Have you heard about Danner Farms?
Founded in 2011, Danner Farms was the brainchild of former Grove Elementary School Principal, Jim Goodenough. Before starting his career in public education, he worked at the YMCA and with disadvantaged youth. Through these work experiences, he became aware of the great need for a positive male role model in the lives of boys without fathers actively involved.
After his retirement, Jim started talking with the Milton-Freewater Ministerial Association, and found that they were very supportive of his vision to create a Christian-based mentorship program for boys in the area. Thanks to Jim's wife, Barbara, who completed all the paperwork, Danner Farms’ nonprofit status was officially approved. Recruiting efforts proved successful, with mentors coming primarily from local churches and service clubs. Over the years, the program has had an average of 6-10 kids active at any one time and currently has 11!
Danner Farms has come to adopt numerous recreational outlets for boys on their mentorship journey. In 2012, Danner Farms partnered with the Blue Mountain Humane Society and later with the Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter (PAWS) to foster dogs for a few months at a time. This gave the children the opportunity to work with and socialize the dogs, with the help of their mentor. That spring, Danner Farms’ first boy planted a pumpkin seed with his mentor, which produced a sufficient quantity of pumpkins to give one to every boy to carve at a harvest party in the Fall, and started an ongoing tradition.
In 2014, a bike reconditioning and giveaway program was established. Bikes are reconditioned and given away all year-round, and in May of every year, their Annual Giveaway enhances children's lives from Walla Walla to Weston. The program has continued to expand to include activities like snowboarding trips with Skyline Adventures, woodworking, foosball, and hiking, to name a few. As the last decade has come to a close, mentors remain in touch with some “graduates” that have been active in the program for ten years!
In the coming months, Jim plans to give away some bikes to a nearby Cub Scout Pack, hold at least one workshop for youth to come and learn how to recondition bikes, and take one home as a reward. Danner Farms offers an invaluable resource to our community!
Jim would like to “Thank God for His inspiration, Barbara for her partnership, and all our friends for their prayers, financial support, and countless volunteer hours, without which our program would not exist.”
For more information or to learn how you can help, email Jim at jim.goodenough@charter.net.
