Challenges ahead for the adventurous

A Kalispell farmer and a crew of five people with disabilities worked Tuesday morning to convert a pasture into an obstacle course.

The Care Farm Program is hosting its third annual Care Farm Challenge on Saturday. The challenge is an obstacle course designed for Montanans with developmental disabilities who like to play hard. The course includes a zip line, creek crossing, mazes, tire runs and spear throwing.

Rachel Grant, a program manager for Care Farm, said more than 50 people of all ages have signed up so far for the free and public challenge. She said the day will begin with check-in at 10 a.m. at Centennial Farm of Kalispell. The race will kick off at 11 a.m. and a barbecue lunch will wrap up the afternoon.

“This gives the people who want to race a unique and fun experience,” Grant said. “Not only are they doing the course, they’re helping build it and sharing their ideas for it along the way. It’s empowering.”

The Care Farm is a year-round program that unites farmers and people who often struggle with isolation due to a mental or physical disability.

Participants meet at a farm suited to their interests once a week to learn new skills and sometimes just put old skills to use. Grant said some people join the program to gain experiences that could help them get a job. Others plan to be life-long members, she said.

Grant said the obstacle event is free to participants thanks to Give Local Flathead, which contributed $1,800.

“There’s a lot of overlap in the disability community in the valley, which makes events like this possible and connects us all,” Grant said. “But still, it’s often hard to find and afford resources for people with disabilities in our area, so it’s very important to us this event is open to everyone.”

Grant said on challenge day, there are nearly as many volunteers as racers.

Les Keller, owner of Centennial Farm, said for the last several months, the five men who attend his farm program have prepared the course they will share with the Flathead Valley community.

“These are super-excited people who like competition, like play, and this is just one more way for them to do that,” Keller said.

On Tuesday morning, two men painted puzzle pieces for the course as they talked about the gold medals they had won at last year’s event. Keller said every person who participates in the race can expect one.

“I got two gold medals, and I’m going to get one again this year, you can be sure,” Ryan Trouts said.

Trouts worked next to his longtime friend Davey Gonzales, who nodded in agreement. Gonzales said he loves to compete. He said when he was in high school, he often found opportunities to use his hands, either on his grandfather’s farm or in after-school programs.

“Now that I’m an adult, I still like to push the limit,” Gonzales said.

Another course athlete, Tim Harris, dug holes for the guiding rails that would outline the course. He often took breaks from the work to give other crew members high fives or just take a moment to jokingly tease someone.

“I keep these young whippersnappers in line,” Harris said. “There’s a lot of tasks at hand, and we do them like a family. I’m kind of like a manager, and Les is like the big brother of the family.”

Keller laughed and added, “We are like a family. Everyone here takes ownership of this project. When they’re here, they call this ‘our farm’ and ‘our course.’ Which makes sense, because they are a part of this place. We’re excited to get this course finished in time for Saturday.”

For more information on Care Farms or to sign up for the Care Farm Challenge, go to https://flatheadcarefarming.wordpress.com/events.

Centennial Farm is located at 563 McMannamy Draw west of Kalispell. From West Valley School, signs will guide the way to the race.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.