The Farm at Serendipity

Raising $750,00 to acquire a property that will not prohibit our growth and allow us to expand our impact in the community.

Executive Summary
The sale of the property at 200 Reavley Rd. to the non-profit organization Serendipity Farm and Rescue (https://www.serendipitytn.org/) would offer a myriad of opportunities for the organization to expand its community outreach and impact. Currently the organization operates as an animal rescue and community hub with a focus on reaching underserved children and women through established equine programs. The acquisition of the property at 200 Reavley Rd. would enable Serendipity Farm and Rescue (SFR) to expand its reach by cash flowing its activities through a variety of planned agribusiness developments led by its existing experienced management team. As the property is an existing equine business, cash-flowing activities would begin immediately (Implementation Phase 1: Year 1) while additional programs and facilities are developed using existing resources. Added agribusiness ventures would pay for operating expenditures while creating eligibility for USDA grants for future expansion into educational and agritourism spaces (Implementation Phase 2: Years 2-3). The property’s location, features, and timeline of sale are ideal for SFR’s planned expansions into these lines of business.

Background

Serendipity Farm & Rescue was formed on the idea of “using rescued horses to aid in rescuing humans.” All of our equines and other farm animals come to us either from auction, slaughter brokers/kill pens or as owner surrenders.

The mission for all of our animals is to first provide them safety and then rehabilitate them by providing for their basic needs, their medical care, and providing them with love. In conjunction with this mission, we seek to bring healing to women and children who are in vulnerable situations by offering them a variety of opportunities to interact with our rescued animals. The continuing vision is to create a refuge where humans and animals come together to heal from the past, and have hope for the future.

As we approach the beginning for our third year, it is time to focus on increasing our impact in the community. We seek to accomplish this by providing programs and resources that will aid in removing obstacles that create disparities and reducing risks that cause insecurities.

As a part of our Impact 2023 initiative, we are launching our Miranda Pace Project which seeks to improve outcomes in vulnerable women in children by providing strategic guidance and resources in the following areas:

Financial Independence by providing a variety of classes and workshops to aid clients in the areas of G.E.D. preparation, career minded classes, and access to other resources in the community.
Food Security by providing access to organic produce, chicken, and eggs through the ability to harvest fresh vegetables; hands-on learning on starting and maintaining a garden; canning, freezing, and storing food; and raising chickens for eggs and consumption.
Empowering Healing through social support that is based upon friends and mentors that have shared interests, attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions that are essential for promoting psychological well-being, integration, and independence. We will accomplish this by providing a safe refuge to participate in a variety of health and wellness classes and other alternative activities.

In order to achieve this goal, we are in need of a proper facility that will provide the space and resources required to ensure its success. Our current facility has crippled our efforts of growing our impact for those we serve in the community. Between the terms of the lease and the prohibitive costs of some of the repair projects, we are unable to repair or modify the current facility to meet the needs of all of our current horses and other rescued animals, not to mention any future rescues or the community of people who have come to rely on our organization for a crucial aspect of their healing journey.

Proposed Timeline and Activities

Why Now?

In 2023, there is a unique opportunity to take advantage of local market conditions that greatly increase the chances of existing operations becoming profitable quickly. Within the greater Chattanooga area, a competing for-profit business, Hidden Hills Farm & Saddle Club, sold their property at the end of 2022 and estimates it will take at least six months to resume activities at their new location. Several of their staff members are volunteers for SFR, including those running their agritourism ventures. Given this critical window to establish SFR cash-flowing activities in the absence of local competition, combined with the presence of existing volunteer resources, early 2023 is the ideal targeted time for the purchase of 200 Reavley Rd. SFR is the only local organization positioned to move in to the property and begin operations in the requisite timeframe. As there is a major market opportunity open now, SFR proposes the immediate sale of 200 Reavley Rd. to the organization - which would ensure success for the organization as well as a necessarily timely process for the seller. After the sale, SFR proposes to implement business activities in several discrete Implementation Phases:

Implementation Phase 1: Year 1

Implementation Phase 1 will be a focus on moving the existing organization’s assets and rapidly scaling existing business activities while preparing to expand revenue-generating capacity through Year 2. Phase 1 focuses on the implementation and/or expansion of cash-flowing operations while maintaining existing grant-funded community outreach programs. The goal of Phase 1 activities is to establish a self-supporting equine and agricultural business with infrastructure and community relationships that will expand SFR’s reach as a nonprofit in Years 2-3.

