about-us
About Us
So, how did Wagon Hope come to be?
Take a 20 year old horse farm that was built on a God-given vision by Buck Kalinowski. The farm attracted kids who had a horse interest and that interest led to working the land, cutting trees, building fences and bringing in the equipment to build barns, add stalls and open a group home for individuals with special needs. With help from family, walls were built and land excavated.
Each rescue horse came with a story and everyone pitched in to to watch the transformation. Horses were ridden, often kids would get bucked off and then just get more determined to find ways that got results to build that horsey relationship. And then see that it was just like that in relationships with people. Treat them the way you want to be treated. Invite them in and make them feel welcome. Work through the hard times.
The after school riding program brought in kids and more lives were changed as relationships formed with horse and rider. Buck never turned others away and always had a heart to reach out to those in need.Each generation of farm kids made Hillside their home away from home. Buck enjoyed seeing kids learn. Kids competed in shows and learned sportsmanship. Self esteem built confidence and Buck’s riders enjoyed his way of teaching that was always combined with fun. Kids learned to be a part of a team and to know that teams get work done. Teams that also built lasting relationships. Parents often commented on the love their kids had for the farm. Never drinking or drugs – just clean fun with lots of laughs and daily challenges.Many today have launched their own careers from the experiences of seeing care given to people as well as animals.
And also today? Kids who are now adults bring their own kids to visit and share some of the stories while building new ones of their own.
Take a wagon, add the horse and get to know him and teach him a skill. Then understand everything involved to harness them together to carry the load and you have the birth of Wagon Hope Ministries. People helping others the way God intended us to do.
Mathew 18:19-20 – (KJV)
19 “Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth concerning anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in Heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”
At Wagon Hope the hub of the wheel represents God, the spokes represent what individually is important to us and the outer ring is us holding it all together as we carry our cargo through life.
Lose a spoke and ask what it takes to get us rolling again.
Hebrews 11:1
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
