The Quest Farm Story
Quest Farm… started as a dream… became a reality… continues to give meaning to life and hope to the future.
Quest Farm, Inc. was born from a special needs Sunday School class that started more than thirty years ago. After working in the class for a number of years, the teachers watched the children become adults and realized that their needs were present seven days a week rather than just on Sunday. The teachers decided to establish a place that would provide these adults with the opportunity to live and work where they could be productive and happy. With these thoughts and dreams in mind, the teachers in the class formed a Board of Directors and incorporated Quest Farm. Joe and June Richey, a couple educated, trained, and experienced in working with people with developmental disabilities, felt called by God to quit their jobs and begin this new adventure. They were on a quest to put quality into the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
The search for a farm soon began. After months of searching, Quest Farm found a 26-acre farm nestled in the hills of Scott County, Kentucky. Joe went to the bank to get a loan and the bank wanted $50,000 for a down payment. This was the first of many hurdles.
So Joe and June, along with the Board of Directors, spent the summer of 1984 writing letters to everyone they knew and raised about $30,000. It was getting close to closing time and everyone had exhausted all their contacts. They kept praying and hoping they would somehow come up with the money. Two weeks before the closing, a letter and a check from a man in Oklahoma arrived on their desk. The amount of the check was $20,000 (just what they needed)! This was the first of many signs that this was truly a ministry touched by the hand of God.
The farm had one residence, a barn, and a tractor. Joe and June moved in with three male adults and the dream of Quest Farm became a reality. As the word spread about the miracle of Quest Farm, so did the list of families who were interested. The need kept getting greater and greater and Quest Farm started to grow. Joe and June soon had six male adults living with them. Another residence was built in 1986 on the farm for another six male adults and not long after (1988), a third residence was built which housed six adult women.
Quest Farm continued to thrive, largely unchanged, throughout the 1990’s and into the 21st century. Due to the great work of the Farm and its staff, Quest developed a reputation throughout central Kentucky as a place where individuals could receive the care and encouragement that they needed.
Throughout the 2010’s, it became evident that there were many individuals in, and around, the community that could benefit from the type of services that Quest offered, but did not need a residential solution. They were in need of job skills development, educational assistance, personal care assistance, and many other skills that help them reach their highest level of independence. Seeing the need, Quest branched out from residential and day training services, to include Community Living Supports and Supported Employment programs. As these programs grew, so too did the need for more space in a location that was more accessible to individuals throughout central Kentucky. After renting a space for several years, in 2015, the Board of Directors approved the purchase of a facility in downtown Georgetown. Now known as Quest Connect at The Buddy Williams Center, in honor of former resident Buddy Williams, the facility serves as the hub for five unique programs now provided by Quest. Each of these programs provides support to individuals with disabilities, and continues the legacy of those who sacrificed so much to make the original dream become a reality.
Who we support:
At Quest, we believe that all individuals have a right to their own identity, experience a sense of self-worth, and become productive members of a community. The individuals served by Quest programs are of all ages, and primarily come from the central Kentucky region. While each individual has a developmental disability, this does not stop him or her from pursuing their interests and developing their natural skills to contribute to their community.
Many of the individuals served by Quest maintain employment in their community, and participate in community clubs and activities alongside their friends and neighbors. The unique ability to help individuals identify their skills and desires, has allowed many achieve employment and acceptance that were previously thought impossible.
Clients utilize the Michelle P. and Supports for Community Living Medicaid waivers that are available to qualifying individuals throughout Kentucky. These waiver programs provide for a number of services to individuals, at no cost to them or their loved ones.
Quest Farm, Inc. is a non-profit organization, with a rotating Board of Directors who monitor the financial and operational aspects of the agency. It is the confidence and support of parents, guardians, community clubs, churches, businesses, and interested individuals, that help to make Quest a continuing success.
The philosophy of Quest is that the individuals should be able to develop independent living skills, be productive citizens, maintain an attitude of self-worth, attain their highest degree of mental, spiritual, physical, and vocational achievement, and most importantly, be contributing members of the community while maintaining their individuality.
About the Quest Farm Logo
The Quest Farm name and logo were inspired by the words from the Broadway musical, The Man of LaMancha. “This is my quest, to follow my star.” Because we believe that every person has the right to make this quest, we adopted this logo depicting a hand reaching for the star. It was created by Richard Russell of Nashville, Tennessee. It is the desire of the staff and Board of Directors that individuals will have the opportunity and encouragement to pursue his/her star.
Quest Farm 