How a young Ont. man is making big ‘moo-ves' in autism support

CTV News

2 days ago

A Milverton man is paying it forward, thanks to a lucky calf named Ingrid. CTV's Hannah Schmidt has this moo-ving story.
When 22-year-old Wyatt Westman-Frijters from Milverton called into a radio station and mooed on World Milk Day, he wasn't just trying to win a contest — he was unknowingly launching a heartfelt mission that would ripple across his community.
In early June, Wyatt's mom got the news: he had won a live calf, part of a local dairy initiative run by Maplevue Farms and The Ranch 100.1 radio station.
The calf, named Ingrid, came with bragging rights, laughs and a pretty big question: what now?
That's when Wyatt turned to his dad, Peter Frijters, with a plan bigger than anyone expected.
'I said, 'What are you going to do with this calf, bud?'' Peter Frijters said. '[Wyatt] said, 'Dad, I'd like to sell this calf and use that money to help some other programs that we talked about,'' Frijters said.
Wyatt was born a rare genetic disorder but that hasn't stopped him from enjoying the things he loves and paying it forward.
From skating with the Toronto Maple Leafs to fundraising for Easter Seals and Autism Ontario, Wyatt has always liked to give back where and when he can. This time, he's aiming to auction off Ingrid, potentially multiple times, thanks to a unique buy-and-donate-back model.
His inspiration? His sister who has autism.
Wyatt Westman-Frijters and his sister Willow
Wyatt Westman-Frijters and his sister Willow posed for a picture in this undated image. (Submitted; Heather Westman)
'It's very heartwarming to see the community come together for a cause like this,' Peter said. 'Autism, of course, is one that's near and dear to Wyatt and our family. It came to the top of the list.'
Ingrid has been living at Maplevue Farm since June 1 and this Thursday, she will be taking centre stage.
'We're hoping to raise over $25,000,' said Dave Johnston, co-owner of Maplevue Farm. 'It's easily going to be the most expensive calf ever sold here and every dollar is going to causes like Autism Ontario, school milk programs, and inclusive youth sports.'
From mooing to rallying local farmers, Wyatt's kindness has stirred up an auction like no other.
Wyatt Westman-Frijters cow winner
Dave Johnston, co-owner of Maplevue Farms (L), Wyatt Westman-Frijters (M) and Peter Frijters (R) posed for a photo. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News)
For Wyatt and his family, one thing's clear—this isn't just about a calf. It's about what happens when one small town and a young man's big idea come together for something 'udderly' unforgettable.
'I think there'll be a lot of excitement,' Peter said. 'There's going to be a lot of people coming there to support Wyatt. That's the beauty of an auction. We have no idea what might happen.'
The auction takes place on June 26 at the Ontario Livestock Exchange located at 856 Weber St. N. in Waterloo at 12 p.m.