Sara Hodgkiss founded Woerth It Hollow LLC, an equine/animal rescue that also assist veterans and the disabled.
Devoting yourself to a good cause is a challenge, but Sara Hodgkiss takes it a step farther, addressing two needs at once. Woerth It Hollow, Inc., in Kirkwood, PA, has both an equine/animal rescue and a program to assist veterans and the disabled by allowing them to embrace every aspect of rescue farming. Their slogan is “Every Little Effort is Woerth It”.
“The veterans can come out and learn how to farm and just be hands on with the horses and eventually, if a veteran wants to take their own horse home, they’ll have enough knowledge to do that. If they decide to make it a career we can give them all the things they need to get started and go forward from there and give them an opportunity to see if this is something they are really into,” Hodgkiss said.
Hodgkiss herself is a six-year Army Veteran, facing an immune system disorder resulting from her time in military service.
“I have good and bad days. The horses really help me personally just to get up sometimes when I’m really having a hard time. They’re understanding. They feel it, and that helps me to keep moving forward and trying to get better myself,” Hodgkiss said.
Knowing the relief that horses can bring, Hodgkiss wants to share that experience. “Animal therapy has been proven over and over again, so this is an opportunity for those veterans,” she said.
The horses at Woerth It Hollow are also in need of quiet attention, having been rerouted from slaughter situations. ”These are rescue horses so they’re not 100% OK themselves,” Hodgkiss said.
Veterans come to the program through the Veterans Administration Medical Center and personal recommendations. Participants do not have to be suffering from a disability to take part in the program. They may have an unrealized interest in horses or farming, or they may simply need some time in a quiet environment to relax.
“It’s very informal. The goal is to make it so they can feel more relaxed, less anxious,” Hodgkiss said. “A lot of the therapeutic programs focus on groups or they do it one on one with different events. I want to make it so that if they’re not very comfortable around people, they can just come and be themselves in a very relaxed therapeutic environment.”
Veterans taking part in the program have great flexibility in their experience. Some are looking toward farming and equine professions for future careers, while others benefit from simply being in the relaxed, low stress environment of the rural farm.
One of the program participants is Randi Thomas. “I was at the VA Medical Center and I saw the Woerth It Hollow flyers, and it just drew me. I have an equine background. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of going further in,” she said.
Thomas visits the farm, works with the animals and has started riding. “It’s a great stress relief. It’s broadening my knowledge base and incorporating a lot of things that didn’t seem possible at first as far as education and occupation,” she said, noting that she is considering further study in equine disease management.
In addition to the horses, there are goats, chickens, and ducks on the farm. “I have to have volunteers for (the chickens). Because of my autoimmune issues I can’t clean the chicken house,” Hodgkiss said. “Every animal is here for somebody. Maybe they can't connect to the horses but they might find something in the chickens.”
The name Woerth It Hollow is derived from Hodgkiss’ family name Woerth. “I grew up with horses. You grow up in the barn as an only child on the farm. I just love it,” she said. “I have so many different blessings in my life I want to give back.”
In May, an open house was held to raise awareness of the Woerth It Hollow programs. Assisting in the day’s events was the Lancaster County Farm Bureau. Visitors had a chance to meet the animals, talk to program participants, and hear interesting presentations including a talk on equine dentistry by Becky Mark and information on parasites from Thomas.
Assisting with the open house was Courtney Meyer of the Lancaster County Farm Bureau. Hodgkiss is a Farm Bureau member and part of the organization’s Pennsylvania Young Farmers and Ranchers program for farmers age 18 to 35.
“We took an interest in wanting to support her, help showcase her business and just try to get more people involved here,” Meyer said.
Woreth It Hollow is a registered non-profit organization, depending on support from the community. “We need sponsors and funding. As it all comes, we’ll continue to put the money back into the program,”: Hodgkiss said. “The goal is to give everybody a starting point to see if this is something they want to do.”
For more information, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WoerthItHollow.