Farmer Wilson, yes that’s his real name, gave a very interesting talk t a recent Minden Rotary club meeting about himself and the non-profit he serves - Kids and Horses.
About Farmer: He grew up in the Nashville Tennessee area, met the love of his life at the tender age of 12. Their courtship formally began, with permission from her father, at age 14. Six years later they were married and had a family of 6 children. Not only did Farmer farm row crops, hay, hogs and cattle he was also a businessman and entrepreneur who owned and operated several businesses. Some 30 years later, later after the passing of his wife, he and his sweetheart came for a three night visit to Incline Village. It was then that they decided to move there. Anxious to do more than snow-shoe and hike, he became a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway and a volunteer with Kids and Horses. During the winter Farmer is a mountain snowshoe guide, who provides southern delicacies for the clients. Fast forward a couple of years, after serving on the Board of Directors, Farmer is now the Executive Director of Kids and Horses, a 501 (c) (3) organization, speaking whenever and wherever he can to raise money and awareness for the program.
About Kids and Horses: This 25 year old organization, founded by Sam and Lorri Waldman, is credentialed to serve people with disabilities and difficulties of all types through Path International, the therapeutic horsemanship services organization. Besides Farmer, Kids and Horses is blessed with a dedicated staff including program director, special projects coordinator, office manager/volunteer coordinator and equine manager. There are Path certified instructors, office assistant, maintenance manager and ranch hands. Volunteers are an integral part of the operations too. They provide horse handling and side walking services for the clients while in horse therapy. They muck stalls, haul hay, feed, brush and love on the horses and clients. There is an independent physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech therapist. The real stars of this operation however are their 12 horses who provide the healing benefits that only equine encounters provide.
Programs: Kids and Horses have Adaptive Riding, Therapeutic Riding, Comprehensive Life Skills, Rite of Passage, Connected horse, Stable Moments, Washoe Tribal Youth and 4H camp along with summer camps and others. Their programs serve a range of individuals with disabilities such as: paralysis, multiple sclerosis, autism, muscular dystrophy, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke, learning disabilities and emotional issues. Participants benefit as do the volunteers who help these deserving people.
New to Kids and Horses: The Memory Café began in October of this year and is held once a month, for people suffering from memory loss along with their care partners. This has become a huge success. Both patient and care provider are benefiting greatly from creative workshops and interacting with the horses. The sessions have resulted in positive reactions to support, confidence, improved mood, mindfulness and less stress.
Numbers: Approximately 140-180 individuals are positively served throughout an average year.
Location: Johnson Lane area 2869 Esaw St. Minden, Nevada 89423
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