Good Samaritan Boys Ranch

“A Midnight Ride”

ranchlife — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:50:32 +0000

Horses have been a part of the Ranch for as long as I know. Sometimes our herd is small and sometimes it is quite large. Regardless of how many horses we have, though, they are always a part of the boys and staffs’ lives. The horses help our guys connect, trust, and learn about unconditional love. Our riding program is often the first place where our boys start to feel good about themselves. It’s a great feeling for us when we see them happy and caring for another being.

Learning how to care and be responsible with the horses can often turn into the boys learning how to do that with other people. The Midnight Ride proved that to be true.

It was around midnight on a very stormy night. The rain was accompanied by loud thunder and lots of lightning. I received a call from the Ranch reporting that the sheriff’s department had called and said that a herd of horses was loose and down the road by the river. Understand the Ranch is situated between a double highway that is well-traveled by motorists so being on the “road” is certainly a dangerous place. I quickly called the equine director of the Ranch and we both headed out to reclaim the horses. When we found them, we realized it would be impossible to try and herd them back to the Ranch and we were unable to corral them to hold until we could get a truck and trailer. The decision was made to get some of our better riders and ride them home. Of course it’s still storming. We grab bridles, grain, and 6 or 7 boys and head to the river. In the midst of rain, thunder, and lightning we caught each horse, bridled him, and chose a rider. I was left with a beautiful tall, headstrong Tennessee Walking horse named Blacksun. My riding experience was a lot less than that of the boys. I had ridden a few times and had ridden Blacksun once. The boss called riders up and the boys quickly and efficiently mounted their horse; bareback of course. I struggled getting on Blacksun and finally had to use the tailgate of our truck and the assistance of another staff. Once we were all up we took off at an easy pace until we hit the highway. We were going to have to travel right down the middle of the road for about ¼ mile; we were given the order to “go” as traffic was being held back for us. Without any signs of fear or worry our boys took off trotting; I on the other hand was terrified and as I tried to trot became even more afraid that I wouldn’t be able to stay on. I quickly slowed down. Knowing I needed to hurry I would try to speed up but my fear always slowed me back down. As the boss was taking care of the boys and making sure they were safe I was on my own and needed to find the courage to move on. I was almost crying at this point and was unsure if I could finish the job. Blacksun, of course, was fine and unconcerned with the thunder and lightning and the boys seemed to be having a grand time. Suddenly one of the boys, Shannon who was 14, was at my side. He looked at me very solemnly and said, “it’s okay if you’re scared and want to ride slow, I’ll ride with you and we’ll get home”. And we did.

Shannon was my hero. I think of him often and hope that he is still the brave, courageous young man he was that night.

“Silence”

ranchlife — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:13:03 +0000

Early on in my career at the Ranch I was lucky enough to be able to take a trip out West with a small group of our boys and staff. We were participating in a sporting event called the “H’Olympics”. It’s a bit like the Olmpics except it is for residential kids throughout the United States. The event was held in Flagstaff, Arizona. This was our first venture into the competitive sports world as at the Ranch we had always focused on teamwork and doing your best. Not to our surprise we did not do well and if my memory is accurate, we lost most if not all of what we competed in. We did still celebrate in our teamwork and we are famous for being able to have fun and see the positive in most any situation. As we left Flagstaff to continue our trip, our spirits were high.

We had allotted ourselves 12 days to participate in the H’Olympics and to travel to Colorado to see the Rocky Mountains. Our first stop was the Grand Canyon where our view was delayed due to snow and fog. Our wait was worth it; no wonder millions of people travel to see it as the Canyon is breathtakingly beautiful and beyond belief. Of course, our boys wanted to go as close to the edge as possible, which made me a nervous Nellie.

That day and most of the night we drove into Colorado heading for our campground which was in the Mountains just west of Denver and north of Colorado Springs. The drive itself was a bit scary as it was mountain roads. After a tiny little detour that required our Recreation Therapist to back up our van which was towing a U-Haul trailer down a little dirt road we found the campground.

As we had arrived in the middle of night we were unable to find our campsite so we all slept “snuggled” in the van. It was quite cold. The next day proved to be worth the struggles as we had a gorgeous site that was surrounded by mountains.

Here comes the “Silence”. Our first evening at the campground around dusk we all decided to take a hike hoping to see some wildlife. What we got was even better. We had been hiking all around and after rounding a corner we found ourselves on the edge of a mountain. The sight was extraordinary. We could see mountains, trees, snow, etc. Suddenly, Rod, who was one of our boys from inner-city St. Louis stopped and told everyone to “shhh”. A minute or so went by with no one making a sound and then Rod said, “That’s the first time in my life I have ever heard silence”. After that we turned to hike back to our campsite just a little bit quieter than before.

Is there any wonder why I have been at the Ranch ever since?

Sertoma High Stakes Chili

John Weaver — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:58:27 +0000

Sertoma High Stakes Chili

– A Casino Night Benefit

Thursday, February 16, 2012

A kick-off to the chili cook-off!

Six local charities will team up with Sertoma to make a difference in the lives of children and families in southwest Missouri at this exciting 2012 event. Good Samaritan Boys Ranch will join CASA, Champion Athletes, Child Advocacy Center, Children’s Smile Center and Lost and Found to present Sertoma High Stakes Chili.

The event will include traditional casino games like slot machines, black jack tables, craps tables, and a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament. Attendees will also be able to bid on packages in a live and silent auction. Tickets which include an appetizer and play money, are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Click on Sertoma Higt Stakes Chili Casino Night to go to the web page to order your tickets. For more information call the Ranch at 376-2238!

Volunteers Needed!

admin — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:28:23 +0000

Good Samaritan Boys Ranch & Footsteps Transitional Living

Do you want to make a difference in a child’s life? The Good Samaritan Boys Ranch is looking for caring individuals or couples who would like to serve as a mentor and resource for young men ages 12-20. Visiting Resource volunteers make monthly visits to residents at the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch and Footsteps who have no family or support system. Spending just a few hours each month can make a difference in the life of one of these young men!

Flexible hours
Rewarding work
Visits can be made onsite or for outings such as church, dinner or sporting events
Background check and personal references required

Call 376-2238 or 864-6698 for more information on volunteering!