EquiFriends Wrangler of the Year 2002
By Evie Bredeson, Development Director
Mary Archambault
“2002 Volunteer Wrangler of the Year” Brings Beauty to EquiFriends!
If you have visited EF anytime over the past four years, you have seen that everything's’ literally coming up roses and pansies beautifying EquiFriends’ entrance way! You probably remember the colorful array of cheerful flowers, lush shrubs or seasonal holiday arrangements and displays, which greeted you as you approached the door.
This delightful addition to our program is due to one very special volunteer, Mary Archambault, whom has been chosen by the staff to win the “2002 Volunteer Wrangler of the Year” award.
It all started four years ago, when Neva Smith, one of the auction committee volunteers in charge of decorations, called the Smokey Point Plant Farm to ask for bedding plant donations for EquiFriends benefit auction centerpieces. Little did EquiFriends know that that phone call would lead to a wonderful relationship with Mary, as she, a horsewoman herself, became interested in our program. Not only did she donate many plants that year for the auction, she attended a Volunteer Orientation and became a volunteer for classes. Not long after that, she took it upon herself to enhance the facility with flowers, planters, shrubs and holiday decorations, which she placed at our stable entrance each month.
“Mary would quietly deliver and arrange the flowers when no one was around the office and then leave a note with instructions to care for them”, recalls Jean Johnson, EF office manager. “All we really had to do was water and enjoy them and what a difference they made. Everyone appreciated and commented on them!”
Now, Mary, who manages the Smokey Point Plant Farm just off I-5 near exit 206, consistently finds time to volunteer in 2 – 3 classes per week for our disabled riders and has supported all of our fundraisers. She raises pledges to ride in the Slicker ‘N Nicker Ride-A-Thon and for the past two year’s she has donated a very popular ‘horse’ patio bench to the “Mane Event”, which has brought in hundreds of dollars for the live auction.
Mary is a very humble volunteer, who has gone above and beyond to help the program in the short time she’s been here. When EquiFriends moved to Les Chevaux last March. Mary donated the use of her truck to move items and she helped to clean out the barn, making several trips to haul junk to a waste station.
“Mary has donated to the program, worked tirelessly with horses and riders in classes and is always there when we need a helping hand” relates Lynn Davis, past Volunteer Coordinator. “In October, she provided trees, pumpkins, plants and corn stalks to transform our grounds and arena into an autumn showcase for EF’s first annual horse show.”
It is our honor to name Mary Archambault the 2002 “Wrangler Volunteer of the Year” for her valued involvement at EquiFriends.
CONGRATULATIONS, MARY! Thank you, for sharing your horticultural talent and plants to beautify our life; for adding inspiration to our program through volunteering in classes; and for your generous contributions and support.