Being grateful is often overlooked, but living in the Flathead it is very easy to be grateful. Farming For The Future Academy, located at the Montana Veteran’s Home in Columbia Falls, is a non-profit that has been in service since 2011.

We have been able to service our community through life-skills summer camps for kids with and without disabilities at our “Onions for Autism, Veggies for Vets” garden area, start an animal therapy program for our amazing residents living at the Veterans’ Home, and do community outreach programs through Care Farm, Vocational Rehab, CRY J, etc.

The only reason we are able to stay running is by the gracious donations, volunteers and in-kinds from BNSF, Franchini Family Foundation, The William H. and Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation, Dennis and Phyllis Washington, Tracey Foundation, Whitefish Soroptimist, Whitefish Community Foundation, Team Depot (Home Depot Foundation), Flathead Master Gardener Program, Sue (Don) Haverfield, WBC, Angie’s Greenhouse and many more.

Recently, we placed our need for hay and the response was amazing ... our community is amazing! The Northwest Antique Power Association and Karl Schrae donated quality feed hay to cover the winter. Thank you. Gladys and Betty the sheep are also thankful, since they will be lambing in the spring.

We are looking to expand our programs and with the continued commitment from our community we will be able to achieve goals and continue to serve. For this, I continue to be grateful. —Sherry Lewis-Peterson, executive director, Columbia Falls