Beth Snider and Jennifer Hardacre, representatives from H.A.R.D. Acre Farm, visited the Clark County Commissioners at their January 6, 2016 meeting. The goal of the organization is to provide adults with disabilities and dementia meaningful work. H.A.R.D. Acre Farm is located in Northern Clark County. It is a 24-acre privately owned small family farm. The name of the facility is both a play on the Hardacre family name, who owns the facility, and their belief in Honor and Respect Daily for participants in the program.

According to Hardacre, the farm has been in her family for five generations and she and Snider have created the H.A.R.D Acre Farm, LLC to provide a growing need in the community for adults with disabilities.

According to Snider, many of the state and county run programs for adults with disabilities have been closed or minimized as the state mandates that these services be provided by private facilities. The alternate programming that their facility will provide when they open June 2, 2016 provides adults with disabilities and adults with dementia who are still physical functioning but are unable to hold a normal job, meaningful work. She said, “Our product is the individual. Any income that the farm produces from the sale of farm products is a bonus. Our aim is to provide a place for these individuals to go to feel good about themselves and what they do.”

According to Snider, the group is not asking the county for financial support, but hope that the commissioners will provide their verbal support of the program. She said, “We already have the facility, barns, and necessary equipment to operate the privately owned farm. In addition, we have corporate sponsorships from Land of Lakes, Trupoint, and TMC Industries.”

Commissioner Richard Lohnes asked how the group planned to marked the venture. Snider explained that both she and Hardacre had relationships with the area high schools and would use them to attract students with disabilities who are aging out of the school system. In addition, she has contacts with organizations that deal with adults with dementia.

The program is specifically geared for adults with autism, those faced with disabilities and those aging living with dementia the dignity to provide meaningful work, life & social relationships in a safe agricultural community.

To learn more about the program visit their website at www.thehardacrefarm.org.

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