Located in Ellsworth, Mich., between Traverse City and Charlevoix, is Circle M Acres founded by Jeanna Michalek. They focus on equine education, horse boarding, riding lessons, and hosting small horse shows. The operation serves a wide range of participants, from children as young as 3 years old to adults in their 70s. Circle M Acres is designed to be both an educational and welcoming environment where people of all ages can learn about horsemanship, build confidence, and develop their skills around horses.  

While growing up with horses, Jeanna was involved in 4-H, which played a crucial role in shaping her agricultural experience. During high school, she mentored younger 4-H members, taking them under her wing, which sparked her passion for equine education and mentorship.  

Over the years, she built on that foundation through other hands-on experiences, and that’s when Circle M Acres officially came into fruition as a business in 2020. Now, the team cares for around 20 horses, half of which are a part of the business.  

Jeanna used GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth Grant to expand her knowledge and services through equine first aid training. “At our facility, only four of our horses are under the age of 10, so a large portion of our herd requires specialized care and attention as they age. I couldn’t find a lot of resources to help me, so I decided why not take an opportunity to better serve not only us, but other horse owners in the community.”  

Circle M Acres is financed through GreenStone, so when doing research for opportunities and resources for grant funding, it was the first place Jeanna looked. “Once I found it, the application process was very straightforward and approachable. It was easy to navigate and made me feel like it was a realistic opportunity, even for a nontraditional agricultural business like ours.” 

After being approved, Jeanna was set up to start the self-paced Equine First Aid Training program and is currently working through it. So far, one of Jeanna’s biggest takeaways from the course was how much horse owners can do to be proactive in emergency situations. “The training reinforced that having the right knowledge and tools in place can make a major difference during an emergency. We covered a variety of scenarios, including eye injuries, trauma situations, and other common emergencies horse owners might face. It gave me confidence to respond to situations like checking vitals, using emergency tools, applying bandages, and assessing injuries until the veterinarian arrives.” 

The training will help Jeanna to better support her horses, as well as her clients, while strengthening services offered at Circle M Acres. Jeanna says, “the biggest improvements it will bring is the ability to provide equine first aid education to others in the community, which adds another layer to our operations and helps diversify our income stream as well.”  

Jeanna wants to encourage others, especially those involved in non-traditional agriculture, to explore opportunities like those through GreenStone’s CultivateGrowth program. “Grants like this can be incredibly valuable and accessible, and they’re a great way to invest in your operation, education, and future.”

If you are interested in exploring opportunities for a chance to invest in your future, click here to learn more about the CultivateGrowth grant and what it can offer you.