Our Farm Project is the highlight of our program for our Wranglers. That's why they are called Wranglers! Each week our Wranglers head to the local stables where the owner's horses and donkeys are boarded for an experience of a lifetime! They learn the concept of taking care of gentle, rescued equine by brushing, washing, walking and feeding them.
On those same days, with assistance and safety precautions, they ride Gidget, a horse that was trained as a kids' horse. They love doing this. Not everyone rides, as it is optional, but we have seen some of our Wranglers who were initially terrified to be near a horse, get on and ride without issue.
The rest of the week, our Wranglers are helping with our garden. We have been planting tomatoes, watermelon and pumpkin. Our Wranglers take this project from planting seeds to harvesting produce at completion. They are very proud to consume what they have grown!
In addition, from Spring to Fall, our program takes a unique turn and raises chickens. We take fertilized, fresh eggs from the stables and hatch them in our own incubator. Then we raise them at the Center for about 10 weeks. They are then released at the stables to live a life that they may not have had a chance to live if hatched at the stables. Our students continue to feed those that have been released and collect their eggs for sale to our friends, families and neighbors. With this addition to our Farm Project, our students are able to visualize the entire circle of life.