The Ranch Report
Click here to view The Ranch Report.
A Message
from the CEO
Some days
are so hectic that my morning prayer doesn’t happen until late
in the day.
In my readings one day last week, I read with new eyes the
passage in Isaiah 42 that refers to “ opening the eyes of the
blind, setting captives free, and allowing those who live in
dungeons to see light.” As I read those words, I was reminded of
a young man who came to the Ranch after having been locked up
under his house when he was a small child.
He had gone to live with a relative after the severe abuse. She
put in a valiant effort but was unable to reach him and it was
she who made the referral to the Ranch. For him, one of his
issues was that living in another nuclear “family” was just too
intense for him. The abuse had been long-term, systematic and
life altering. It had been happening for a long time before it
was reported to the authorities-even though there had been
medical evidence that should have suggested a problem – because
he had not been willing to “tell” on his abuser.
This isn’t surprising. Abused children rarely report such abuse
to other family members! There are many reasons for that…they
are scared, confused, embarrassed, and often blame themselves.
They don’t want the other family members to be mad at them and
they fear retaliation from the abuser. Another reason not to
tell your family is that, after all, the abuser is “family.” If
the victimizer is a stranger the chances are much greater that
the crime will be reported.
When Carl (not his real name) arrived at the Ranch, he was
angry, resistant and difficult to deal with. His pattern of
handling his emotions fit the pattern of others suffering from
P.T.S.D. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and working with him
could be very frustrating. He was afraid of the dark, of
emotional closeness, and would strike out at anyone who seemed
to be getting too close. If he would resort to self-destructive
behavior if they succeeded. It seemed his modus operandus was to
get himself before someone else could do it. Now, years later,
he remains emotionally scarred.
Every time I pray I include the children of the Ranch in my
prayers with a special thought to those who I know are having an
especially tough time. Unfortunately, sometimes that is a very
long list!
I mention Carl because he is a powerful example of the work of
the Ranch. We are referred lots of kids and we generally take
those with greatest need and fewest resources. Our work is hard,
often painful, draining, and tremendously rewarding. Carl is an
example of literally setting captives free and bringing those
who were in darkness to light. However, once kids arrive at the
Ranch the figurative version of the scripture takes place. They
are often haunted by demons from their past. Child repair is a
very slow process. I love to visit with the children who have
been here awhile and hear of their successes. It only takes one
positive story to keep me going.
I admit after years of doing this, being a foster parent and parent -
that I sometimes have to “psyche” myself up to get the work
done. I know of the tremendous good we accomplish, and I still suffer
when a kid doesn’t make it. This past holiday season was
especially hard…but God works in marvelous ways and my eyes were
opened. I was reminded of the tremendous support system that exists for
the children and the staff of the Ranches, as hundreds of cards and
letters flowed in like a giant wave of support. One night after a
really tough day I got in the car to go home and heard the words of a
song by Josh Groban, “When I am down and oh, my soul is so
weary…when troubles come and my heart burdened be…you
raise me up to more than I can be.” With those words my load was
lightened knowing that you share responsibility for accomplishing our
mission.
Getting children free from the demons that haunt them will never
be easy! This work requires a team effort. I am often at a loss
for words to thank you for being part of such a great
organization. You are, along with the children, always in my
prayers!!
--- Mike
Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches
Chosen
Nonprofit Of The Year
Little Rock, AR. (February 25, 2003)
—
The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches,
which serves abused and neglected children, won Nonprofit
Organization of the Year at the 2002 Arkansas Business of the Year
awards.
Mike Cumnock of Batesville, the Ranches chief executive officer,
accepted the award on behalf of the staff, volunteers and
children. The Business of the Year awards are sponsored by
Arkansas Business Publishing Group and were announced Feb. 20 at a
dinner at the Peabody Little Rock.
“I was really pleased to have the Ranches chosen for such an
honor, especially considering the fact that there was such a good
group of finalists,” Cumnock said. “With this award and our recent
grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, we have gained a lot
of visibility. We hope this award helps showcase the Ranches as a
good, efficient, well-run organization.”
The Ranches’ programs are centered on the belief that abused,
neglected or abandoned children must first feel safe and establish
a nurturing relationship with at least one caring adult to become
a healthy productive adult. The organization seeks to provide
safe, secure, permanent homes for Arkansas’ at-risk children.
Cumnock’s vision is to create a system of support that would allow
the program to become a statewide champion of children. The
Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches Inc., with headquarters in
Batesville, was founded in 1976 by Arkansas sheriffs and others
who wanted to help troubled youth.
It began with a mobile home that provided a nurturing home
environment for three boys. Today, it has 110 beds in its
therapeutic residential program, where the youths live in cottages
as a family unit. It has an
outreach program that serves more than 150 families a month.
A licensed child-care facility, the organization has been home to
more than 400 children and served thousands more through outreach
activities. It relies on private donations.
Its facilities include a 528-acre flagship campus near Batesville
and 87 acres near Hardy. Three other campuses are under
construction: a 120-acre campus at DeGray Lake, a 265-acre campus
in Crawford County near Alma and a 430-acre campus in Boone County
near Harrison in the development stage.
