Staff Thoughts: Jessica Neeley – Ranch Manager
Well winter has flown by us; it goes by faster and faster each year. The ranch is gearing up for summer and with that comes a long list of chores and projects for Chase (Anita, our Ranch Intern) and I. The horses are doing great and staying fat, happy and healthy. Whitehawk continues to be our oldest horse turning 29 this year. Soon all the horses will have finished shedding their winter coats and that means summer is truly here.
I am excited to have some great returning staff this year. Chase will be my Ranch Hand this summer; it’s been a great blessing to have her. Another blessing is the return of Dirt as Program Leader and Token as S.A.L.T. Leader. I have had more wrangler applications this year than the last few years combined. The Ranch staff will be an amazing team and I look forward to working with everyone. Sunrise Ranch camps have been filling up fast as usual so if you aren’t registered yet I would do so soon before all the spots are filled! (Register here).
Some of our bigger projects that we’re working on now are; clearing all the trails (approx. 15 miles worth!!), along with cleaning tack and getting the horses in shape for summer. In the off-season (non summer months) our horses are being used for guest rides on the weekends and for our homeschool horsemanship program. With the great weather we’ve been having lately, Chase and I will have more opportunities to do more training and exercising with the herd. Along with prepping for summer, there are still the normal day to day work of feeding, fence mending, horse shoeing, and other general ranch maintenance and upkeep.
All our work is done with the eager anticipation of the campers who will be here this summer, and the great work God will perform in their hearts. One of my greatest pleasures in working at Sunrise Ranch is seeing the campers who come with only the thought of riding horses on their minds, but when they leave they are disciples of God’s Love and want to share it with everyone.
I love the ranch! Coming to camp and spending a week at Sunrise Ranch is always the highlight of my summer… And the day I get back I look forward to the next summer. I’ve had 6 amazing experiences in the past 6 summers with the ponies, and amazing camp staff. I enjoy every day, and it’s so amazing how strong God’s presence is at Cascades Camp. I love it!
I’m so excited for this next summer, because not only will I get to spend 2 whole weeks up at the ranch, but also, i will be a S.A.L.T.! and I will get a hands on experience of sharing the message of God to kids. The perfect stepping stone to persuing my dreams of working in youth ministries!
Plus we get to play with horses all week, and get covered in horse hair, dirt/dust, and horse poop!!
GOOD TIMES!!! See you this summer
Bless you,
Karina
This will be my second year at horse camp, I’m so excited. Since I’am in high school, there will be no SALTs there, yes
I love coming and hanging out with the horses. I’am hoping to go to vet school and become an equine vet after high school.
I’m glad that Whitehawk is still around. He was the first horse that I ever rode, that was about 4 years ago. I hope that he is round for many more years to bring joy to the kids that ride him.
God Bless,
Miriam
This year will be my 6th year at camp and I am extremely excited because camp is what i look forward to every summer!! It is even more exciting this year because I get to spend 2 whole weeks at camp as a S.A.L.T.!! I am looking forward to seeing old faces and new ones!!
Blessings,
Rachel