07/28/2026
📢 ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 27 – AUGUST 1, 2026
💬 “We are all members of a larger community which depends on everyone playing a part.”
🤠 A CHANGE IN THE SUMMER SCHEDULE – IMPORTANT we will be having classes next week August 3 thru 8. Unfortunately, we had to cancel Camp TEC for this summer, which now allows for classes next week. The last day for the summer session is Saturday, August 22. Please watch in the next week or so for Fall Session Schedule Request forms that will be on the check-in table. Our fall session will run from September 8 thru October 24.
🤠 MY GOODNESS IT HAS BEEN HOT! – Due to the extreme heat and poor air quality, we have had to cancel many lessons. We realize this makes it challenging for those who thrive on consistency and for families to remember the schedule. If your lesson is canceled one week, please remember to come the following week unless you have notified TEC that you would be absent. With higher gas costs, etc., we’d hate for volunteers to come and not have “their” participant attend. Likewise, volunteers, we appreciate your help and we are counting on you coming when scheduled.
🤠 OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN SKILLS WORKING WITH THE TEC HORSES – Sign up and join us this Sunday, August 2 from 5 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. for Horse Leading 101/Horse Sense class. This class is perfect for those that want to learn about leading and working around a horse. It is also valuable for those that want to improve their skills working with horses of various sizes and personalities. Even very experienced leaders can gain insight into what and why we do what we do in lessons and chores. Come and learn to think like a horse and gain an awareness of why they act like they do. Volunteers are also wanted to assist during this class with beginner leaders. To sign up for the class or to help please, contact Hillary, TEC’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 269-845-9581 or [email protected].
🤠 A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLUNTEERS – For a number of our lessons we could really use a group of volunteers who would work behind the scenes to get the horses and tack ready for lessons. It is particularly challenging when we are running many classes in a day and having to change horses every half hour. Having at least one person dedicated to having the tack and horse ready for the next class would really help the days run smoother. It is especially hard when it is hot and those working in the ring have to hurry to get those horses untacked, sponged off, and put back in their stalls. Then they grab the horses for the next class, brush, and tack them. All within 15 minutes. This new volunteer job would be perfect for someone who doesn’t want to lead or sidewalk in the arena, but enjoys time with the horses and being a valued team member. To learn more about becoming a tack room attendant, please contact TEC’s Volunteer Coordinator, Hillary McCalebb, at 269-845-9581 or [email protected].
🤠 THE HORSES SAY THANK YOU! – They appreciate the volunteers and staff who have given of their time and strength to get the hay into the barn and stacked into the hay mow. 💙 We will be needing more volunteers in the next several weeks. If you or you know of someone who can lift bales of hay weighing approximately 35-40 lbs., please contact Hillary, TEC’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 269-845-9581 or [email protected].
🤠 WE HAVE CANDY BARS FOR SALE – Satisfy your sweet tooth and help TEC at the same time by donating $1 for a candy bar. Due to the hot weather, we are keeping them in the grooming bucket room’s refrigerator. Your donation can be put in an envelope found on the check-in table at the barn. Then place your envelope in the payment box located beside the table.
🤠 COMING SOON … TEC’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – The Mane Scoop: TEC Turns 20 – An Ice Cream Social Celebrating 20 Years of Making “I Did It!” Moments Happen! Save the date for Sunday, September 13, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thanks to all of our participants, their families, donors, volunteers, horses, and staff, TEC will be 20 years old in September! We will be celebrating at the TEC barn with an ice cream social, and we ask that everyone bring their favorite dessert to share. Please watch for more details coming soon. If you would like to help with this event, please contact Barb L. at 269-362-4014 or [email protected].
🤠 VOLUNTEERS WE WANT YOU! – We need volunteers to help with several positions. Lesson opportunities include concierge, mentors, ring assistants, sidewalkers, leaders, and tack room attendant. Chore volunteers are wanted for stall cleaning, feeding, turnout, and bringing in of horses. AM/PM shifts available. Substitutes for lessons and chores are also welcome to fill in for others on vacations etc. We will train people for lesson and chore opportunities. Horse experience is nice but certainly not a requirement. For more information, please reach out to Hillary, TEC’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 269-845-9581 or [email protected].
🤠 WE ARE HIRING AN EQUINE & BARN MANAGER – This person will oversee the care of the horses and the facility as it relates to the care of the horses. They will supervise the barn staff and will oversee the TEC Barn Team, including chore volunteers. This is a paid position up to 25 hours a week. Compensation is based on qualifications. A job description and how to apply is found by visiting our website at www.tecfarm.org. Please help us spread the word by taking a flier and putting it up on a community board. The job description to review and fliers will be available on the check-in table at the barn.
🤠 PARTICIPANT LESSON PAYMENTS – TEC is in the process of developing an electronic way to make payments and for participants to know their balance. Please bear with us as we get the glitches worked out.
🤠 ANYONE HAVE A DEHUMIDIFIER THEY NO LONGER NEED? – We would love to have one for our tack room. With this humid weather,, our tack is getting moldy, which isn’t good for the leather, etc. If you have a dehumidifier that you’d be willing to donate, TEC would be very grateful!
🤠 TEC IS LOOKING FOR A HORSE – We’d like to find a draft or draft horse cross to add to the TEC Horse HeroTeam. The ideal horse will need to be 16.2 hands or under and in excellent health. Donations are always our first choice, but TEC will also pay for the “right” horse. Please spread the word as Nellie, Syd, and Clara Bell need some help. If you know of a horse, contact TEC at [email protected] or call 269-429-0671.
🤠 THANK YOU FOR THE DONATIONS! 💙 – We appreciate the donation of shredded canned cat food, Absorbine Ultrashield red or black fly spray, Pyranha fly spray, mouthwash, apple cider vinegar, and bottled water. We will continue to welcome more donations of these items.
🤠 KEEP THE TRIBUTE FEED LABELS COMING 😊 – Each label is worth a quarter. Please cut them from your bags of Tribute horse feed and let your friends know as well. It is an easy way to raise money towards feeding the TEC horses. Labels can be placed in the plastic container on the TEC check-in table or take them to Family, Farm and Home in Benton Harbor or Mark Farm Supply in Niles. They can be placed in the plastic containers at the cashier’s counters.
🤠 TEC LAWN TO MOW & FENCE ROWS TO MAINTAIN – We have a zero-turn mower but are in need of someone to volunteer their time mowing our lawn on a weekly basis. The time commitment is around 4 hours per week. We also have a weedwhacker, but unfortunately like our mower it can’t run itself. If you can volunteer your time, please contact Hillary, TEC’s Volunteer Coordinator, at 269-845-9581 or [email protected].
🤠 BACKPACKS FOR GOOD – The Berrien Community Foundation would like us to spread the word about their program to provide free backpacks, school supplies, and a food pantry at several events around the county. One will be next Thursday, August 6 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Niles High School. To learn about other events, please visit www.berriencommunity.org. We have fliers on the TEC check-in table for more info.
🤠 A DAD JOKE – A man and his wife return home after a visit to his doctor. The man calls his son to give him a report, “my doctor said I was a beast! His wife replies, “you heard him wrong, he said you are obese.” 😊
