Greetings Friends:

LTRF proudly celebrated our 48^th birthday on June 21, 2022, and we could not have done it without your consistent unconditional support and guidance. Thank you so much for everything that you have done, are doing and will do in the future to support LTRF. We treasure every gift and appreciate every moment of your time. The theme of June has been “thank you and appreciations”, both for our long-term investors and our new friends.

In the upcoming months you will begin to see some subtle changes at the farm. There will be some much-needed directional signs installed and also special tributes to honor the contributions of our long-term benefactors, who have not only given of their treasures but also of their talents and time. We would have never realized our dream of obtaining our forever farm without them and are humbled to honor them into perpetuity.

Our new friends are deserving of recognition as well. Which brings me to the new “Community Corner” addition to the newsletter. As you may know, Christie and I have joined several networking groups to broaden our support and to push the organization forward. We meet a lot of people through these groups and find out about a lot of services out there that you can benefit from. As such, we have decided to bring those services to you through the monthly community corner section of the newsletter. To maintain the integrity of our nonprofit status as a public trust corporation, I will always stop short of endorsing these services directly but will let you know what they do, if we have used them and how they have supported us. For example, we are spotlighting Blake Soni the owner and founder of Huck and Company. Blake has provided financial support to the Barn Dance as well as recently becoming a significant sponsor of our upcoming Dining in the Dark fundraiser. He has also come out to support every event that LTRF has held since we met. Please give a warm welcome to the LTRF family to Blake and Huck and Company. We are proud to welcome you to the family!

Read on for more about Huck and Company and the other exciting things happening at LTRF.

Yours in Service,

LTR is fortunate to have volunteers with a wise base of knowledge. Though we frequently focus on volunteer efforts in the barn and the arena, the office is another important area of activity. This month, office staff Christie and Tatiana gained new insights into social media and digital marketing from Stephan Franklyn of Triumphant Exposure. Stephan created a plan for the LTR team to develop more consistent and cohesive marketing across all digital platforms. Thank you for your time and wisdom, Stephan! 

Fanci was very interested to see what Stephan had to teach us. 

LTR welcomed a new student to the adaptive driving program this summer. Emma has been enjoying her time with Viva and instructor Jenni Johnson. 

Emma, age 12, wasn't sure if she was a fan of horses, but her mom says, "Two lessons in and Emma is already helping groom Viva. Her new confidence is also showing in her improved use of both signs and words. Best of all, she's making new friends and having a great time!" It has been a delight for staff and volunteers to see this young lady learn a new skill and can't wait to watch her progress over the summer. 

Event Spotlight

October 13, 2022

Dining in the Dark will bring together socially conscious community leaders, industry professionals and caring citizens for an evening of fine dining and entertainment to raise awareness and resources for LTR. Guests will enjoy dining in low light conditions while wearing eyeshades to immerse themselves fully in the experience by relying on their taste, texture, and smell to guide them through their culinary adventure.

Dining in the Dark will take place on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at the Bourbon Bayou Kitchen in Ashburn from 6:00 - 10:00 PM. Headlining the evening will be world-renowned blind chef Christine Ha, winner of MasterChef Season III, bestselling author and successful restaurateur. Entertainment will be provided by Scott McIntyre, blind pianist, and American Idol finalist from season eight. You Tube phenomenon Tommy Edison from the Tommy Edison Experience will act as the Emcee. All featured guests will raise awareness about disabilities by sharing their personal story of how they overcame adversity to build successful careers for themselves while inspiring hope in others.

The price of one ticket includes a five-course meal and the privilege of making a difference in someone’s life. 

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR EARLY BIRD TICKET PRICING! 

Welcome to LTR's newest herd member! 

Viva is generously free-leased to LTR by our Certified Therapeutic Riding and Carriage Driving Instructor, Jenni Johnson. Viva is a seasoned competitive driving horse, and she is also a part of our adaptive riding lessons. An all-around versatile, sweet mare, she has worked her way into the hearts of our staff and students! Watch for Viva driving around the farm this summer! 

Community Corner

Please join us in welcoming Blake and Alex Soni to the LTR family! Blake and Alex first visited the farm for the Boots & Bridles Barn Dance back in May, and immediately fell in love with the mission here at LTR. Blake says, “My wife Alex, and soon to be baby boy Wyatt, and I are very excited to have found the LTR community and believe strongly in the cause. We are proud supporters of the mission and look forward to growing our roots in the community we love.” 



Huck & Company Automotive Studio is a family owned and operated business providing automotive detailing services to Loudoun County and surrounding areas. The brick & mortar studio is opening in Purcellville this September 2022 with service offerings that include paint correction & ceramic coatings, clear bra (PPF), and window tint. The team travels the country training under some of the best in the industry in their respective fields and proudly offers these auto detailing services to Western Loudoun County. 

Blake and Alex at the Boots & Bridles Barn Dance in May 2022

Grazing for Good

Don't forget to check out our Grazing For Good (GFG) Program. GFG is a community partnership with restaurants across Loudoun County to support LTR. Our vision is to create a network of restaurant partners across the county so that anywhere you are, at any time - morning, noon, or night - you can dine at a location that donates a minimum of 10% of the GFG plate special to us. Order the GFG special off the menu and enjoy, knowing that you are supporting a great cause.

DC Prime Steaks and Seafood is our pilot program partner! Every Monday night DC Prime will feature a Grazing For Good special and donate 10% of the proceeds from the special to LTR. Be sure to show the Grazing for Good logo to your server!

DC Prime is located at 20120 Lakeview Center, Ashburn, VA 20147 

https://dcprimesteaks.com/

Please contact Paul Shane, Executive Director at pshane@ltrf.org if you know any restaurant owners who would be interested in signing up for the Grazing For Good Program.

Upcoming Events - mark your calendars...

Thursday, August 4: 4:30-5:30 PM Dining in the Dark Kickoff Event II, at DC Prime in Ashburn

Sunday, September 11: Long Stone Farm-to-Table Dinner 

Thursday, October 13: Dining in the Dark 

Support the Herd

We are seeking special horses to join our therapy herd!

Therapy horses are quiet, friendly, tolerant, and suitable for beginners of all ages:

• Between 10 and 18 years old
• Open to free lease, donation, or purchase – donations are tax-deductible
• Trial period preferable
• Must walk, trot, and canter sound
• Some maintenance is fine!

We are also looking for a driving horse:

• Very road-safe, quiet horse with 5+ years of driving experience
• Riding capability a plus!

Please no “green” horses. Send bio, photos, and videos to pshane@ltrf.org

Thank you to our generous sponsors of the 2022 Boots & Bridles Barn Dance!