Programs
Farm Mentorship for Youth Ages 10-17
Youth living in rural communities often experience isolation, loneliness, and limited access to mental health support due to geographic, economic, and social barriers. According to the Rural Health Information Hub, suicide rates among rural youth are more than 70% higher than among youth in urban areas.
In agricultural communities where independence and self-reliance are highly valued, young people may feel pressure to handle struggles on their own. When emotional pain is not expressed or supported, it can deepen over time.
Caring for farm animals and tending a garden offers more than skill-building. Through consistent responsibility, relationship, and reflection, youth begin to understand how the care they offer animals and land mirrors how they must care for themselves and others.
Quiet Cadence Farm will host three-month mentorship cohorts for five youth, ages 10–15.
- Schedule: 1.75 hours per week
- Time: Tentatively 3:15–5:00 p.m.
- Start Date: March 19, 2026
Participants will engage in hands-on experiences on a working farm, including animal care and gardening. Each activity is intentionally paired with guided reflection connecting farm skills to life skills.
Core themes include:
- Creating emotional and physical safety
- Nutrition and health (for animals and ourselves)
- Boundaries and respectful relationships
- Self-regulation and co-regulation
- Maintenance and responsibility
- Play and joy
- Mindfulness and awareness
- Protection and advocacy
- Employment readiness
This is not simply farm chores. It is experiential mentorship designed to build resilience, emotional awareness, and practical competence.
Contact Nan Doolittle, LMHC, CEAP at the link below to find out more and if your child qualifies for the program.
Healthcare Worker Peer Group on the Farm
Health care professionals carry extraordinary responsibility. Long hours, high emotional demand, secondary trauma, and moral distress can accumulate over time. Too often, providers push through exhaustion without structured space to process stress in a supportive environment.
This peer group offers a restorative space outside of clinical settings — grounded in nature, animals, and professional understanding.
A weekly peer support group for health care workers facilitated by Kristen Jentges, ARNP.
- When: Wednesdays begining 4/8/26
- Time: 5:30–6:30 p.m.
- Where: Quiet Cadence Farm
Participants gather in a calm farm environment to:
- Process professional stress and burnout
- Build connection and reduce isolation
- Strengthen resilience and emotional regulation
- Reflect on boundaries and sustainability in practice
- Engage in grounding experiences with animals and nature
This is not therapy, but a facilitated peer space designed to support well-being, restore perspective, and promote long-term sustainability in healthcare work.
Connection and Barn Chores
Tuesdays | 4:30–6:00 p.m.
Open to Everyone
Come spend an afternoon at Quiet Cadence Farm learning hands-on animal care while building meaningful connections with others in the community.
Participants will learn how to:
- Feed and water animals
- Brush and groom
- Support daily animal care routines
- Maintain clean and safe spaces
Work alongside sheep, donkeys, goats, horses, cats, chickens, and ducks while helping care for the farm that supports so many in our community.
This is more than chores — it’s:
- Fresh air and movement
- Shared purpose
- New friendships
- Practical skills
- A chance to give back
No prior farm experience needed. Just bring work-appropriate clothing, closed-toe shoes, and a willingness to learn. Waivers will need to be signed prior to participating and youth will need a supervising adult.
Therapy on the Farm for the 5 Pillars
In Partnership with Nan Doolittle, MA, LMHC, CEAP
Quiet Cadence Farm hosts professional therapy services in partnership with Nan Doolittle, MA, LMHC, CEAP, integrating mental health counseling with the healing presence of horses and nature.
Therapy sessions are aligned with the Five Pillars of Quiet Cadence, supporting:
- Emotional safety
- Healthy relationships
- Personal responsibility
- Mind–body awareness
- Community connection
About Nan Doolittle
Nan’s relationship with horses began at age four. She rode ponies as a child and later earned ribbons in horsemanship and western riding. In junior high, she won first place in her school science fair with her project, “The Evolution of the Horse.” Her respect and love for horses has been lifelong.
After moving to the Kittitas Valley in 2003 to support her terminally ill daughter and family, Nan adopted horses Peacewalker and Red from Rodeo City Equine Rescue. Additional horses — Fox, Twee, and Star — joined her at the Flying Pig Expressive Arts Ranch south of Ellensburg.
Professional Background
Nan brings over 20 years of nursing experience, including:
- Kittitas Valley Healthcare hospice/home health nurse
- Nine years serving on a medical code team
She later served as an adjunct professor at Central Washington University in Family Studies, Psychology, Art, and Academic Civic Engagement, and was the founding coordinator of the CWU Family Resource Center.
Nan became licensed as a Washington State Mental Health Counselor in 2012.
Education:
- Associate of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Arts in Aging and Healthcare
- Master of Arts in Behavioral Health/Systems Counseling
Equine-Assisted Therapy Credentials
In summer 2023, after completing a five-day intensive training in Oregon, Nan became certified as an Equine-Assisted Mental Health Professional through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA).
Through this model, clients work alongside:
- A licensed mental health professional
- An equine specialist
- Carefully selected equine partners
For clients interested in creative integration, Nan is also a Certified Expressive Arts Practitioner with additional training in equine-assisted expressive arts.
Who Therapy May Support
- Children and adolescents
- Individuals navigating trauma or grief
- Healthcare professionals experiencing burnout
- Adults seeking personal growth
- Families looking for relational support
Sessions are conducted in a safe, structured farm environment that promotes reflection, emotional regulation, and embodied learning.
Scholarships Available
Scholarships are available. Please inquire to learn more.
Free Community Outreach Petting Zoo
Join us on the second Sunday of each month, May through October, from 1:00–3:00 p.m. for our Community Outreach Petting Zoo at Quiet Cadence Farm.
This event is open to the general public and designed to create connection, joy, and hands-on learning for all ages. Guests are invited to meet and interact with our sheep, donkeys, goats, horses, cats, chickens, and ducks in a safe, welcoming farm environment.
In addition to visiting the animals, there will be:
- Crafts
- Games
- Seasonal activities
- Hands-on learning experiences
Our petting zoo is more than a visit with animals — it’s an opportunity to:
- Experience the calming presence of animals
- Learn about responsible animal care
- Connect with neighbors and friends
- Spend meaningful time outdoors
We believe community access matters. These gatherings help make the farm a shared space for relationship, learning, and belonging.
Come as you are. We look forward to welcoming you.