Runnin' WJ May 2012 H O RSESHOE REVIEW 4802 South Kings Highway Phone: (903) 838-3223 Fax: (903) 838-3366 Chirping for joy Runnin WJ hosts local Division for the Blind Easter Egg Hunt M arch 24 was an exciting Saturday at the Ranch as children and their families congregated on campus for an annual Easter Egg hunt. Volunteers helped us distribute the unique eggs all across the arena, creating quite the racket underneath the awning. Each egg had its own tracking device: an internal chirp to make locating the eggs possible for visually impaired children. Each child was blindfolded to make the hunt even more challenging, creating an amusing site for the families and volunteers. Before the hunting began, the barn was opened for a petting session with two of our special Ranch equine staff members, Pongo and Rojo. After the ponies had their share of love, the children were blindfolded before entering into the arena for the hunt. Lots of laughter and smiles erupted as children stumbled upon the eggs to fill their baskets, buckets or sacks. After a few turns in the arena themselves, the children traded their chirping eggs for traditional candyfilled eggs. Next, it was their parents and siblings turns to try as each one brave enough was blindfolded to hunt for the eggs. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day, and the weather cooperated beautifully for the event. We enjoyed having all of these special children and their families here at the Ranch and look forward to next year!- WJ
Happy Trails to You, Runnin WJ! Ranch instructor Karen Akin organizes annual benefit for the Ranch Photo by Alicia Guthrie R anch Instructor, Karen Akin, knew she wanted to do something to benefit the Ranch, to reach a different group of people and raise awareness. On a fall outing to a corn maze in Fulton, AR with friends years ago, Karen stumbled upon Fulton Grass Farm. As an avid trail rider, she envisioned a beautiful trail ride taking place in the picturesque haven. So three years ago, Karen hosted Runnin WJ s first benefit trail ride, advertising the event heavily around the community. I knew Tommy Warren and his wife when their son took riding classes from me before I came to work at the Ranch, Karen said. I knew they had the farm and I thought it would a great place to have a trail ride. I approached them and they told me they have trail rides out there all the time and would be happy to have one for the Ranch. Over the last few years, Karen and her husband, Mitch, have met many new friends through their weekend trail rides, causing the annual event to reach HAPPY TRAILS CREW: Teresa (far left), Cindy, Mr. Ron, Pam and Karen (far right) pose in front of the Ranch banner before the ride begins. SUCCESSFUL RIDE: Fulton Grass Farm owner Tommy Warren smiles on the steps of a wagon. Photo by Alicia Guthrie a larger crowd every year. Karen is also a member of the local Boots and Saddle Club, Texarkana Drill Team and participates in Cowboy Mounted Shooting Group with her big paint horse, Boorah. Karen s good friend and Ranch volunteer, Teresa Addington came to the April 14th trail ride as well. Teresa is in her second year of teaching at Vista Health Ser-
vices, where she tells her students her horses are her therapy. My grandfather raised quarter horses when I was a young girl and I grew up riding all over his property, Teresa said. I Photo by Alicia Guthrie have had horses all my life except during a brief time I lived overseas and couldn t have them. I now have five of my own, three Arabs, one Quarter Horse mare, and one Quarter Horse gelding pony. Teresa and her husband trail ride almost every weekend and are members of Sevier County Trail Riders Club. She finds herself riding three or four days a week, some rides being 20 miles long. Teresa also enjoys showing her Arabian horses anytime the opportunity arises. I have a four year old at the horse trainer right now, Teresa said. I want him to be a professional trail rider or endurance mount. I believe he will be a very good one, considering endurance runs heavily in his bloodline. I love to show my Arabs and if I had the choice out of a pasture, I would choose Arabians. However, my biggest passion and love is getting with friends and my horse and going trail riding. The April 14th trail ride brought in participants from three states, with nearly forty riders and at least two covered wagons hitting the trail. The ride lasted the greater part of the day, ending with a grilled burger meal served by Ranch staff, Brittany, Narda and volunteer, Ron Isaacson. Fulton Grass Farm is so beautiful, Teresa said. Tommy is awesome to let us use it. You could tell the people there loved their horses. It was also extremely nice