I was fortunate enough to learn about Blissful Acres Rescue Reserve at a Bend Chamber function. I was there with a friend and she decided we were going to make a weekly date to visit the ranch and volunteer, lucky for me I went along with her plan.
It turned out to be a wonderful investment of my time. I was able to spend countless hours doing exactly the therapeutic work I needed. As a small business owner, in my fourth year of operation at that time, I needed some mind numbing, good old fashion physical labor. Mucking stalls was the perfect fit. I also got to groom, feed, learn about hoof care, horsemanship, horse teeth, proper body weight, and so much more.
I will tell you not to be fooled by the name Blissful, it is not all bliss, there is some hard work that must be done. Fences need rebuiding, water tanks need to be scrubbed, horses need to be exercised, and buildings need to be erected. Not to mention hay, it always needs to be moved from one place to another.
Character is not built by playing video games, it is built by contributing selflessly, working when you don't want to, completing a task and looking back on a job well done. Our communities need to pull together as a united front and plug our youth, our adults, and our elders into positions where they are needed. BARR is on the leading edge.
BARR is creating relationships between animals and humans, giving a place for our community members to gather and grow. BARR is reaching out to educate people on proper animal care, giving a voice to the speachless. BARR is providing an exceptionally realistic view of the cycle of life . BARR is much more than a place to muck.
After several years as a volunteer I decided to join the board and hope to help define our vision. Please come visit and let us know how you think we are doing.
Review from Guidestar