(pictured above) Allison Jackson (left) and Cathy Chepolis (right) pose with Clint. The couple purchased Clint after his retirement this year!
We are so excited to announce our volunteer power couple – Allison Jackson & Cathy Chepolis – as our June volunteers of the month! From their first day in 2018 to now, their impact can be seen in almost every aspect of the farm’s operations. Their willingness to help in any way possible, from horse care to coordinating to helping with our weekend retreats, is a testament to their selflessness and passion for what they do.
The care they have for the well-being of our herd and the people we serve here at Ironstone runs deep. It’s clear that they go above and beyond to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the farm. They arrive early, set up everything perfectly, and make sure that the horses and clients are happy.
We couldn’t ask for better volunteers than Allison and Cathy, and are incredibly grateful for all that they do for us here at Ironstone Farm!!
GET TO KNOW CATHY & ALLISON
Years of service / Total volunteer hours
4.9 years / 1,300 hours
How did you discover Ironstone Farm?
We went to the Bolton Fair and happened to see the Golden Aces Drill Team perform – we started talking to some of the people manning the Ironstone information table – one of them was [Ironstone Farm volunteer] MaryRuth. She encouraged us to sign up to volunteer and told us that all it takes to make a difference is “1 hour a week.” We laugh now, thinking of all the time we spend at the farm. We see your 1-hour MaryRuth and raise you 15!
What is your fondest memory you have from volunteering?
It has to be our very first volunteer shift. Allison had Rogan, and Cathy had Clint – we were leading for a school group trail ride. We were bringing up the rear, and Clint decided he wanted to go off-roading and look for leaves, at which point Rogan saw that the instructor’s attention was diverted and thought, “Cool, I’ll go too.” So both of us ended up in the woods with these huge horses with riders. We thought we were going to get fired from our very first volunteer position!
What does Ironstone Farm mean to you?
It’s hard to put into words. Challenge Unlimited means acceptance of everyone for where they are at and a community that strives to help people become the best they can be – both clients and staff. And we are all bound together by our love of these creatures that give so much and our devotion to keeping them healthy, happy, and safe. I think also, there is a huge sense of community at the farm- we may not always get along perfectly, but we have each other’s backs. Kind of like a big herd! (Thanks, Pat!)
Thank you, Allison & Cathy, for exemplifying our mission and values in all you do!