The Arkansas
Sheriffs' Youth Ranches has been serving youth victims for more
than 25 years... sharing the faith that the generosity of others
will sustain us. Although 2001 was a benchmark anniversary year
for us, it also heralds the development of two additional
campuses, an indication of the tremendous need. And our future
developments will continue our work and mission to address,
remedy, and prevent child abuse and neglect by creating safe,
healthy, and permanent homes for children.
Events
Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches Ride for the Ranches
Batesville Ranch Trail Ride
May 20, 2006
The Ranch Trail Ride will depart
from the Independence County Fairgrounds in Batesville.
Registration for the horseback ride will begin at 9 a.m., and riders
will leave at 10:00 a.m. Sightseeing is a highlight of the ride
as it affords riders scenic views of Polk Bayou.
DeGray Trail Ride
Amity Campus
June 1-3, 2007
Why not spend the weekend riding
your horse or wagon, eating barbeque, talking to other horsemen, laughing with
young people, swimming in the lake, and looking at scenic views of the DeGray
Lake?
The Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth
Ranches are hosting their third trail
ride, June 1-3, at their Amity campus. Friday and Saturday night camping is available. The rough riders trail ride will be on
Friday. This is for horses and riders
only. Friday night the kitchen is
serving chili, hot dogs, and hamburgers until 9 p.m. for latecomers.
Saturday, the horseback ride
will begin with breakfast at 7 a.m., registration at 8 a.m., and starting at 9 a.m. Wagons are welcome for this day. Riders need to pack a sack lunch. A barbecue supper will be served at 6 p.m.. There will be a drawing held on this day for
a weekend stay in the triple-wide on Lake DeGray. The triple-wide has a full kitchen, three bedrooms and a deck
with a view of the water.
On Sunday, breakfast will be
served at 7 a.m. with a church service at 10 a.m. There will be a short ride after the church services. All proceeds from the events will go to
benefit the children at the Ranches.
For more information on this ride call Kenny See at 870-342-5858.
Complete driving directions to the campus can be obtained by clicking here.
Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches Country Christmas Craft Fair
December 8, 2007
The Annual Country Christmas Craft Fair is held at the Youth Ranch near Batesville and gets bigger and better every year.
The
show opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m. There are more
than 60 craft booths displaying a wide variety of hand-made crafts and
gifts, including woodwork, wreaths, sweatshirts, dolls, rabbits,
quilts, ceramics, jewelry, candles, wall hangings, bird houses,
pillows, baskets, cookbooks, baked goods, candy, and many more
Christmas gifts.
The
Country Christmas Craft Fair offers an opportunity to visit the Ranch
campus and select unique and hand-made gifts at the height of the
Christmas shopping season. The Ranch offers a variety of treats
– their home-baked cinnamon rolls, assorted baked goods, chili,
hot dogs, nachos, soft drinks, hot chocolate and coffee.
Drawings
will be held for baskets filled with assorted craft items donated by
the participating crafters. Tickets are available the day of the
show or from participating crafters.
The
Children’s Corner Gift Shop is a unique place for children to buy
a Christmas gift for mom or dad “all by themselves.”
Volunteers help children with their selection and send the child back
to the parents with a wrapped gift, ready to slip under the family
tree. All purchases are made with tickets purchased at the
door. The proceeds from this and the basket drawings go into the
Ranch Christmas Fund.
Everyone
is invited to attend this fun-filled event at the Ranch.
Admission is free. For more information, contact the Ranch office
at P.O. Box 3964, Batesville, AR 72503, or call 870-793-6841.
Complete driving directions to the campus can be obtained by clicking here.
Hilly Hundred Challenge bicycle ride
October 13, 2007, at 9 a.m. - call 870-793-6841 for more information
The
Hilly Hundred which starts at the Ranch’s main campus near
Batesville at 9:00 a.m., will cover 104 miles of highway through
beautiful and scenic portions of Independence, Stone and Izard
Counties. Registration fee for bike riders is $20 in advance, and
$25 the day of the ride. The fee for riders 17 years of age and
under is $10. All riders must wear a helmet, and all riders under
16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. For additional ride
and registration information, call Charles Fuqua at (870) 307-5519 or click here to print a copy of the registration form.
The
ride is an out-and-back course so the rider can pick any length ride
desired from 6 to 104 miles. The first 32 miles are gently rolling
hills with a turn-around point at a breathtaking scenic overlook for a
total of 64 miles. Hard core riders can enter a loop that goes
through some of the most beautiful, hilly and challenging countryside
in the state for a total of 104 miles, with 8,000 feet of climbing.
The
roads are good, and the traffic is light. Overnight parking for
those wanting to camp at the Ranch the night before the ride will be
provided; however, advance registration for camping is required.
Showers and restrooms are provided as well. Another highlight of
the ride is a delicious meal at the end of the ride, provided by Ranch
staff.
Complete driving directions to the campus can be obtained by clicking here.
