I graduated from the University of Gloucestershire, England, with a bachelor's degree in American Studies and English Literature.  As an exchange student at Juniata College, I fell in love with the Pennsylvania countryside and my husband, Jake Warner.

Through a blend of travel, study, and volunteer work, I have had the opportunity to work with teenagers from a variety of backgrounds.  I have worked with teenagers in my hometown of Nottingham, in an orphanage in Nepal, in Guatemala teaching English, and now, here at Longacre in central Pennsylvania.

At Longacre, I focus on my two main passions, young people and horses.  I have been an avid rider since the age of five and now have the opportunity to lend my talents to the rescue and rehabilitation of horses.  Jake and I proudly own four rescue horses who live at the Horse Barn with four Longacre Leadership Program horses.  Every summer I teach Longacre students how to ride and care for these amazing animals.

Matthew Smith

I grew up here on Longacre Farm.  After high school I left central Pennsylvania, assumedly for good.  Two springs ago—during a trip home, ten years after I left—I found myself noticing how pretty it is here: the rolling hills, the green trees and plant life.  I decided to spend summer 2008 back at Longacre Leadership.  Half way through, I started thinking about what it would be like to live here.  I had some reservations—some legitimate, others silly.  Eventually the prospect was just too compelling and I decided to make the move.

Now, over a year later, I love Perry County and the life I lead: the simplicity; the independence of growing vegetables and raising animals; the fulfillment of managing a herd; the support that comes from living in community; the self-esteem that comes from connecting with the earth.  We have started a meat CSA (community supported agriculture), North Mountain Pastures.

I’m surprised at myself, honestly.  I never expected this.  Currently, I’m in the process of building a house next to the farm with Megan Gantt.  I couldn’t have written the story any better.  My short-term plans have somehow become medium-term plans.  At the rate I'm going, I wouldn’t be surprised if my medium-term plans became long-term plans.

Megan Gantt

I am a Perry County native who started working with Longacre Leadership in 1997.  I lived in several cities after college, but continued to be drawn back to the beauty of this area and the community I found at Longacre.  The community offers me the chance to combine many of my passions: living and working hand in hand with nature, providing a safe place for children and teens to explore who they are, and growing things that nurture us, from animals to flowers.

My draw to this process and land grows each year.  I look forward to living in community year round in the house I am building with Matt Smith on land adjacent to the farm.

I continue my work with children in the Longacre off-season as an elementary school counselor.  Helping children fills me up.