to have the food there when we finished riding. With beautiful weather and enthusiastic riders, the third annual Runnin WJ Benefit Trail Ride proved to be a wonderful success with high expectations for next year. Several new people that Karen didn t know came out for the event, from the Texas and Arkansas side, and even Louisiana. It was awesome, Teresa said. The farm is a beautiful place to ride, as it is getting harder to find places to ride and the event was top notch. - WJ TANDEM TEAM: Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Alicia Guthrie happily hops on the back of a horse for a quick picture and to enjoy the trail from a different perspective. FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS: Mr. Paul enjoys the trail with the other riders, while a Border Collie farm dog tags along. Photo by Alicia Guthrie
Kohl s department store helps the Ranch with new recycling project O n a sunny Saturday morning late last month, Ranch volunteer, Ron Isaacson, Barn Manager Mack Dean, Volunteer Coordinator Narda Launius and Kohl s department store associates Melanie Cox, Cynde Brown, Britney Richardson and son Logan, Janice Ryma and Pam Troxler, in a team effort, constructed a recycling bin for the Ranch. Kohl s partnered with the Ranch for their Kohl s Cares Go Green Event, agreeing to send funds to the Ranch for their day of work. The new bin will house plastic, paper and aluminum, giving our students, staff, visitors and volunteers the opportunity to better the community by eliminating waste. Construction began around 9:00 a.m. and continued through the morning, with completion around 2:00 p.m. Kohl s Associate, Britney Richardson s 10 year old son, Logan, claimed the nail gun, working very hard along with his mother and her co- work- ers. Mr. Ron and Mr. Mack acted as supervisors, cutting the wood to a perfect size. Mr. Ron was the visionary behind the bin, knowing exactly what would benefit the Ranch. Each associate hammered and drilled, doing whatever was needed at the moment as the construction continued. From foundation to finished product, Melanie, Cynde, Britney, Logan, Janice, Pam, Narda, Ron and Mack worked diligently creating a unique team between department store and nonprofit. Runnin WJ Ranch would like to personally thank Kohl s and Sheryl Mohundro, Melanie, Cynde, Britney, Logan, Janice and Pam for partnering with us to complete this project. Next time you are at the Ranch, look for the bin located on the side of the student center by the barn!-wj KOHL s CARES: Janice Ruma, Logan Richardson, Britney Richardson, Pam Troxler, Cynde Brown and Melanie Cox pose for a brief picture behind the recycling bin structure.
MOTHER AND SON: Britney holds the drill steady for her son, Logan, while Janice holds the wood. NARDA THE NAILER: Narda takes over with the drill, bracing the walls of the new recycling bin. MAN WITH A PLAN: Mr. Ron holds down the foundation as Logan sets a screw in place while mother, Britney, observes. SEEn SAW: Mr. Ron measures the wood piece before he makes the precise cut on his circular saw. HELPING HANDS: Logan, Pam and Cydne carry wood pieces to the crew waiting by the construction project.
Friends fellowship at flapjack fundraiser Community supports the Ranch at our Second Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser ALL SMILES: Ranch student, Ethan and his grandfather smile for a picture before their M pancakes arrive. ost people would prefer to sleep in on a Saturday morning, but on April 28th, many were up and atom at Applebee s Neighborhood Bar and Grill for the Ranch s Second Flapjack Fundraiser. For only $5 a ticket, friends of the Ranch were able to purchase a bottomless plate of sizzling pancakes, enjoying friendly fellowship on a Saturday morning, while supporting Runnin WJ in the meantime. SAY PANCAKES: Men from Haven Home on the Arkansas side cheese for the camera before they chow down on their flapjack breakfast. Twelve gentlemen traveled by bus to enjoy pancakes and to support the Ranch. Approximately 150 individuals visited during the 8:00-10:00 a.m. allotted time last Saturday, allowing the early risers and those who hit their snooze button a few times an opportunity to receive a hearty breakfast for a day of working in the yard, fishing, shopping or leisure. Due to the busy day in the community, some individuals came before or after participating in Walk for Life, benefit for 1stChoice Pregnancy Center or running the Maggie Cobb memorial 5k to benefit the Make a FAMILY FRIENDS: Ranch Program Director and Instructor, Brittany Rogers, poses with long time family friend David Medlin, before he enjoyed breakfast with her parents, long time Ranch family members, Mike and Paula Young.
