My Trip To Bar B Ranch, Wyoming

          

 A Cowboy in the Making

 The Bar B Ranch & Livestock Program in Burlington Wyoming 

 A few short days before I arrived in Wyoming, I was in Los Angeles with Temple Grandin and Friends !  Temple was happy to hear I was headed out to work with the cattle and horses for the next 7 weeks!  

 In late May when I arrived at Barbie Hart's, Bar B Ranch and Livestock Program, I had no idea what was in store for me! During this trip I experienced my first time wrangling and branding cattle; I was nervous and faint at first but I pushed through it. It was amazing to work along side and learn from REAL cowboys ! At the end of the day I, think I was standing a few inches taller because I was so proud and it felt great to put in a long hard days work.

Terry teaching me to brand the calves, and all the cowboys

My buddy Davis and I learned how to Push Cattle and we were able to load the cattle (the mothers with the calves) into the cattle truck and transport them to the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) pastures between Cody and Burlington, Wyoming. (See location on map)

            I also got to read my Medieval Trio Tales books to children from kindergarten to 4th grade  communities of Powell, Cody, and Burlington. I was very excited to share my story.

     
   The Bar B Ranch had their first big fundraiser while I was there at the Double Doc Ranch in Cody. Lexie, Barbie and I recorded a PSA for the radio and we were all interviewed   live on  KODI radio !   I had ranchers say they heard me on their radios while they were out driving their combine tractors in the field cutting the hay.

Alexis and I recording the PSA

I was also interviewed by [a reporter] for the local newspaper. Unfortunately they put an awful photo of me in the paper so I was too embarrassed to share it with anyone. There were great photos to choose from, why they picked the one that made me look pathetic I have no idea. 

They should have put this one in the paper !

The fundraiser at Double Doc Ranch in Cody was a big success. Everyone worked so hard. Lexie, Kevin and I all spoke and we contributed art to raise money for the program.

Kevin, John, Lexie, Me, Zach and Ashley

 I donated my painting, Buffalo Bill, through live auction where all the proceeds went to the Bar B Ranch and Livestock program. -- Thank you Nick Allen, for your generosity! I think he bought up all the art and books I donated! 

Barbie Hart is an amazing person, teacher and friend. I also learned so much from Ashley and Terry (my real cowboy friend) This was the longest time for me to be away from my family, having spent two months in Wyoming. Davis, Zach and I did great living  and cooking and working together. Zach took us fishing up at the favorite little lake up in the hills and I caught a fish !


We learned so much about horses and cattle and taking care of the ranch and being a part of a community.  
 
 It was time for me to conclude my journey. After all that time in Wyoming I felt homesick and missed my family. Overall, I had a great experience out on the ranch because I got to improve/learn new skills as an artist, speaker, author, and cowboy! 

Barbie and Me

What a terrific way to spend my summer!I look forward to returning soon to see our Red Angus Bull Calf, Stewart Anderson and Liberty Belle our little heifer, and I can't forget my buddy Jose the Donkey !

Joel

check out:
www.barbranchandlivestock.com
www.joelsvisionarts.com
 

Temple Grandin and Friends

Temple Grandin and Friends   ( Joel Anderson )

Club Nokia LA, CA

May 20, 2015 

Thank you to Joanne Lara and Autism Works Now for inviting me to be a presenter, and share my art !

Temple Grandin and Me

What an exciting evening to be in the heart of Los Angeles!
 As for the event itself, I showed the guests my art at the lounge where we hosted the Meet & Greet with Temple Grandin and Friends. Later, I performed as a presenter on stage in front of the audience to introduce the next special guests for the event. 
I was excited but at the same time a little nervous to present in front of so many people. 

 

 I enjoyed meeting new celebrities like Ed Asner and his son Matt, and Joe Mantegna and his daughter Mia !

 I was a little nervous to meet some new people there, but I ended up handling it well.

Mr. Ed Asner and Me

Joen Mantegna and Me

Myself and Joey Travolta

It was great to see my old friends too like Joey Travolta, Dylon Aragon (he did amazing singing on stage ! ), Dani Bowman and Rachel Barcalona who came all the way from Florida.  

Lucky Me with Dani Bowman and Rachel Barcellona

The Amazing Dylon Aragon

I  met some friends from Exceptional Minds including, Howie Hoffman, Ernie Merlan, Yudi Bennett  

and Noah Schneider, he did a great job on stage ! Reid Moriarty, one of my friends from San Diego 

came to interview Dr. Temple Grandin for his "Talk Time with Reid Moriarty" pod cast show.

