Yes, Fayette County, the Spirit of Giving is Still Here

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"God is so great.  This is something I could not do by myself," said Cowgirl City Ranch Founder Joyce Sneed as we stood on the overgrown property and listened to the sounds of heavy machinery, saws, hammers, and laughter. We spent the morning watching Team Depot of the PTC Home Depot and Guthrie Construction of Tyrone work their magic and give a gift of love and hope to children of the area.

Jeff Hughes, of the PTC Home Depot stated it well when he said,  “I enjoy the ideas of her animals and bringing the kids out to the animals. I have a soft spot for kids."  

Hughes and other Home Depot employees volunteer their time and talents each year to give back to the community. Team Depot is an ongoing project and is completely staffed by volunteers. These volunteers give from the heart.  Mike Kearns, Seth Henderson, Julie Michelet, Rachel King, and Tony Lyles were busy laughing and talking as they measured, cut and nailed the boards which will make a new temporary paddock for Cowgirl City Ranch's three horses and four ponies.

Meanwhile, Joel Guthrie of Guthrie Construction Company in Tyrone was busy clearing land for a new pasture and a large garden. A garden Sneed hopes will be utilized by the community to help grow their own vegetables. When completed, Guthrie Construction will have cleared about 9 acres of land. Guthrie commented the family owned company thought this project would be a great way to give back to the community.

Sneed talks of her love for the animals and for children. Growing up as a latchkey child in a single parent home, she knows firsthand that there are children who need help. She started riding three years ago and fell in love. Her goal is to provide children a way to get to see and take care of animals they may have only read about. She wants to use this as a way to teach life skills to children who are growing up in similar situations to hers.

Sneed has a dream.  Seth Henderson summed up the day easily when he said,  “I want to be able to help. I like the ideas that she has. She wants the children to have access to animals they might not have seen before. Her dreams are within reach. It’s really cool.”