It was a cool spring morning in The Big Valley. The sky was bright blue, and the dew was still fresh on the surrounding landscape. Baby Bigfoot was awakened from his slumber earlier than usual by the smell of smoldering wood and the sounds of handsaws and hammers. The cutting and pounding could be heard across the meadow a mile or more away.

Curious as always, Baby Bigfoot walked toward the sounds. They grew louder and louder. As he crested the hill, he saw dozens of men hard at work—and a pile of ash and charred wood. To his horror, he realized the wood was once a barn, burned to the ground just the day before. The good news was that all the animals had survived the fire. The cows, horses, sheep, and goats were patiently awaiting the construction of their new home as they grazed in a nearby pasture.

The men were working diligently, measuring and cutting the massive beams needed to build the new barn. The tools they used were primitive compared to others Baby Bigfoot had seen—no power cords, just hand tools. He was also intrigued by the fact that all the men were dressed exactly alike and wore matching hats.

As he watched, more and more help arrived—not in cars or trucks, but in horse-drawn buggies. Baby Bigfoot had heard of the Amish community before, but this was the first time he had actually seen them.

As lunchtime approached, dozens of women appeared, also dressed uniformly and wearing bonnets. They began setting up tables and a makeshift kitchen in the open area next to the workers. The food smelled delicious and looked even better! Plenty of desserts were being prepared, including one called Shoo-Fly Pie. Baby Bigfoot couldn’t resist—he stuck his finger into one of the pies for a taste. It was gooey, sticky, and absolutely delicious. He couldn’t wait to try more!

Just then, one of the men approached and asked if he’d like to help. His name was Jacob. He explained that they were building a new barn for their friend Ezekiel and his family. Jacob told Baby Bigfoot they needed someone skilled at climbing to help attach the roof rafters.

Baby Bigfoot loved climbing trees, so he eagerly agreed. After a little training on how to attach the rafters, and equipped with a toolbelt and a new hat to match the others, up the beam he scampered. The view from the top was magnificent—he could see for miles! Before long, he had tied together all four corners of the new structure. When he finally returned to the ground, it was time for lunch.

As Baby Bigfoot sat down with Jacob and his friends, he was excited to try the food that smelled so amazing. There were dishes he’d never tasted before—egg noodles, pickled beets, pot pie, chicken corn soup, and more. For dessert, he had to try more Shoo-Fly Pie and also enjoyed a slice of rhubarb pie.

After lunch, it was back to work. Together, they finished the walls and roof, built and attached sturdy doors to each end, and added pens and stables inside so each animal would have a space to call home.

The animals were then led from their temporary pasture into their new barn. Baby Bigfoot was amazed that such a large structure could be built in just one day. He learned the importance of teamwork and felt the deep love the community had for Ezekiel and his family. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming and warmed Baby Bigfoot’s heart.

He thanked Jacob for the opportunity to help and was delighted when Jacob told him he was welcome to visit anytime.

As the buggies departed and Baby Bigfoot returned to the forest, the sun began to set. He felt a huge sense of pride—and a fair bit of exhaustion. He knew he and his new friends had made a meaningful difference in someone’s life. And he knew he would sleep well that night.