Nothing beats a leisurely day of magnificent thoroughbred horses, fine champagne and thrilling polo, especially when that day benefits The Urban Farm at Stapleton, one of Denver's most extraordinary non-profit programs helping at-risk and urban youth.

So buy a ticket --- or a table for 10! --- and help a good cause on Saturday, Aug. 11 and Sunday, Aug.12 when the nation' s top female polo players and their lightning-fast steeds thunder across the Denver Polo Club in a determined effort to capture the prestigious USPA Women's Challenge Cup.

The two day event will feature semi-finals on Saturday and finals on Sunday, at the Denver Polo Club, 10415 Roxborough Park Road, Littleton, Co. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., the tournament begins at 11 a.m. and Sunday brunch is served at 11:30 a.m.

While the players compete for the championship; the sideline activities promise to be just as spectacular with a splendid Sunday champagne luncheon buffet and silent auction. Spectators also can compete during the Mad Hatter Half Time Divot Stomp parade where the guests with the best hats win prizes.

The polo match offers tickets for every budget, ranging from $25 general admission tickets on Saturday (bring your lawn chair and picnic!) to tickets assuring a premiere table for ten people on both days (includes luncheon) and signage showing your proud support of The Urban Farm.

Information on a variety of sponsorship and ticketing opportunities are available via chickswithsticks.org. For more information on the events or tickets contact Donna Garnett Executive Director, The Urban Farm at Stapleton, 720-810-5475 or email her at chicks@theurbanfarm.org.

The value of The Urban Farm at Stapleton cannot be underestimated. After all, back in the day, the luckiest kids were those who had a horse to ride or a nearby creek to dangle their toes in. And even city kids found ways to clamber around an empty lot and collect rocks or bugs, or locate a tree to climb. Forts were built, pirate names and identities adopted and bikes were ridden with carefree abandon.

But in today's world, children are finding themselves increasingly disconnected from nature. According to child development experts and a slew of new studies and books, increased urbanization combined with over-scheduled activities and the lure of electronic media are creating a generation of youths suffering from "nature-deficient disorder."

While the Denver metro region offers fine parks, greenways and open space, many children still miss the chance to experience nature's pleasures. That's why the Urban Farm at Stapleton continues to offer a remarkable program that exposes children and families to the positive values of farm life - patience, respect for the environment, appreciation for animals and plants, team spirit and the satisfaction of hard work.

Located on a 23-acre stretch along the Sand Creek Corridor, on the former Stapleton Airport site, The Urban Farm is home to more than 100 animals. A staggering 26,000 children have participated directly in its programs since the program's inception in 1993.

To reach its goals, the farm works with area schools, social services, hosts after-school programs and helps prepare students for careers. It also offers courses in horsemanship education, animal husbandry, gardening, open space conservation, environmental restoration, stream reclamation, materials recycling and reuse and land cultivation. For many children the farm provides their first glimpse of a natural environment.

A key part of the farm's ongoing mission is targeting children who may be at risk for using drugs, dropping out of school or joining gangs. More than 75% of the farm's student qualify for free and reduced lunches and no child has been turned away because of inability to pay.

Boasting one of the largest 4-H clubs in the state, TUF makes it possible for city kids to participate in traditional livestock projects. More than 300 kids a year have the opportunity to work with horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, etc. in projects that previously were only possible for children whose families owned livestock and had a place to keep them. TUF is a national model for urban 4-H.

At the farm, students have been turned on to reading with the encouragement of a tiny black pony and gripped by Colorado history when learning about the lives and hard times of a group of African-American settlers in the Deerfield community. Even "tough" teenagers find it hard to keep their game face on when pressed into helping a newborn baby goat stand for the first time.