Former Army Sgt. Sara Hodgkiss has dedicated her post-military life to restoration: that of unwanted horses, other military veterans and disabled individuals, and her family's farm in Kirkwood, Woerth It Hollow. Hodgkiss took ownership of the farm in 2013. In 2017, Woerth It Hollow became an official nonprofit, through which Hodgkiss could combine her experience as a human resource specialist with the healing aspects of rescue farming.

Since then, Hodgkiss has paired veterans with horses, helping humans and equines learn to trust each other and to work through their respective traumas. Between four and six horses live at the farm at a time, and up to 30 veterans and their families visit regularly to groom and exercise the animals. The veterans also occasionally help with conservation efforts on the farm.

After Hodgkiss moved to the farm in January 2015 and decided to turn it into a horse rescue and work with disabled people, she wanted to do it right. Stewarding the land is an important part of caring for people and horses, Hodgkiss noted. She recalls reaching out to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for directions so she could begin making improvements. "We began to lay out farm management plans and needs," Hodgkiss said.

After animals began arriving at the farm, Woerth It Hollow became eligible for conservation funding. Hodgkiss improved a creek crossing and then enrolled 2.5 acres in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), through which 300 trees and shrubs were planted on that land. Next, a manure pit was built on the farm as part of the implementation of a manure management plan. The farm has also utilized a nutrient management plan from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the past four years.

During the COVID-19 shutdown, some work at Woerth It Hollow was permitted to continue and a number of outdoor projects were completed. In November, volunteers helped with the Coopers Run streambank stabilization project on the farm. Representatives of Got Your Six, Warriors on the Water, Lancaster County Veterans Breakfast Club, and Woerth It Hollow planted 488 live stakes and 51 trees and shrubs along Coopers Run.

Funding for the project came from the NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program and a grant from the Lancaster County Conservation District. The Keystone 10 Million Tree Partnership and Ernst Conservation Seeds Inc. donated the plants.

Hodgkiss estimated that at least $100,000 has been invested in conservation efforts at the farm thus far. More remains to be done, however.

"We were awarded a Team Home Depot grant for our barn-painting project ... to put new paint on the barn and much-needed gutters. We were able to get the barn painted but were not able to finish the gutters," Hodgkiss said. "Due to COVID this year, we were unable to apply for the grant to help us continue to move forward with our facility repairs. We are in desperate need of donations, equipment, and facility repairs."

Readers who are interested in supporting Woerth It Hollow or participating in its programs may contact Hodgkiss at woerthithollow@gmail.com or 717-682-6976 or visit http://www.woerthithollow.net.