Cassidy’s Cause is a nonprofit organization in Paducah, focused on the goal of helping individuals grow and develop through recreational interaction with horses. Individuals with disabilities have an opportunity to achieve that growth and development through therapeutic, educational and recreational activities, while on a horse.

Curtis Creason lost his wife to cancer in 2018 and he learned that spending time with his own horse became therapeutic. So much so, that he began looking around the Paducah area for farms or stables that provided therapeutic horse riding. He discovered Cassidy’s Cause.

“The first time I visited, I was stunned when I saw how those kids connected with the horses,” Creason said. “When you see kids who were nonverbal, become verbal while they are on a horse, you can’t help but be touched by that. And for someone with personal experience with horses and understanding the benefits of being around them, I knew this was a very worthy cause.” 

Upon visiting and touring Cassidy’s Cause in the spring of 2021, Creason discovered the need for a new hay barn. As the purchasing manager for Graceland Portable Buildings in Paducah, Creason knew enough area suppliers that may be able to help with the project.

“It was amazing how fast everyone jumped on board,” he said. “People recognized the importance of the work being done at Cassidy’s Cause and were happy to be a part of the project.”

Down on the Farm

The result was a new hay barn, measuring 40 by 40 feet and 14 feet to the eaves, built to match the adjacent storage building. More importantly, unlike the previous hay storage facility, it’s onsite. ABC’s popular 29-gauge Imperial Rib panel was used for the roofing and wall panels on the project. The walls are Light Stone (2,672 square feet) and the roofing is Koko Brown (2,570 square feet).

Donors on the project included ABC Metal of Frankfort, Ky., Atlas Door of Paducah, Atlas Metal of Paducah, Davis Brothers Farms of Cunningham, Ky., Free State Lumber Company of Haleyville, Ala., Freedom Construction of Cunningham, Graceland Properties of Cunningham, Great Southern Wood Preserving of Walland, Tenn., Kentucky Colonels Headquarters of Louisville and MIDCO Building Products of Mayfield, Ky.

“We were very happy to be a part of this project,” said Jonathon Terry, owner of Freedom Construction, the company that erected the building. “There were so many companies that stepped up to chip in various ways. Cassidy’s Cause is a great organization with people who are really making a difference in our community. My wife and daughter volunteer there, so we’ve been aware of the great things going on there.”

Cassidy’s Cause depends heavily on donations and fundraisers to keep the state-of-the-art facility on 22 acres of groomed pastures up and running. The new hay barn saves volunteers from having to load, haul and unload hay from the former hay storage facility, a few miles away.

“What a blessing,” said Angie Jackson, a co-founder and the executive director at Cassidy’s Cause. “The owner of our offsite hay barn sold the property and we badly needed a new hay barn. We had to turn down hay donations because we didn’t have a place to store our hay.

“Now, having our hay stored onsite, it’s so much easier. It saves a lot of time for our volunteers.”

Vince Kiteley, ABC Regional Sales Manager-East, oversaw the donation.

“American Building Components is proud to support the great work that Cassidy’s Cause does for individuals with disabilities,” Kiteley said. “Horses are such a great choice for developmental and therapeutic activities, and our products provide shelter to make this possible. We are honored to contribute to the impact Cassidy’s Cause is making in the community.”