MEET THE TEAM

Leane, a lifelong equestrian, is the heart and soul behind S-Farms and S-FarmsRX, Inc. a 501(c)(3). As the Founder, Executive Director and Animal Handler, she combines her deep affection for animals with her vast healthcare experience. With over three decades in various leadership roles within the healthcare sector, Leane’s passion for an

Leane, a lifelong equestrian, is the heart and soul behind S-Farms and S-FarmsRX, Inc. a 501(c)(3). As the Founder, Executive Director and Animal Handler, she combines her deep affection for animals with her vast healthcare experience. With over three decades in various leadership roles within the healthcare sector, Leane’s passion for animals and her professional expertise make a unique blend.

From a young age, Leane’s fascination with horses evolved into a lifelong equestrian journey. As a young adult, she joined 4-H and embarked on an extensive training journey spanning over two decades. She had the privilege of training under Jill Hardt from Tristan Oaks Dressage and Yvonne Barteau from KYB Dressage. Both Hardt and Barteau are accomplished trainers and competitors, each boasting a collection of bronze, silver, and gold medals.

Leane’s empathetic nature and desire to help others led her to healthcare. Her hobbies have always involved animals, spending countless hours caring for them, rehabilitating them, training them, and simply observing them. She is currently working towards acquiring her Animal-Assisted Therapy Certificate through the Animal Behavior Institute.

In 2017, Leane fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing a farm to retire her dressage horses. However, she soon found herself rescuing several four-legged souls in need and breeding Nigerian Dwarf goats. The farm became a therapeutic setting that provides calming effects, unconditional love, and non-judgmental interactions with the animals.

Leane’s ultimate ambition is to leverage her deep affection for animals to underscore their inherent therapeutic potential. She acknowledges the restorative power of animals and nature, and has thoughtfully crafted programs to disseminate this holistic approach to wellness and to educate children about animals. Her animal-assisted therapy, specifically designed for children, serves as a safe space and a unique, empathetic pathway towards healing and learning about animals.

 Liz, the Director of Education, has dedicated her professional career to public education. She is equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a master’s degree in educational leadership. Her journey began in the classroom as a French teacher, but her desire to influence more students led her to transition into school administrat

 Liz, the Director of Education, has dedicated her professional career to public education. She is equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a master’s degree in educational leadership. Her journey began in the classroom as a French teacher, but her desire to influence more students led her to transition into school administration. Liz’s experience spans across elementary, middle, and high school settings, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the developmental needs of students within the K-12 range. Her mission in education has always been to create safe and secure environments where students feel loved and valued, fostering their readiness to learn.

In addition to her passion for education, Liz has a deep love for animals. Her fascination has encompassed a wide range of creatures from otters, capybaras, koalas, horses, cats, moose, camels, dolphins, guinea pigs to pandas. During her middle school years, she had the opportunity to spend time at a horse farm on a weekly basis. This program offered education, animal care and horseback riding - an experience that she now recognizes as therapeutic. Liz is grateful for the chance to provide similar experiences to children in central Florida.

Recently, Liz relocated from the Florida Keys to Ridge Manor. She shares her home with her husband and their pets: a Bengal cat named Kipling, a German Shorthair Pointer named Snoop, and two goats, Molly and Margate. They have recently taken steps to breed Margate at S Farms. In the near future, Liz may find herself caring for more “kids” in their family.

Patrick, the Director of Therapy at S-FarmsRX, is a licensed clinical therapist and a Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist. He has proudly served our country in the Navy and has a deep affection for animals. This love led him to work with military working dogs, identifying their potential as emotional support animals and helping to pl

Patrick, the Director of Therapy at S-FarmsRX, is a licensed clinical therapist and a Certified Crisis Intervention Specialist. He has proudly served our country in the Navy and has a deep affection for animals. This love led him to work with military working dogs, identifying their potential as emotional support animals and helping to place them in homes with veterans suffering from PTSD.

With over 30 years of experience as a healthcare professional in military and government roles, Patrick has developed a high level of empathy towards multiculturalism. His extensive knowledge of diverse cultures has been honed through his work with US AID humanitarian assistance and the World Health Organization. He has provided care for patients who have endured traumatic experiences such as human trafficking and cultural violence.

Patrick’s compassionate nature has guided his career towards mental health, fostering his belief that everyone can progress towards a more positive life outcome. His experience with emotional support dogs inspired him to integrate innovative treatment plans involving various animals at S-Farms. In sync with Leane, the founder of S-Farms, Patrick advocates for a holistic approach to healing through interaction with animals. He views the farm as a serene and therapeutic environment conducive to anyone’s healing journey.

Stephanie holds her Associates degree and is working towards a Bachelor's degree in Veterinarian Medicine and is an AnimalHandler at S-Farms. She found her passion for all animals at a young age and her love for them was/is evident through her gentle and nurturing care for her own animals/pets or any animal in need. She was a member of 4-

Stephanie holds her Associates degree and is working towards a Bachelor's degree in Veterinarian Medicine and is an AnimalHandler at S-Farms. She found her passion for all animals at a young age and her love for them was/is evident through her gentle and nurturing care for her own animals/pets or any animal in need. She was a member of 4-H where she learned how to raise and care for livestock from infancy to showing and competing at 4-H events. She credits her hands on experience to 4-H and to the countless animals she has raised, rescued and nursed to health as well as her tenure working on farms as a farm hand and animal caregiver and handler. Stephanie is also a devoted equestrian who trains and shows horses in both the English and Western disciplines. She has impeccable intuition and communication skills with the horses she works with leading to a bond that encourages them to trust and connect becoming safe equine-partners for her clients. Its this same intuition and communication that makes her an asset as an Animal Training Specialist, not only do these attributes apply when working with horses but with clients as well through the Animal-Assisted Healing program at S-Farms. She truly believes in the work that she does at the farm and the positive impact animals can make in our lives. She believes the connection and bond with animals impacts our psyche overtime through consistent exposure to these amazing and non-judgmental beautiful beings. She says, “for me personally, I find animals to be the best listeners after a long day. I know they help me when I’m not feeling like myself.”

Miranda, serving as the Marketing & Sales Coordinator and Animal Specialist at S-Farms RX, brings a wealth of experience from her time with the Florida Wildlife Commission’s (FWC) Gopher Tortoise program. Prior to joining S-Farms RX, she dedicated three fulfilling years to the program, working diligently to relocate gopher tortoises to sa

Miranda, serving as the Marketing & Sales Coordinator and Animal Specialist at S-Farms RX, brings a wealth of experience from her time with the Florida Wildlife Commission’s (FWC) Gopher Tortoise program. Prior to joining S-Farms RX, she dedicated three fulfilling years to the program, working diligently to relocate gopher tortoises to safe and undisturbed habitats. This role not only allowed her to contribute significantly to wildlife preservation but also enriched her understanding of Florida’s diverse wildlife and deepened her appreciation for the state’s ecology.

In her personal life, Miranda shares her home with a spirited five-year-old Golden Retriever named Luke, who is always up for an adventure, and two beloved cats, Timmy and Molly. These pets bring immense joy into her life and serve as a constant reminder of the remarkable bond that can form between humans and animals.

At S-Farms RX, Miranda is thrilled to witness the transformative impact of animal-assisted therapy on children’s lives. She finds it truly remarkable to see how these animals can bring about joy and healing in children.