Cathedral Catholic Students Visit Olivenhain Farm
Best Buddies chapter members spent two hours at Sugar Sweet Farm brushing horses and milking goats.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Large Animals
Live Poll
Do you think schools in your area do enough to include students with disabilities?
Students from Cathedral Catholic High School's Best Buddies chapter visited Sugar Sweet Farm in Olivenhain on Nov. 8. The group spent two hours at the family-owned farm, which is home to animals ranging from horses to goats, some of them rescued.
Why it matters
Best Buddies promotes friendships and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the outing was planned to give students and their families time to relax together. For Encinitas readers, it shows how a local school group is using nearby farm settings for community-building activities.
The visit lasted two hours and included brushing a horse and milking a goat, activities students could not easily arrange without access to a working farm near Encinitas. The source does not report how many students took part.
The players
Sugar Sweet Farm
Sugar Sweet Farm is a family-owned farm in Olivenhain that opened to goat yoga visitors and later to more community events.
Best Buddies
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that promotes friendships and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The details
During the visit, farm owner Elizabeth Sugarman introduced students to the animals and gave short lessons on farming. Penelope Kiamilev chose the farm after students enjoyed a petting zoo at school the previous year.
Timeline
Previous year: students enjoyed a petting zoo at Cathedral Catholic High School.
Nov. 8: Best Buddies chapter visits Sugar Sweet Farm in Olivenhain.
Season Trajectory
The outing extends the petting zoo Cathedral Catholic held the previous year, moving students from an on-campus animal experience to a working family farm in Olivenhain. It reflects a pattern in which school inclusion groups use hands-on animal activities to build social connection.
Families interested in similar farm visits can book time at working farms in advance, since group outings often need scheduling with the host. Visitors should expect hands-on contact with animals, including horses and goats, during a visit of around two hours.
The takeaway
Hands-on animal visits can give students with and without disabilities a shared, low-pressure setting to build friendships. Families looking for similar outings can start by contacting local family farms directly.
Further reading
Explore more Large Animals stories covering farm and livestock experiences in the Encinitas area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Coast News.
Live Poll
Do you think schools in your area do enough to include students with disabilities?
