1982 The Ortmans arrived at the Ranch and lived in the well
house. (Two ruts between trees and brush was our driveway.) First
Thanksgiving consisted of cold pork & beans because there was no
electricity. Christmas gift was a 10 x 50 trailer home.
1983 First boy arrived. Hauled in a lot of gravel for the road
and cleared cedar trees, which then served as fence posts! Total income
was $300 a month for the year.
1984 Built the 1~ barn, which is now the buffalo barn. Built
additions on to our trailer for more room to take in more boys. Built the
new well house, as the old well was not able to keep up with the water
demand. Friends from SD came and helped build the pig barn. Since all our
tools had been stolen, this project was done with old-fashioned tools. One
was a barrel with water used as a level to true up the big cedar trees
that we used for our poles.
1985 RV sites were completed, and the lst group of Retired
Volunteers showed up in their RV's to help us with construction,
mechanics, maintenance, cooking, etc. First benefit for the Ranch was
washing cars for a day. This year we also built our first storage shed
from slabs of wood from cedar trees we had cut off the property.
1986 Completed Dairy Barn and began to milk cows to help bring
in needed funds. Volunteered to help build over 1/2 of a church with an
elderly congregation. Paul played his saxophone at Country Music World, a
music show in Branson, to a standing ovation.
1987 First year that gross income was $5000 I month to care for
13 boys and to buy materials to construct building. This was the first
time that the Ranch offered a salary: $25 per month for full time staff
was barely enough to get our first staff to help us. First year we began
helping Kimberling City to clean up trash after their July 4th
Celebration. We also adopted 6.7 miles of State Highway ditches and helped
clean up over 5 miles of highway for other organizations and individuals
four times a year.
1988 A lady drove up on the yard and asked to see how we were
doing on the new dorm. We told her that we were waiting on the funds to
complete it and also needed kitchen cabinets. She represented a Foundation
that helped make both of those dreams a reality. In baseball, Keith K hit
the most "over the fence" home runs in Blue Eye School's history.
1989 The Ortmans and two other staff families moved into the
Dorm. Later that year both staff families moved out as they couldn't
afford to work for $25 per month. That, left Ken and Sheila to take care
of 18 boys by themselves. Our bookkeeper was the only one who stayed to
help. Our older boys took on extra responsibilities and problems were
minimized.
1990 All salaries went up to $200 per month for staff. Built a
storage shed for the inkind donations the Lord was blessing us with. The
wood shop was on one end to help teach the boys wood working skills. Tim
played his violin at the Mel Tillis Music Show.
1991 Tri-Plex was completed for 4 staff families to stay in.
First former Gang Leader enters the Ranch family and later becomes a part
of ""God's Gang"! After 14 other unsuccessful placements in other
facilities, Jesse L graduated the program a solid young man.
1992 Moved into our new offices with 2 staff apartments built
onto it so that we could house more staff families. Went to the Moe Bandy
Show but had to leave early to milk cows, so moved 6 cars by lifting them
to the side and putting them back again into place after we got the van
out from the middle of them.
1993 Volunteered for 5 days of clean up after the Flood in St.
Louis. Bought the farm property with house for the farm manager to live
in. Results of a survey of the top 100 residential programs in the United
States, done by 2 independent appraisers who visited the Ranch, show LUC
Program as� ~ to none.�
1994 The 1Oct11 boy enters the Ranch �family�. Bought the 4
acres at the lake property and built a cabin there for guests and for
staff to get away to recuperate.
1995 Built a house for the Ortmans so their daughter could enjoy
her Senior year in High School with some privacy. RebUilt the hay barn
that burned. David G returned to the Ranch after 6 years to ask if anyone
had dug more post holes than he had.
1996 Built the Mechanics Shop. Volunteered to help 3 different
churches shingle a roof; pour a concrete parking lot; and paint outside
and inside of the church.
1997 Built a House for the Program Director. Three of the 7
members on the Blue Eye Academic Team were boys from the Ranch
1998 Built the Hay Barn at the Farm. Graduate David K bowled a
perfect 300 game that year. Andy returned home and was voted the most
outstanding leader in his school of 2000 students.
1999 Built the Green House and Hot House. Ranch graduate Kenny
was given an award as outstanding leader in his Army platoon. More of
God's children are adopted into his family.
2000 Finished the Academic Center. Received compliments from 100
different employers on how well our guys work and behave.
2001 Loaded and stacked 120 bales from the field onto our
trailer in less than 8 minutes with 6 guys. Did ground prep for houses and
started building on the Welding shop. Boys finished Public School with 35
A's and no F's on semester grades.
2002 Finished the Welding Shop and 2 Staff Houses. Started
selling the crafts the boys make in welding shop at our new Thrift Store
to raise much–needed cash. Our guys had the lead parts in the school
play/operetta.
Everything that was accomplished thus far is a tribute to God's ability
to provide for our needs and to give strength & wisdom to all of us as it
is needed. We are also indebted to countless friends who have shared with
us for all these years. Thank YOU! More to follow.
