When asked to describe Paradox Farm, I think back to this assignment that I wrote in 2013 for a College Composition class, where we were tasked with writing a profile essay. A profile essay in the context of a composition course may refer to a description of a person, place, activity, or other item.
I chose to profile my parents and their farm.
I have edited it to update it for 2025.
“A place to call home.”
was the intention that Dr. Gregory Stiver had in his mind when purchasing an undeveloped 20 acre lot in South Overland Park, almost 40 years ago. “I wanted a place to raise a family and be proud of it— somewhere that my family would feel safe,” he explains, looking down at the multiple blue prints sprawled out on his desk, realizing what used to be a dream is now a reality.
Paradox Farm was purchased in 1986 by Dr’s Greg and Ginger Stiver, three years after they graduated graduate school and got married. Cleverly named by Ginger’s father, who pointed out that the newly graduated “pair of doc’s” were acquiring this impressive piece of blank slate land — despite the lingering imposter syndrome they were both feeling — with large dreams of what the property might some day turn into. The initial impression of a paradox is that it is nonsensical or impossible, but it turns out to be true, which seemed to be an aptly fitting name for these two budding professionals who had bigger dreams than pocketbooks. They were two young doctors with four horses, no kids, and a bundle of big dreams.
And thus, Paradox Farm was born.
Drive 15 minutes south of the suburbs of Overland Park, and you’ll end up in the unincorporated Stilwell, Kansas, a small country town close to suburban amenities. This is where Paradox Farm abides. The lush property sits nestled after a twisty Mission road, hidden deep behind the trees, guarded by a colossal iron gate and bridge. The stone and iron fencing perimeters the property, with gargoyles sitting on the stonework, protecting their land. It is apparent that lots of sweat and years of hard work have been put into this place. The gates slowly creak open, granting permission to enter the property. As you drive up the long, sloped driveway (admittedly, a pain to deal with in the wintertime), a sizable stone house appears sitting on top of the hill, revealing all of its glory. Continue to drive, and what at first glance looks like another house, one will quickly realize that it is a barn. While the gated entrance and large house are impressive, one of the greatest things about Paradox Farm is the barn. Walking into the barn, the familiar smells of fresh shavings, hay and leather fills my lungs, and I exhale deeply.
This is my sanctuary.
The barn was built in 1991, five years after the Stiver’s bought the lot. The upstairs reveals a 1,300 sq. ft. guest home, where the family of five lived until 2004, when they finished building their current home. “I had a distinct idea of what I wanted to do with the property- where the guest house/barn would be, the new house, the pastures and arena, all of it,” Dr. Stiver tells me, as he thumbs through old drawings he did when designing the layout of the property. “This place is the direct result of almost 40 years of dreaming, hard work, and knowing exactly what I wanted. I had a dream for my family and I wasn’t going to stop until I fulfilled it,” he says.
But this place is so much more than blueprints and a pretty view. It is where three kids grew up their entire lives; where a family was raised. But more than just the Stiver kids were raised here, Dr. Ginger Stiver explains, leaning over Greg’s shoulder to interject. “All of our kids friend’s have been welcomed here with open arms. This is not just our home, and they know that. We wanted to give our children a place to bring their friends over and just enjoy being kids. I watched more than just my kids grow up here,” she mentions, hand gripped on her husband’s shoulder. The place holds so many memories. If one were to walk into the third horse stall of the barn, they would probably notice tiny blue and pink hand prints scattered all over the wall, from a fun afternoon of finger painting 25 years ago. In the ten acre pasture stands a lone thorn tree, where a tree house was attempted to be built by Clayton and Mallory 20 years ago. There’s also the drainage ditches, that were once turned into a home made pool with tarps.
Paradox Farm is a history book of memories with new ones being made each year.
When the kids all grew up, went to college, and started families of their own, Greg and Ginger worried that the vast property would be too large for empty nesters. But thanks to the welcoming culture that they created over the decades, the property transitioned seamlessly with the family, now welcoming weary travelers (and their horses), US team clinicians, equestrians of all ages and riding experiences, pony clubbers, and lots of families with their children. The playground, that was once built for Lauren, Clayton, and Mallory, has since been refurbished for Lauren’s two young children, who play naked in the sandbox like the Stiver children did 25 years ago. The in-ground trampoline, a personal favorite for all of the Stiver’s friends, is now the first thing that kids coming to their mother and sibling’s riding lessons gravitate toward. The arena, which used to be a personal training spot for Mallory, Lauren and Ginger, is now surrounded by bleachers, and has a constant rotation of riders coming in and out for riding lessons. The 15 acres of pasture that the kids used to ride four wheelers in is now sprawling with cross country jumps. What used to be a dog kennel is now where the feed room sits, and where the Stiver’s hot tube once resided is now an outdoor cross-tie.
“Never in a million years,” Greg responds thoughtfully, when asked if he ever imagined how Paradox Farm would end up the way it is today in 2025. “I had hoped that one day they would be bringing their own kids back to make the same memories that they had, but I never could have imagined that we would have complete strangers getting to enjoy this slice of Heaven in brand new ways.” The property has served many generations well, and continues to adapt with the family’s needs. Now, a home base for a thriving Equestrian business while still serving the family as a safe place to come home.
Every night, Greg & Ginger walk around their property, admiring their beautiful creation and hard work. When asked if he achieved his goal of creating the perfect home, Greg abruptly interrupted, “Definitely. I go to sleep every night knowing I did everything I could to give this life to my kids. I don’t feel like they’ve been shorted in any way. This place will always be here for them to come back to and bring their own kids, and that is what I wanted. I know I achieved that.”
“This—,” he stops to look at the aerial view picture of the property hanging above his desk, “this was all for them.”