Making (and maintaining) Memories

Making (and Maintaining) Memories

Recently, I was helping my daughter clean up her room and purge some of the things she had as a younger child, but no longer needed. One thing that she refused to purge - her collection of stuffed animals. Most kids have them, and they seem to take so much space in any child or teen's room. Her reasoning for the refusal to make space? Each one of them had a memory attached.

Her moose was from a trip to Yellowstone with her grandparents. The tiny blue cat, named Nike, was from a dance competition. The pink snail was a special present from a friend. The otter was from a visit to the aquarium. Getting rid of any of the stuffies would be like cutting a memory from her mind.

Many farms have started to add stuffed animals to their store offerings as a way to take home a piece of the farm memory a family may have made that day. Did the child make a new chicken friend? What about the funny chewing sounds the cow made? Or did the child dig their hands into sheep's wool? Taking home a stuffed friend to maintain that farm memory can lead to a "friend" for life.

Audrey Choate of The Bear Factory gives some additional info about their line of stuffed plush:

The Bear Factory has been the leading plush supplier worldwide in innovation, quality, and sustainability. With the creation of “Plush for the Planet, the first sustainable stuff a plush line made of recycled fabrics, in 2020 we remain the only supplier of environmentally conscious plush skins worldwide. Our inaugural line driving focus is to let plush for the planet be a conversation starter with the next generation while also providing an interactive build-your-own plush experience to create a memorable lasting impression. Our mission: Create the best quality, design, and innovative product, cultivate lasting memories, and educate the next generation on the importance of animal and environmental conservation. Visit us: https://thebearfactory.com/.

Be sure to check out the Supplier Directory (available to NAFDMA members) to see options for creating (and maintaining) memories from the farm.

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