Care Farm fun enjoyed by 200 people

There isn’t a lot of time to think about things when dashing through mazes, crossing creeks and scaling walls.

That was the point of the Second Annual Care Farm Challenge, which entertained and challenged nearly 200 Flathead residents on Saturday at Centennial Farms in Kalispell.

Maarten Fischer, who heads Flathead Care Farming, the nonprofit organization that put on the event, said the 60 participants were focused on the obstacle course.

“We had some who take it really seriously,” he said. “I love this event because it’s celebrating the ability, not focusing on disabilities.”

The Care Farm Challenge is a sprint obstacle course for people with developmental disabilities. The 400-yard course was packed with 16 obstacles, including vaulting a log, throwing spears and moving heavy “farm-related” equipment a certain distance.

Fischer said the event went off without any issues. “We actually make it super-challenging,” he said of the course. “Which is very risky, but we had no injuries again.”

Most of the Special Olympics teams in the Flathead Valley came to participate and a good number of participants’ families and volunteers crowded the farm to make a fun and safe event.

A Plus Health Care and the Care Farm Program sponsored the event and provided a free barbecue lunch for all participants.

“Because of our sponsors and volunteers, we are able to put this event on,” Fischer said. “We want to keep it fun and free.”

Flathead Care Farming spends most of its year helping people with special needs get outside into a farm setting. The three core programs are day programs for people with developmental disabilities, job readiness training and vocational rehabilitation and Lifeside farms for seniors who want to find companionship and work outside.

Participants and volunteers build the course over a few months, then get to attempt the course and win participation medals.

“The challenge isn’t about anybody’s disability,” Fischer said. “The interaction between the volunteers and participants is great. They mingle like one big family.”

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.