WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FARM

“…I express my strong support for The Farm and their hard work and dedication towards youth and families…There are many obstacles that youth and families endure every day. It is comforting to know that there is a safe place like The Farm to go to and heal, and talk about life issues. The Farm is unique in the way it uses horticulture, animals and nature to cultivate a healthier community. …I believe The Farm helps individuals make wiser choices while strengthening self-confidence.”

Gerald VanWoekom
Michigan State Senator, 34th District

“This Elementary School has been fortunate to have an affiliation with The Farm. Both Donna and Betsy are valuable resources for our staff. We have consistently asked and received advice on effective ways to deal with our troubled and needy students. Betsy has volunteered her time to counsel students who otherwise would not receive the help they so desperately need…..As a school, we have visited The Farm. How rewarding to see our student eyes light up when they arrive at The Farm to learn about the various animals that live there. The personnel at The Farm are valuable resources for our entire community. The services they provide are critical to the diverse population of this county.”

Principal
Elementary School

The Oceana County 4-H Program believes strongly in the goals of The Farm. We are both programs that strongly encourage the interaction between kids and their families through a shared hands-on experience in a project area that holds the interest of the kids….4-H assisted The Farm in making their nature trail which taught 4-H’ers the importance of and satisfaction of providing community service. The Farm can also provide space for youth who would like to raise an animal, but live within city limits where this is prohibited…In a society where both parents work or there is a single parent, The Farm provides the opportunity for parent and child to be together and succeed together.”

4-H Program Supervisor
Michigan State University Extension
Oceana County

“The Farm has worked in many ways to support the community youth and
families. The Farm hosts an annual Critter and Craft Fair that provides opportunities for the families and youth of our community to interact in a positive way that helps build quality relationships…As a parent, community member, and school administrator, I have witnessed the benefits that The Farm has brought to our area. I fully endorse their mission and goals. I was so impressed with their organization and its vision, I became a board member.”

Principal
Middle School

As a Family Support Advocate for the Association for Children’s Mental Health, I have seen the positive impact that The Farm has had on families in our three county area…I hear families voice their needs, express their frustrations, and relay their challenges and struggles… We are working to develop an interagency collaboration that is strength-based, solution-based, solution-focused, family-centered care throughout our service delivery system. I can attest to the fact that families find these values modeled by the staff of The Farm. I have heard children, teens, parents and grandparents speak highly of their experience with The Farm. Among professionals, The Farm has a reputation of integrity, professionalism, compassion, being ‘practical and real,’ and of ‘making a difference.’ It is apparent that what they do is affecting our community in a valuable way.

I also wanted to congratulate you on receiving the Michigan Prevention Network’s Award for the Critter and Craft Fair! What a well deserved recognition! And how awesome to be recognized Statewide! It is a tribute to the great work you are doing there…and a tribute to you two dedicated women. Just want to let you know that I am so proud of you and join in the excitement of this event!”

Parent and Area Leader
Advocate Community Mental Health
Leadership in three county area

“Just an added special thank you for the great afternoon. Your love for people radiates in all your ways and actions. It was just what I’ve needed for some time, if I can hang on to all the good feelings I had during my ladies day (escape). Keep up all your good works and both your smiles, its contagious. I will keep you in my prayers.”

Church member

“Thank you for letting us come and help you out. The best part was being with the animals. The worst was leaving the animals, the funniest part was seeing Sonny (donkey) roll on the ground. I really like brushing the dog and I had lots of fun. Thank you Donna, Betsy, and Chris for your time and thank you all for the T-shirts you sent us.

Elementary School Student

Dear The Farm,
On behalf of Telamon Corporation, New Era Migrant Head Start, we would like to thank you for your contribution to our program through donations and/or volunteer work. Your contribution to our program helped us not only reach our annual goal of $84,000, but surpass it with a total of $103,000. Your donation toward this goal really helped our families and helped Telemon continue to provide this wonderful service to our community. Thank you very much and we look forward to working with you next year!

Telemon Migrant Head Start

“Donna and Betsy,
I just wanted to write you both a short note to let you know that you are both wonderful people who are doing great things for youth and families in Ludington! I am so glad that you are developing a parent support group for parents of teens. There are so many who need the support of caring and sincere professionals devoted to this cause. Thank you for who you are and what your do!”

Youth Leader

“Dear Donna LaMar,
On behalf of the Conference Planning Committee and the Children’s Trust Fund, I would like to thank you for your outstanding presentation at the Supporting Families with Young Children Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A compilation of the overall conference evaluations is enclosed, as well as workshop evaluations ….As you can see, your individual workshop was well received and the overall conference a huge success. Your contribution helped insure our success. Again, thank you for participating in this year’s SFYC and your contribution towards supporting families with young children.”

Executive Director
Children’s Trust Fund, Michigan

“Donna and Betsy,
Do you remember how when we were at dinner that first night Donna asked David if he was an animal lover. AND HE SAID ‘NO!’ Well when we took Matty (the dog) to the vet on the following week, the vet asked him the same question and he said ‘YES!’ Donna … you kept talking about watching the miracle. Well, our Marty dog was David’s miracle. She just loved having a kid around could not stay away from David. Nor could she stop licking him and kissing him. I wish you could have seen the look on David’s face when he got up in the morning and that little dog saw him for the first time…she just went nuts and ran over to him like he was the most important thing in the world and covered him with kisses… well David’s face would break into a big smile and you could see the joy in his eyes. Talk about unconditional love! She made him feel so special!
Congratulations on the progress you have made in your very ambitious plan to have a nature center and a farm and a clinic! What a wonderful huge dream!”

Psychologist

“Donna, Sue and Heidi (St. Bernard),
Thank you for coming to our Children’s Days. We had a great week-end with our 450 visitors which I know all enjoyed the activities. Heidi (dog), thank you for putting up with all the ‘love’ you got, especially from my son.”

White Pine Village Historical Town
Program Director

“My child was helped by The Farm. I didn’t know what to do any more. He was failing in school and always in trouble. I was at my end and did not know how to help him. I contacted The Farm and Donna LaMar and Betsy Laney started right in. My son was tested immediately and they found a learning disability as well as ADD/ADHD. They worked with me to teach me how to parent him in a way that made a difference, worked with his teachers and also saw in him counseling. Few psychologists go into schools, but they did! I found out they are past teachers themselves and understood what he needed. Thank goodness they were there. He is now making better grades and hasn’t been in trouble for weeks.”

A Parent of an ADD/ADHD Child

“I was abused growing up. I didn’t think there was help for me. I kept doing things to hurt me like my parents did. I made bad decisions and became depressed. I heard Donna talk at a conference and she said we can heal and grow from abuse and neglect and become transcenders. I began to see I was one and now needed to work on healing. For the first time I saw there was hope and help for me so I called The Farm and started therapy. I am not depressed anymore. For the first time, I see light in my life when before all I saw was darkness. I can even tell myself I did something incredible by surviving and overcoming my childhood and mean it.”

A Grateful Transcender