Veterans visit Papa Joe’s Produce

Several Veterans of the Sheridan VA Medical Center’s Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program visited Papa Joe’s Produce Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and as a bonus had the ability to engage with horses, including a Mustang named Three Socks. This visit was a collaboration with At-Ease-Horsemanship, owned by Matson Tew and Juanita Hape. The nonprofit focuses on Veterans, First Responders and PTSD survivors.

The Veterans were divided into two separate groups and rotated through the greenhouse and engaging the horses in a round pen in 45-minute blocks. Tew explains what this visit focused on this day.

Tew said the Veterans were able to ask a horse for a flex which means to change the direction of a horse and lift their foot off the ground which exhibits trust.

When the Veterans worked in the greenhouse harvesting lettuce for example, Tew said this is a shift with lower energy which focuses on growth or Post Traumatic Growth. He explains this.

Adam Bunker, operations manager, Papa Joe’s Produce, said the Veterans paid attention to the different plants and he thought they were exposed to a variety of things. He asked them a question while picking lettuce.

Tew ended the session by telling the Veterans that he has ridden horses in fires, blizzards and darkness. He told them that horses look to humans to assess situations.

At-Ease-Horsemanship will be presenting a special free screening of WY PBS A State of Mind, Frontier State: The Story of Luke Bell at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center May 7. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the screening starts at 7 p.m.

See more photos of this day by clicking on link below

Veterans visit Papa Joe’s Produce – Sheridan Media