Immediate move of all resources and animals from the current property to 200 Reavley Rd.
Marketing campaign including website and social media upgrades as well as advertising (advertising space and funding is already secured).
Maintain existing partnerships, outreach, and grant-funded programs including the Teal Elephant and Miranda Pace projects.
Immediate implementation of cash-flowing business activities including:
1. Riding Lessons
  1. Priced at $50/hour.
  2. Expect bookings of 20-40 lessons per week. Likely on higher end of estimates in 2023 due to lack of local competition.
  3. Revenue expectation in Year 1: $46,000 - $92,000.
2. Trail Rides
  1. Book trail rides in groups of 4. Utilize property and adjoining public land.
  2. Priced at $50/person/ride.
  3. Expect 1-3 trail rides booked per week. Likely on higher end of estimates in 2023 due to lack of local competition.
  4. Revenue expectation in Year 1: $8,000 - $24,000.
3. Summer Camps
  1. Expect to book for 10 weeks of the year.
  2. Expect 10-20 campers. Likely on higher end of estimates in 2023 due to lack of local competition.
  3. Priced at $350/week.
  4. Revenue expectation in Year 1: $52,500 - $70,000.
4. Boarding
  1. Expect 4-8 boarding horses in Year 1.
  2. Priced at $500 monthly.
  3. Revenue expectation in Year 1: $36,000 - $48,000.
5. Leased Horses
  1. Expect to be leasing 1-4 horses in Year 1.
  2. Priced at $300 monthly.
  3. Revenue expectation in Year 1: $7,200 - $14,000.
6. Birthday Parties: Premium Package
  1. Package is 10 children with additional $10 per child.
  2. Priced at $475.
  3. Expect 1-4 premium birthday parties per year in Year 1.
  4. Revenue expectation in Year 1: $5,700 - 22,800
    1. Birthday Parties: Basic plus add-ons
      1. Expect 1-4 basic birthday parties per year in Year 1.
      2. Priced at $300 plus optional add-ons depending on farm/seasonal activities.
      3. Expected base revenue in Year 1: $3,600 - $14,400
    2. Farm Play Days, Farm Tours, and Field Trips
      1. Scheduled for 2 set days per month
      2. Expect 25-50 participants
      3. Priced at $10 per person.
      4. Revenue expectation in Year 1: $6,000 - $24,000
7. Solidify donation avenues, grant proposals, volunteer commitments, and partner organization relationships to support subsequent implementation phases.
8. Initiate funding exploration and construction activities to support educational and agribusiness expansions.

Implementation Phase 1: Year 2

In Year 2, SFR will focus on implementing the cash-flowing business activities that were not immediately ready to set up as of Year 1 due to insufficient facilities/space prior to the acquisition of 200 Reavley Rd. Due to the expiration of the market niche that SFR will have enjoyed without competition in 2023, the goal for Year 2’s activities will be to implement them as fast as possible, possibly resulting in actual implementation in Year 1.

Youth Outreach - Connect with local groups targeting Chattanooga-area youth already involved in equine or agricultural activities
1. Local 4-H groups, FFA clubs, or agricultural education classes paying to use farm facilities or animals for existing-leader-directed teaching, field days, judging practice, and competitions.
  1. Parent/guardian-paid boarding of project animals for students that cannot keep project animals at home
2. Paid classes, lessons, or field days taught by SFR staff:
  1. 4-H and FFA projects including Horseless Horse and Basic Horsemanship curricula
  2. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts badges
  3. On-demand Fair preparation activities
Farming Activities - necessary for future eligibility for USDA grants
1. Garden projects to create infrastructure needed to advance future sustainability education/food insecurity projects
  1. Creation and planting of 4x4’ plots to simulate home garden
  2. Orchard/crop implementation
  3. Greenhouse/potting shed for starting seedlings for plant giveaways
2. Construction/remodel of infrastructure needed for non-equine animal projects:
  1. Chickens - both layers and broilers. Can immediately pursue certification to sell meat and eggs for revenue. SFR has existing chickens to implement with immediately but will need to grow flock. Other poultry possible especially given SFR’s existing community connections with various poultry growers. All animals produced on SFR farm would be offered first for sale as project animals to local 4-H/FFA students.
  2. Goats - SFR has existing goats but would need to grow herd. Focus on local heritage breed (Tennessee Fainting Goat) and/or commercially-successful breeds for meat and milk. (No immediate plan for legal milk-processing capabilities, so SFR would sell milk to soap-makers and/or include in price for soap-making classes.) Sheep could be added in the future under similar plans. Implement a rotational grazing program to share limited pasture space with horses.
  3. Cattle - SFR has connections with miniature cattle breeders who would provide feed-efficient and lightweight animals that would complement horses in a pasture rotational system, promoting sustainability projects. Animals produced and not sold as projects or for revenue can be for revenue-generating milk or meat.
  4. In Year 2, conduct market research to gauge local interest in adding other complementary small livestock such as rabbits, alpacas, turkey, quail, and/or ducks.
  5. Agritourism Activities
    1. Horse Hostel - accommodations for those traveling with horses, includes boarding, storage for trailers, and bed and breakfast for travelers
    2. Glamping - upscale yurt-style accommodations for rent (independently or through Airbnb, VRBO, etc.).
    3. Farm Tours - booked ahead or “on-call”
    4. Seasonal Farm Activities - paid experiences booked independently or through local tourism agencies, Airbnb Experiences, etc. Would rotate by season and staff availability, but could include experiences such as fresh produce cooking/canning, goat yoga, bottlefeeding baby animals, milking a goat, sheep, or cow, collecting eggs, butchering, “veterinarian-apprentice” days, making soaps or lotions from milk, hayrides, cider-pressing, beekeeping, and evening bonfires.
  6. Rescue, Rehab, Rehome - with equine facilities and cash flow in place in Year 1, capacity would be established, enabling SFR management to determine the number of horses that could be rescued. Rescued horses would be pulled from kill pens and rehabilitated and trained by SFR management to be resold within the community. This is both a potentially profitable equine project for the farm, and a project that could be subsidized by grant or donor funds. Rehoming rehabilitated horses may be a “captive” cash flow as rehomed horses may simply transfer ownership but stay on the property as paid boarders, compounding the returns on this line of business.
  7. Evaluation - by the end of Implementation Phase 1 (approximately the end of Year 2) a formal evaluation will be undertaken to determine the economic viability of above-named projects and revenue sources. At this point, adjustments may be made to ensure the solvency of the organization before Implementation Phase 2 begins in earnest.

