benefits client financial aid, horse care, and priority programs. The evening’s live auction featured exclusive experiential packages.
The evening concluded with dancing and live music from Swingshift, The Shea Center’s beloved BBQ house band, keeping the crowd on their feet well into the night. Major sponsors included Presenting Sponsor The Klein Family, Event Sponsors Roger & Helen Abramson, and H.T.F. Charitable Foundation, Diamond Sponsors Jerry & Jackie Kehle, Andrea Shelly, and The J. Grace Foundation.
About The Shea Center
The mission of The J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center is to improve the lives of people with disabilities through therapeutic horse-related programs. Now in its 47th year, The Shea Center is one of the largest and most respected equine-assisted service facilities in the world. In 2024, more than 1,200 clients were supported by over 780 volunteers who contributed 22,600+ hours of service. The professional staff includes experts in physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as licensed mental health professionals. Clients, ages 2 to 88, experience gains in strength, balance, confidence, and independence, all with the help of highly trained therapy horses. The Shea Center also serves as a global leader in equine-assisted services, education, and having trained professionals from nearly every U.S. state and 16 countries worldwide.