 

Ernie Merlan Director of Exceptional Minds Studios

Me and Howie Hoffman, my animation mentor at EMS

Me and my new friend the talented Mia Mantegna

   

 One of the most memorable events was watching the artist Michael Tolleson perform a live painting in front of an audience. Tolleson magnificently used the artistic elements of form and shape when performing his live horse painting. While live painting, Tolleson used intense bright colors, which made me feel impressed by the art. 

There were so many exciting things happening !

Even though I felt overwhelmed by the loud noises and music, I successfully pushed through it and had an amazing time.

Thank you Joanne Lara

www.joelsvisionarts.com

Blue Horizons for Autism

Check out my new social story video and my artwork for I Can Fly.

The sky's the limit for little Vincent Ghio and his association with Autism Tree Project, TSA Cares, jetBlue, and San Diego International Airport. I was asked to film him in a social story training video for kids on the autism spectrum who are anxious about flying. We are hoping to open doors for everyone with autism so they can see the world. The title of the video is "I Can Fly"

I enjoyed filming Vincent and working with TSA Cares, and Colm Marmion, the San Diego International Airport Customer Rep. I've also made a powerpoint social story to go along with the video.

The musical talents of Angela Neve of the Music Therapy Center of California, blessed us with a social story song entitled "I Can Fly." I enjoyed working with Angela and the kids will really love her song.

Joel's China newsletter to Australia

Here's a newsletter I've made for Australia about my experience in China last summer.

Dear people,

I, Joel Anderson, had a huge experience to visit China.

It all started when I was a teenager at 14 years old, I had a passion for China. I was hoping to go there and this year of 2013, I already did. It took me a few ways to practice speaking in Chinese for almost four years and I persevered.

As my mom, Sandi, and I were preparing for the trip, we worked so hard to support the people with disabilities in China and I had confidence and a little overwhelming. We’ve had funding in our trip, including sightseeing. Angela Neve, Janice Chan, Andrea Moriarty, Kim and Jon Bennett were a part of this trip.

As we arrived in Jiaozou, China, we were a part of the BEACON team to give the orphans with disabilities hope. The place in Jiaozou we went to a special needs orphanage for children. There are lots of boys and girls. Some of them have autism, some who don’t speak, and some were in wheelchairs, and most of the children want to have a loving family and they want hope and to know about God.

We spoke to the caregivers, families, and students all about our journey and we had a translator to interpret for us in Chinese. We motivated the orphans with music and creativity and social skills. I gave them more hope and love by painting murals outside the children’s’ rooms the hallways on the top floor where the orphanage was. I painted lions, tigers, monkeys, and pandas, as well as Noah’s ark and other animals in China on a piece of fabric to hang on the walls.

Before I was heading for China, I had to paint the china animals and Noah’s ark on long sheet of fabric. Kelly Greene helped me a lot with the backgrounds on every fabric. We had made a great team on working on the murals.

We had great sightseeing tours of the Great Wall of China, Hutong Alleys, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, and the Forbidden City. The Great Wall of China was a challenge to lose weight by means of exercising by climbing up from turret to turret.

We had fun getting around in China. We rode on taxis and rickshaws and it was exciting.

We went shopping in the silk markets. I was looking for a Chinese tang shirt. The color I wanted for the shirt is blue but we couldn’t find it good and cheap enough so we bartered for a reversible black and red shirt. Also we found a set of old Chinese coins and a fan with pictures of Beijing on it. It was a difficult challenge to see which product in china works best for me. So far I’ve bought a tang shirt, a set of chopsticks, a Chinese chess set, a fan, and Chinese coins. What a lot of souvenirs I have!

We had a great adventure in China. It makes us feel special that God used us.

China Adventures

Hi all! 

China was very new and exciting for me! Everything was different-- from the unpleasant smell of Tofu, to the chaotic traffic.

Here are just some of my favorite highlights from China:

• Speaking/spending time at an orphanage in Jiaozuo.
• Touring The Great Wall of China.
• Checking out The Summer Palace.
• And exploring The Forbidden City.

I also really enjoyed riding around China in taxis and the food at most Chinese restaurants!

Painting a mural in the orphanage

 At The Great Wall with Terracotta soldiers

Joel

I'm Off To China!

After years of waiting and longing to travel to Asia, my dream is finally coming true! 

I'm going to be spending ten days touring around China and am particularly excited about seeing the Great Wall and the Forbidden City! I'm also excited about going and spending some time at an orphanage for kids with special needs. 

Me practicing Chinese for the trip

And here's me with the mural I painted for the children's orphanage

保重 / Take care,

       Joel

Joel at the ANCA awards

On September 23rd, 2011, the time has come for me to be one of the hosts for the 2nd annual Naturally Autistic People Awards. I'm going to sing, sell my art, and announce the nominees for the ANCA awards from the United States of America. The next day, I'll be at the art workshop and the music workshop, and on Sunday, I'll be at the awards gala dinner and dance.