Implementation Phase 2: Years 2+

Phase 2 is a focus shift: the goal will now be to have SFR running as a true nonprofit organization, actively pursuing grants and awards that support projects that intensify the organization’s community impact. Several existing programs are expected to be running during Phase 1 and will expand with the beginning of Phase 2:

The Teal Elephant Project provides the following at reduced or no costs for underserved children:
1. Birthday Parties
2. Riding Lessons
3. Summer Camp
4. Farm Play Days
The Miranda Pace Project helps vulnerable women and children to overcome barriers that prevent being self-sufficient, such as education, lack of community/support system, food insecurity, health and wellness disparities, and life skills by providing the following:
1. Education Workshops taught by local pro-bono educators
2. Partnership with organization Lean In to implement a charter circle
3. Access to information and advocacy to local resources such as safe housing, medical care, addiction support, childcare, and other needs
4. Community garden as a source and supply for organic nutritious fruits and vegetables along with classes in canning and freezing food
5. Access to fresh eggs and chicken through the farm’s poultry program
6. Access to the farm’s alternative based therapeutic activities to include but not limited to; equine activities, yoga, wellness workshops, and others provided by local pro-bono instructors, volunteers, and staff

Implementation Phase 2 includes the cultivation of community partnerships, grant funding agencies, and volunteers to expand SFR’s reach among underserved populations, with a focus on urban and low-income women and children. SFR intends to focus on community development, food security, and agricultural foundation and government grants in order to fund projects through Phase 2 and beyond.

Fundraising activities from individual donors are also ongoing and projected to ramp up through Phase 2. Currently individual donor fundraising in 2022 netted $29,325 but in January 2023 has already yielded $6,681.75. With a highly conservative estimate assuming the current trajectory holds true, in the absence of the property acquisition, SFR expects to clear $80,000 in donations for 2023. With the acquisition of 200 Reavley Rd. and the resulting enablement of additional programs, outreach and visibility, SFR expects to yield many times that figure from individual donations. Planned activities to make use of the property’s capacity include:

Givebutter platform and expansion into other development platforms and avenues
Applications for grants that SFR previously did not qualify for due to its location
Online auctions and fundraising drives
Seasonal farm events i.e. June Jam, Fall Festival, and Christmas at the Farm.
Display of signage from sponsors.

Expenditures

To give context to the expected revenues and donations listed above, Year 1 expected expenditures include:

Net Profit Year 1: $ 48,000 - $189,820

Using only the most conservative figures assuming limited patrons and limited income from the equine arm of SFR business, the organization can expect to profit $48,000 in Year 1. This profit would be put back into the organization to implement necessary Phase 1 changes within Year 2, and Phase 2 changes in years 2+. Of course, as noted above, market timing indicates that the most conservative projections here are highly unlikely given the temporary lack of competition and resulting increased demand for SFR’s services. Assuming the acquisition of the property at 200 Reavley Rd, the net profit is likely to be nearer to the calculated $189,000.

Conclusion

The sale of the property at 200 Reavley Rd. is more than a simple real estate transaction: the proposed buyer, the nonprofit organization Serendipity Farm and Rescue, has the resources in place to immediately leverage this property to do good for the community. SFR has a proven track record of attracting donations and grants, providing impactful programs for underserved community members and animals, and has an existing and scalable management, volunteer, and donor base that will ensure its success on the new property. With this business plan in place, SFR can increase the number and quality of both its revenue-generating business activities, and its community support programs, leading to a self-supporting organization that will provide a vital resource to the greater Chattanooga area. The sale of 200 Reavley Rd. to SFR is the first step towards the success of this organization and ensuring its passionate stakeholders can provide services and programs to this community for years to come.

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