PLENTY Spring 2020 Plenty Spring 2020-WEB | Page 16

strategic planning and execution, Madison Fields has
developed into one of the most unique farms in all of
Montgomery County, offering programs essential to
support the community at large, including job readi-
ness, therapeutic riding, agricultural education, and a
significant volunteer program. Madison Fields serves
thousands of Montgomery County residents annu-
ally, providing agricultural experiences in an inclusive
environment that fosters independence. The desire to
bring people together to grow and heal always moti-
vates Madison Fields staff and board members to share
the farm with the whole community.
U
pon entering the equestrian center, you will
likely run into the Job Readiness Program
participants hard at work. An estimated 80-
85% of adults with autism are unemployed
or underemployed; Madison Fields staff designed this
program to teach young adults with autism and other
developmental disabilities workforce skills that will
prepare them for life after the age of 21. Nancy Fra-
sche, the Job Readiness Program Coordinator, notes
that “This program is a place where participants can
be themselves, while at the same time, learn what is
expected of them in a work environment.” The par-
ticipants learn skills that benefit future participation
in the workforce through an eight-week session and
graduate onto learning more advanced skills in the fol-
lowing session. Frasche adds that, “Participants leave
the program more independent, more confident, and
most importantly, more aware of themselves and what
they can contribute to their communities.”
In the state of the art riding arena, you might
catch a glimpse of therapy horses working in Madison
Fields’s Therapeutic Riding Program. Professional As-
sociation of Therapeutic Horsemanship International
(PATH Intl.) certified staff members have developed a
highly reputable program that helps riders of all ages
and abilities reach personal goals through horseback
riding, and other equine-assisted activities. For riders
like Eva Lopez, the experience of working and riding
has a profound effect. In a recent conversation on Eva’s
personal growth, she told the barn staff, “Riding at
Madison Fields makes me happy, excited, and proud
of myself.”
The Therapeutic Riding Program serves individuals
with intellectual, developmental, and physical dis-
abilities including injured military veterans, promoting
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interpersonal relationships between riders, neuro-
diverse staff members, and horses. Adam Jones, the
farm’s full-time barn attendant who helps support the
program will tell you, “People like me deserve a fight-
ing chance and a way to find their true sense of self.
Just because someone sees things differently or has
certain struggles doesn’t mean it’s a disability, rather a
difference in ability.”
As you hit the trail down to the lower farm, you
may also run into a school group observing the differ-
ent types of trees that grow in Maryland’s temperate
climate or eagerly guessing which animals are seek-
ing refuge in the safety of the forest. The Agricultural
Education Program has successfully sparked interest in
young minds, providing hands-on learning experiences
Top: A long-time Madison Fields rider practices trotting in
two-point position with minimal support from his horse
leader and side-walker. Above: The Job Readiness Program
meets Peter Pan, the farm’s smallest miniature horse.