Amanda Hogan: Awarded at Wheelock College

Our beloved, Amanda “Mandy” Hogan, Executive Director, was presented with the 2^nd Making A Difference Service Award during her 40^th reunion at Wheelock College on May 30^th, 2015.

A classmate and dear friend, nominated Mandy for the award, after seeing all the wonderful coverage of Windrush’s 50th in the Boston Globe. The Making A Difference Service Award is to honor and acknowledge her years of hard work and dedication to Windrush Farm. Mandy has exemplified the mission of Wheelock College to “improve the lives or children and families”. And she continues to change lives everyday.

Mandy absolutely deserve this wonderful recognition. We are thrilled to see her alumni feel the same way!

Congratulations Mandy!

Dear Donor..

Holy Smoke! Fire at Windrush Farm!

Memorial Day Weekend brought some tense moments to Windrush Farm. On Sunday, May 24^th, Josselyn Shaughnessy, Associate Director and resident of the farmhouse, and others around the farm, began to smell smoke. Josselyn took the gator out to the backfields to assure everything was safe. This is when she saw a wall of flames through the woods and immediately called for 911.

It is believed that the fire started out in the backfield and spread into the woods along the alleyway between the 3rd and 2nd field. It appears a manure pile combusted and with everything being so incredible dry, it caused quite a situation.

The Boxford and North Andover Fire Departments were able to control the fire and luckily it did not spread into the barnyard. They were here for the remainder of the afternoon, checking for hot spots and confirming all was safe. Everyone and all the animals were unharmed.

Thank goodness for the new dry hydrant, if we did not have it, it could have been devastating.

THANK YOU Boxford and North Andover Fire Department for all your incredible hard work. We are so grateful!

Chester Update!

A wonderfully fun update from Chester’s owners…

Dear Windrush Farm Family,

Just wanted send you a long overdo update to let you know that Chester is doing well. He has re-earned the nickname ‘the pesky pony’!!  I think we both forgot that he thinks that he is a dog stuck in a pony’s body! He and Chances are getting along over walls and fences (I have not yet put them together, but that will probably happen this summer… when there is lots of grass to keep them both entertained!). He is currently getting over an access in his right front frog (yeah… I have no clue how that one happened). We have it drained and are working on it healing, but he was only uncomfortable for about 24 hours. We have been out on quite a few rides and just recently he realized that I was ok with him hand galloping up the hills in the neighborhood. (needless to say, there is a big grin on my face!) He has also taken up Chances favorite morning routine… around 10am almost every day is nap time!  And we just started them out on the grass Sat. Chester gets to be loose in the backyard… only a halter and a lead rope. He has been so good do far… he goes only to certain points and turns himself around and head back in the other direction… he trims around the gardens but has not yet thought about venturing where he doesn’t belong. I told Mark that it looks like he has a new ‘lawn boy’!!!

Thanks again for letting him come back to us… we are really enjoying the little ‘monkey’!!

Fill A Trailer Event: Success at Essex County CoOp

Wow!! Thank you Essex County Co-op for hosting this amazing Fill A Trailer event. And a HUGE thanks to everyone that donated. We certainly filled the trailer… and the truck! We are feeling so grateful to be part of such a supportive community.

New Sheds Donated For The Back Field!

Thank you Felicity and Paul Beech from West Newbury for donating two 12 x 12 run-in sheds to Windrush. Our builder Butch Coffey was the master-mind behind this exciting delivery and they are now in the back field. We are thrilled about having shelter for the horses in the field! They looks awesome!

Press: Stride Magazine- “Polo Ponies- Partners With Centers”

Thank You Dr. Peter McAllister!

Dentist donates another year of smiles to Windrush Farm

Another year and more smiles return to Windrush Farm on behalf of Dr. Peter McAllister, a dentist out of Topsfield.

Dr. McAllister, of Boxford, and his staff participates each year in the Smiles For Life charity program. This is where a select group of dentist across North America present the opportunity for individuals to have their teeth professionally whitened, while donating the proceeds to children’s charities of the dentist choice.

From March to June each year, participating dentist provide patients with professional teeth whitening at a discounted price on behave of this amazing program. All of the proceeds gain during this time period go directly to the local charity of choice, while half going to The Smiles For Life Foundation.

Once again, Dr. McAllister has chosen Windrush Farm, a local nonprofit horse farm in Boxford and North Andover that work with children and adults to ride and work with horses that specializing in teaching physically, emotionally, and learning disabled

Since 1998, Smiles for Life has raised over $33 million, benefiting hundreds of children’s charities. “Smiles For Life allows a person to help children in need by doing something that benefits them as well,” explains Greg Anderson, director of the Crown Council. “Our doctors donate their time and expertise, while Ultradent generously provides all Opalescence whitening products. You receive a brighter smile, and, best of all, provide children with a brighter future.”

“How to we begin to thank Dr. McAllister and his incredible staff?” said Amanda Hogan, Executive Director of Windrush Farm. “We continue to be so grateful for Dr. McAllister support. Without individuals like him, Windrush Farm would not be able to provide our unique programing to children, adults and veterans, day after day.”

Fill A Trailer Event: Essex County Co-Op

Wish List for Co- Op

• 2 wheel wheelbarrow (Yellow)
• 10 plastic future forks- green or blue
• 10 Extra Heavy Duty Corn Brooms- O Cedar
• 5 muck tubs- Large 70 Quart (Blue)
• 5 gallons of Repel X fly spray (concentrate)
• 5 gallons of organic Nature Defense (concentrate)
• 5 horse and 5 pony fly masks
• Cat food –(Purina Mature Chicken)
• Cat litter
• Seedlings, in almost any variety, and lots of them
• Heavy Duty tomatoes cages – about a dozen
• Chick-a-doo doo garden fertilizer, two bags
• Sugar snap pea seeds – 10 of the gigantic bags
• Gardening- Trowel, Cultivator, Hand Cultivator, Hose Wand
• Tack Cleaning Hooks
• Utility Gloves
• Rakes- Bamboo Leaf Rake/ Poly Tines 24in
• Double End Snap Hooks and Eye Bolts for feed tubs
• Stall Mats
• Fence Rails- 11 footer
• 20 Yellow disposable Fly Trap Bags
• Cleaning Supplies- Simple Green, Glycerin Soap, Sponges, Castile Soap
• Safer- Insect Killing Soap
• Safer- Garden Fungicide
• Purina Ultium
• Blue Seal Trotter
• Blue Seal Hay Stretchers
• Insulator for Fences- 1/12 in

*Anything that is in color please choose green or blue

Girl Scouts Helping Windrush

Windrush Farm would like to thank two fabulous Girl Scouts, Annie Olsen and Molly Smidera. These two have been a huge help to Windrush on Monday afternoons. They were both looking to earn their Silver and Gold stars. They have put in hours helping in the barn while actively fundraising for us.

Together they managed to get enough raised to purchase beautiful, halter brass name plates, and 2 stable halters for Windrush. Amazing job!

Congratulations on earning your stars! Thank you Annie and Molly!