by Joe Nevills

The Kentucky Horse Council has awarded a $3,000 grant to Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy to provide classroom materials for an enrichment center.

The center will provide GED tutoring and offer free classes to farm workers and their families in Lexington and its surrounding counties. Classes will include subjects like English as a second language and parenting. Future plans include free health clinics, counseling centers, and a computer lab.

“The enrichment center will be a great asset to farm workers and horse farm owners in central Kentucky,” KHC board president Madelyn Millard said. “Education and wellness are vitally important to the success of every team; and the horse council is happy to promote both for horse farm workers”

BGFC executive director Mary Lee-Butte said the grant would go toward classroom furnishings and essential teaching tools.

“We hope to have it open by mid-summer,” Lee-Butte said. “The farm workers are interested in coming in and learning English, and the farm owners are interested in having their workers come in to learn.”

Joe Nevills is a Thoroughbred Times editorial intern