Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The Magical Meadows celebrated the completion of their new west arena Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.
Carl Adams, The Magical Meadows Board chair, said vision has been a big thing at The Magical Meadows for years.
“So I got in the dictionary, actually I got onto Google, and it says they say the only thing worse than being blind is having sight, but no vision. And I thought about that a lot. Over the years, we have had blind children that have been here. And I’ve watched them as they begin to see. Not see like you and I, but see in ways that we don’t have a clue. I’ve seen them run them horses around with no help. I’ve seen children that have all sort of disabilities that I wonder how in the world their parents make it from day to day. But yet, when they’re here, they’re smiling, they’re laughing, they’re enjoying life. Like some days I wish I was able to enjoy it the same way, without fear, with just enjoying what they’re here to do,” Adams said.
Adams then talked about the history of The Magical Meadows and how Tammy Stackhouse, founder and program coordinator, started The Magical Meadows 20 years ago with one horse in her driveway.
“And then she began the vision that she had for Magical Meadows,” he said. At Magical Meadows, people see building, but that’s not what it’s about. “Magical Meadows is about the laughter and the love and the joy that every child brings into this place. That is what we have seen over the last 19 years.”
Adams said he didn’t really believe the vision of Magical Meadows Stackhouse had for a long time, but acted like he did. Adams didn’t think what Stackhouse had in her vision could ever come to be.
“I was really wrong,” he said. “And I’ve watched the community, you guys, come and jump on board. And I will tell you that the first few years, it was not that easy. But now I see that everyone in this community has caught the vision of what one lady had many, many years ago.”
Adams said Magical Meadows was finishing phase one of that vision. He said the ribbon-cutting was not to see the west arena for how grand it was, but what it is going to do for area children, adults and special needs community “that is so desperately needed.” He said the area was needed as the number of people being served at Magical Meadows has exploded. He said it is not the ending of the completion of buildings, but the beginning of a place where kids and more can enjoy what Magical Meadows can provide.
Stackhouse said Adams already gave the attendees the story of how Magical Meadows started and she wanted to give everyone the rest of the story.
She talked about how she was named Woman of the Year by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce in 2016. She talked about some of the grants Magical Meadows received, including from the Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation. The Millers then came to The Magical Meadows, which was set up by Cindy Hepler. In four months, The Magical Meadows was able to raise $60,000 to start building The Magical Meadows. She said she was sure Dane probably twisted a few arms to get people to donate.
A few months after that, Stackhouse said The Magical Meadows was able to purchase the land it now sits on, starting at 7 acres.
Stackhouse also mentioned a K21 Health Foundation grant that allowed Magical Meadows to purchase the land horses now graze on.
The west arena is part of Magical Meadow’s $2 million Growing with Heart capital campaign goal. Stackhouse said they embarked on the campaign for the facilities, “not just for our children and adults with different abilities, but now for our veterans and our first responders. As we stand here today and we look at this amazing building, as Carl said, it is beautiful and we are blessed beyond measure.”
Stackhouse said she can’t thank everyone enough for all of the support given to The Magical Meadows over the last 20 years. She said she doesn’t deserve “any credit for this, you do, our families do for trusting us, for trusting our amazing staff ...”
“This community (has) provided us the opportunity to become a beacon in this community and for the surrounding communities. We have people coming from every county that surrounds us, and we want to continue to be that hope and that opportunity for people, not just with disabilities, with our first responders, for our veterans,” Stackhouse said.
Magical Meadows is having a picnic today for area first responders and veterans as a way to say thank you. She said Kosciusko County is one of the greatest communities around.
Michael Kuhn, Magical Meadows executive director, talked about when he was meeting with the board of directors almost two years ago and he heard about the idea of the campaign. He remembers thinking it was more of a five- to 10-year goal. The campaign happened faster than he anticipated. He said God and Stackhouse pushed him along. He said he wanted to give God praise for putting the vision on Stackhouse’s heart and the endurance and strength in Adams’ mind and body to make Magical Meadows what it is now.
Kuhn also thanked people involved in the building of the arena, including Matt Schwartz and B&M Builders, Carl Brovont and L.I. Excavating.
