Compassion In Action

When my son was three years old, he was diagnosed with autism. A friend of mine had a farm where she boarded horses, and after therapies we were out there almost every day. We quickly noticed that on the days our son spent time at the farm, there was a noticeable difference in his mood and behavior.

That experience planted a seed. My husband and I eventually sold our house and bought the property that has become Open Heart Farms. Over the years, our little farm grew. Animals came to us for all kinds of reasons, many needing a new home. What started as something for our own family became something much bigger. We saw firsthand the difference that animals, especially horses, could make in people's lives, and I knew I wanted to share that with others.

Three groups have always held a special place in my heart: children and adults with special needs, young people who need a safe place to land, and first responders.

My husband and I took classes and became foster parents. Through foster care, and later mentoring teens in foster care, we saw how time on the farm and building relationships with the horses could help develop trust, confidence, responsibility, and connection. The farm gave young people a place where they could simply be themselves, feel accepted, and build relationships at their own pace.

Then, in 2022, after 18 years in the fire service, I experienced my own mental health crisis and was diagnosed with PTSD. I spent six months in treatment. During that time, the farm and the animals became an important part of my own recovery. The same place I had watched help my son became a place of healing for me, too.

Our connection to first responders also grew beyond the farm. One of our dogs became a certified therapy and crisis response dog, traveling to fire stations and supporting firefighters following national disasters, suicides within departments, and other critical incidents.

Today, what started as our family's farm has become Open Heart Farms, a place where we have the privilege of sharing what our family discovered all those years ago. We now support Special Olympics athletes, provide a place for hippotherapy services, mentor young people, support first responders, and work alongside volunteers and community partners who believe in what we are doing.

I still work full-time in the fire service, and Open Heart Farms remains very much a family and community effort. My husband, our children, our volunteers, and an incredible group of supporters all play a part in keeping it going.

Most importantly, we know none of this would be possible without what God has provided for our family and for Open Heart Farms. We believe we have been blessed with this farm, these animals, and the people who continue to come alongside us for a reason. Our hope is to use what He has given us to show His love through our actions - by serving others, creating a place where people feel welcomed and valued, and putting compassion into action every day.

When we bought this farm, we never imagined it would become what it is today. We simply knew what being here had done for our son and our family, and we wanted other people to have the opportunity to experience that same connection.

That is how Open Heart Farms began, and it is still at the heart of everything we do.