We recently connected with Vanessa Kohnen and have shared our conversation below.

Vanessa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?

Typically in the nonprofit world, volunteers are the number #1 partner to be successful. When you approach the type of work we do, everyone tends to bring past trauma and hurt. We all want to be needed and give back. One of the biggest lessons I have learned, is not skip the part of meeting the needs of my volunteers. When you run a ranch, the work load is beyond just a 9-5 job. It is a 24 hour on demand, up in the middle of the night, sleeping with the sick horses type of work. So when you have volunteers that want to help, you forget they are there for personal healing and growth. Along with your own personal needs.

When this happens, hurt begins to fester. Next thing you know, the volunteer leaves without an opportunity to learn and grow. On both ends. People tend to get hurt and run. What if we started with meeting the needs first, spend time with one another, find out how to support each other and move from there.

But, then you need to safe guard your heart in the process to the “volunteerism”. This is another giant pitfall. They are wanting a “resume” of helping and we understand that. But they bring in the “as needed” attitude and are unreliable. When that happens, all the work falls back on the people that are dedicated and they become hurt in the process. So you are back to square one. Serving the needs of the hurting.

How do we move forward? We take it slow, spend time with our volunteers and offer our services first before they are asked to serve. Do we does this great? NO, but we try and lay down the work load to bring restoration and healing to the whole team.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Rancho Milagro (translation: Ranch of Miracles)

Rancho Milagro is expanding God’s Kingdom on earth by activating His healing and empowering of all people we encounter through the gift of equine therapy and coaching. We are committed to impacting our community, state, nation, and the world by “renewing hearts and minds to thrive in the arena of life.”

Rancho Milagro’s core values include:

Mentorship Delivering tools to advance personal growth and direction.

Integrity Accountable to people and partners we serve.

Leadership Inspiring people to find the courage to take the “reins of life.”

Activation Experience renewed momentum by awakening all senses.

Guidance Highlighting the “steppingstones” to a solid foundation.

Refuge A peaceful place to reflect and be refreshed.

Organic Tailor-made to meet individual and group needs.

Horses deliver a distinct sensitivity that participants relate to in order to bring trust and healing. A horse’s keen sense mirrors the environment to provide valuable coping tools. Participants leave feeling revived and refreshed because of this unique approach to therapy.

Vanessa Kohnen, Founder & Executive Director, is dedicated in seeing success and freedom to all that come to Rancho Milagro – the Ranch of Miracles. At her side is her husband Robert Kohnen Jr., Co-Founder.

Rancho Milagro is a 501.C.3 accredited, non-profit, faith-based ministry which uses the gift of equine therapy and coaching to reach people in need. We are located in northeast Scottsdale, Arizona, in beautiful Rio Verde.

Inspired by the dreams and vision that Founder and Executive Director, Vanessa Kohnen, has had for over twenty years. She herself is a survivor of abuse.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

We do alot of Team Building and training together. This keeps us sharp and connected with one another in a healthy way. Rancho Milagro invests in their team.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building partnerships with other nonprofits has built us a solid reputation. We invite organizations all the time to come experience Equine therapy here at the Ranch. Once they walk in the shoes of a client and feel the love our animals, they are sold and are happy to share our mission with others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ranchomilagroaz.org
• Instagram: ranchomilagrofoundation
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranchomilagroaz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessakuhrkohnen/

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