Improved Lives. Better Outcomes. Red Wing Strong.

Keegan and I met when he started riding my school bus almost three years ago. During that first year I came to know Keegan as a friendly helpful and courteous 5th grader at Twin Bluff Middle School. As that year progressed, I became more impressed with his thoughtful disposition and felt a growing kinship between us. At the end of the school year, I wanted to express my appreciation to him for being such a considerate and enjoyable student to have on my bus. I spent many years in the in the active Army and Army Guard/Reserve. We have a tradition called “Coining”. In the Army one way to recognize someone for a job well done and say thanks is to “Coin” them by placing the coin in the palm of your hand and shaking their hand while congratulating them for what they have done. We have unit memento coins and coins from places we have served. On the last day of school two years ago I “coined” Keegan with a coin I had gotten in 2009/2010 while I was deployed to Iraq. I told him it was to express my appreciation for being such a good student on my bus. Later that evening I received a very nice voice mail on my cell phone thanking me for the coin and saying that he didn’t realize I had served in the military.

At that time Keegan was being mentored by another bus driver, Keith who I spoke to about Keegan. After we spoke, he suggested I become a mentor for Keegan. We decided to co-mentor Keegan for a while. After some time, Keith thought it would be a good idea if I became Keegan’s sole mentor. Prior to the Covid restrictions, Keegan and I would meet every other Wednesday at Twin Bluff for mentoring. We got to know each other more. After some time, I asked him if he wanted to come to our place in the country to learn to ride a horse. He asked his mom and we arranged for him to come to our small horse farm where my wife Julie and I worked with Keegan to teach him to ride “Little Man” a gray Arabian gelding born on our farm on my 50 th birthday in 2001 who lost his mother within 24 hours of being born. Needless to say Little Man, and his brother Rigby born to another mare of ours two weeks prior have a special place on our farm. Keegan took to Little Man right away. Keegan loves animals especially our three girl barn cats. He calls himself a “Cat Whisperer” and loves being around animals. Keegan has been to our farm a number of times, spending time with the animals and driving our John Deere Gator four-wheeler. He is a very good driver and I’m sure will be a good driver when old enough to get his license. Normally when Keegan visits, we stop and have lunch together at a local restaurant, Keegan has a healthy appetite! We have had lots of time to talk about things, school, family, personal challenges in his life etc. He is very well read about worldly events, and I am a fan of history, current events and the military. He asks lots of questions which gives us plenty to talk about. Before school was out this past spring, we had an Art Program mentor session at First Covenant Church near the middle school. Keegan and I discovered that we collaborated well together on a painting project. This summer we have taken Keegan boating on the Saint Croix River a couple of times. He is an avid swimmer and loves to dive off platform on the back of our boat.

Hanging out together while doing activities gives us an opportunity to talk about many different things. Keegan is a thinker and offers his viewpoint while asking questions about mine. We enjoy spending time together.