As the semester draws to a close and students reflect on what they learned, some students in the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Equine Science and Management undergraduate degree program are also reflecting on what they gave.

Each year, students in the UK College of Agriculture’s equine career preparation class choose a service partnership with a local nonprofit. In doing so, they are given the opportunity to give back to the community and invest in Kentucky’s equine industry, while also gaining project management, event planning and communications experience, said Elizabeth LaBonty, lecturer and internship coordinator within the equine degree program.

This year, the class chose Angel Heart Farm, a Kentucky organization that uses equine-assisted therapy for children and their families facing chronic and life-threatening illnesses. The farm works with patients from Kentucky Children’s Hospital and has established connections with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Over the course of the semester, the students held two restaurant promotional events at Lexington, Ky. restaurants Mellow Mushroom and Hugh Jass Burgers, where a portion of the restaurants’ proceeds on that day were donated to Angel Heart Farm. The class also held a Halloween event, in conjunction with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Hearts at Halloween was specially tailored to Angel Heart Farm’s clients, with activities that included trick or treating, pumpkin painting, jump decorating, and horses in costumes. Two local restaurants, Red State BBQ and Rafferty’s, donated food