Wish Foundation and at least four of our sweet students came to enjoy pancakes with their families. We would like to express our sincerest thanks to Applebee s Neighborhood Bar and Grill for providing a pleasant location for a successful fundraiser. We would also like to thank our faithful volunteers from Kohl s, Ranch volunteers, Beth Watson and Jim Cheatwood, for helping us serve our guests and Mandi Karr and students at Texas A&M Texarkana for spreading the word around the community successfully beforehand. HALL OF FAME: Sue Ellen Hall and her sweet parents, Richard and Julienne Hall who will celebrate their 71st wedding anniversary on June 28 of this year enjoying their Saturday morning together supporting the Runnin WJ Ranch. SWEET SMILE: Ranch student Kaylee smiles while waiting for her pancakes. FAMILY AFFAIR: Local ministry Laces of Grace founder, Matt Graves, poses with his three kids Drew, Casey, Baylie and a friend after enjoying their pancakes. Thanks, also, to all of you who took valuable time on your Saturday morning to show your support of Runnin WJ! It is people like you who help us put the smiles on children s faces daily! We could not operate without our community s loyal support!- WJ
On Monday, April 30, North Heights Junior High arrived for their day of riding at the Ranch. The students gathered collectively and shared with instructor, Joan Cutler, that they would like to showcase their skills learned throughout the year to their teachers and anyone available to watch! Wearing all smiles and concentrating on the task at hand, each student weaved the cones, most without the assistance of their leader. Our 2011-2012 students have come a long way. We are so proud of them!
Runnin WJ May Volunteer Spotlight T his is Gail s first year volunteering at Runnin WJ. While taking a leadership class at Texas A & M Texarkana, Gail had the opportunity to visit the Ranch and after observing one class, called Narda to sign her up! Gail currently comes to the Ranch on Wednesdays to work with Kim and Abby and loves to see the smiles on the kids faces, knowing what the exercise does for them. She also loves horses and rode and showed horses competitively and raised them when she was in high school. Gail attends Beech Street Baptist Church and is married to Dick Young and the couple share a happily blended family of five children and have nine grandkids to spoil! In her spare time, Gail enjoys gardening, sewing, camping, fly-fishing, being outdoors and most recently has taken up pottery. Gail is just ONE of MANY volunteers in the FABULOUS FAMILY at Runnin WJ. We could not operate without them! ROOKIE Gail Young Gail and Abby Gail, Kim and Debbie
Runnin WJ May Volunteer Spotlight B ill Scott s signature wardrobe is his weathered overalls and cowboy hat, causing a few students through the years to refer to him as Farmer Bill. Mr. Bill has become a fixture of Runnin WJ; his volunteer commitment dating back to the days when the Ranch began. For three years, Mr. Bill would construct horseshoe plaques with wooden backings with his students names on them for a special treasure to keep. The students kept them for years, knowing they were created with love. Mr. Bill loves the kids and loves to be with the them, and has worked with students, Trey and Tony for several years. Those boys are good horsemen and can really Bill Scott VETERAN ride, he said. Seeing the children s faces light up is just wonderful. A true servant, Mr. Bill leads wherever he s needed, loving the horses just as much as the kids. I got my first horse in 1948 and have had them ever since, Mr. Bill said. I currently have two black and white paint gaited horses and a black mule that is an 89 model. Mr. Bill s sweet, loving nature is a pleasant joy to the Ranch and we love to see him in his overalls on Thursdays when he comes to lead. If you haven t had the opportunity to meet Bill Scott, we hope you will very soon. Thank you, Mr. Bill, for your loyal service throughout the years!
May 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 May Happenings May 1 National Teacher Day May 5 Cinco de Mayo May 11 Last Day of Classes at the Ranch May 13 Mother s Day May 14 Volunteer Banquet at the Ranch May 18 Special Olympics in New Boston May 19 Armed Forces Day May 28 Memorial Day
COMING SOON TO AN ARENA NEAR YOU! June 22-24 Four States Fairgrounds Arena in Texarkana, AR For more information, contact Patti Moore at psmomma@aol.com or (903) 244-2306
Runnin WJ Ranch is hitting the Road...to your church! This summer, the Ranch will be traveling to churches around the area to tell about all the wonderful miracles that happen here on a daily basis. The goal is to strengthen our partnership with the body of Christ, building up volunteers and support for our students, equine staff, and ministry. If you are interested in helping us in any way with this endeavor, please contact the Ranch at (903) 838-3223. We could benefit greatly from joining with you! Thank you!