Illinois Teenager with Cerebral Palsy Shines Big in the Dairy Showring

Sometimes life doesn't go the way it was planned. Most farmers understand this all too well. If you have farmed long enough, you’ve likely had a curve ball tossed at you a time or two. But sometimes life’s curveballs provide opportunities to grow and learn. This holds true for the Dinderman family of Illinois.

In 2008, shortly after they purchased their farm, life threw the Dindermans a curve ball. Their twins were born at 27 weeks of age. Amery weighed two pounds, 15 ounces at birth, while his brother, Aidan, only weighed one pound, eight ounces.

“There was a Holstein cow Beanie Baby that was about the same size as Aidan when he was born,” their mother, Kristi Dinderman, shared. She explained that Amery was able to come home after a three-month hospital stay, but Aidan, who has cerebral palsy, required a six-month stay to prepare himself to head home with his family.

Active Kids on the Farm

The Dindermans live and work on their 65-cow dairy, raising all their replacement heifers with all breeds, except for Milking Shorthorn. They also grow corn and alfalfa. In addition to the twins, who are now 14, the Dindermans have a 16-year-old daughter, Alaina, who she shares are all a great help on the farm and enjoy showing cattle. 

Alaina enjoys showing, feeding calves and working with the cows. Amery enjoys driving anything on the farm and enjoys his Brown Swiss the most. Aidan enjoys helping feed calves and enjoys coming to the barn to see his past show calves as cows. All three of the Dindermans children are in 4-H, participate in State Holstein activities and attend the National Guernsey Convention, participating in the quiz bowl competition.

Aidan does not let his Cerebral Palsy diagnosis define him or slow him down. Kristi shares that he uses his Kaye walker to get around the farm and school, although he can walk independently around the house. However, physical therapy has been a constant part of Aidan’s schedule over the past 14 years. He receives therapy in school and outpatient weekly.

The Dinderman family’s love of showing is obvious at the numerous fairs they show at—local, state and national shows. 

“We have a focus on genetics and sell many animals on various sales each year along with many embryos,” Kristi says.

Working Towards His Goal

Like most teenagers, Aidan doesn’t want to miss out. 

“When the other two started showing cattle, Aidan said he wanted to show. We figured out how to make it happen,” she says, noting that he normally would walk his calf into the ring using his walker.

Aidan’s physical therapist at the Monroe Clinic grew up showing cattle and when she asked Aidan what one of his goals was, he brought up showing his heifer without a walker several years ago.

“Aidan decided he would do it when he was 14 years old, so they started working towards that goal,” Kristi says, sharing that at first, Aidan didn’t think it was possible, but kept that goal in the back of his mind and continued to work towards it.

“He worked on practicing at therapy and practiced leading his calf at home frequently,” she says. “He really needed to focus on keeping his weight forward on his toes as it was a big adjustment to use the calf to help with his balance.”

On the show day, Aidan’s therapist was in attendance, as she played a key role in helping Aidan accomplish his goal. This summer, Aidan walked into the ring without his walker, showing his Ayrshire winter calf named, Music to My Ears. The pair took home junior champion of the 4-H show which made the crowd cheer loudly for Aidan.

“We have found that winter calves work the best for Aidan, as a spring calf tends to have too much energy,” she shares. “He has shown both Ayrshires and Guernseys at the fair.”

Unfortunately, Aidan fell while showing in the ring, but for a kid who has had so many curve balls tossed at him, undergoing a dozen surgeries and all, he got back up and continued to show his calf.

“He is a reminder of what we all need to do when we fall down,” Kristi says. “Get up and keep going.”

The Dindermans are so appreciative of Aidan’s therapist who helped Aidan work towards his goal.

“She means so much to our family with all the work she has done with Aidan,” Kristi shares, beaming with pride when she talks about her son’s ability to work hard and persevere. “I’m not sure there are words to describe how we feel about Aidan’s ability to continue to work hard to accomplish things. With everything he has been through, he takes it in stride. He is always ready to tackle the next obstacle that comes his way. Many friends always comment on how he always has a smile on his face.”