Blog

“Rhythm is important to self-regulation. It is part of being human.” As part of the Ranch’s ongoing cultural commitment to learning, several dozen of our therapeutic staff are engaged in a facilitated book study. The book, “What Happened To You?”…

I find inspiration, humor, and solace in quotes from smart people. Here is one I read this weekend that will stick with me. “Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again…

I had the delightful opportunity to visit with a special friend of the Ranch, Carol Townsend. Her father, Elmer Zurcher, was one of the earliest board members of, what was then, Dakota Boys Ranch. (Girls weren’t at the Ranch until…

“I can’t really remember a lot of that time.” Those are the words of 14-year-old Cameron*–a handsome young man with stylish brown hair, a subtle grin, and a twinkle in his eye. And, according to his mother, him not remembering…

In the 1960s, Dakota Boys Ranch faced some serious education issues. At that time, the Ranch’s education program consisted of two elementary teachers, one full-time and one part-time. Consequently, the Ranch was basically dependent on the public schools for educating the boys…

In so many ways, the children who come to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch are just like other kids. They may have endured more trauma than others and need help to heal and move forward, but like all kids, they face a…

Jeremiah, a funny, delightful, and handsome young man, used drugs to “dumb himself down.” “I have autism,” Jeremiah said, “and I felt people didn’t understand me. A part of my autism is that I don’t understand social cues. And I…

I grew up on a farm with really good parents. I was taught good manners and kindness and compassion. I don’t always get it right, but those are things I was exposed to each day. I was not taught much…

Sierra, a 16-year-old on our Minot campus, shared her story with other residents during Ranch Life (a twice-monthly event where Ranch kids hear inspirational speakers or participate in a service project). While she talked about her childhood as one of abuse,…

“I grew up looking at the south end of a draft horse,” said Iowa native, Gilbert Grienke. “I was driving a team of horses behind farm equipment when I was hardly old enough to walk. You love every horse you’ve…

Ariel is at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch for the second time. Her first time at the Ranch was as a resident, and now she is back as an employee, working with kids who struggle with many of the same challenges as…

Last spring, Aaron Waldron responded to a Ranch social media request asking people to send Easter messages for our kids. On the form he completed, Aaron listed his address as Scotland. We were super excited to hear from someone in…

Dionna is one of the rare residents who asked to come to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. After two suicide attempts and a stay at the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program (CAPH) in Minot, Dionna decided it was time to…

Like every other high school, Dakota Memorial School typically holds graduation ceremonies at the end of May; and this year, we have students graduating on all three Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch campuses. Graduation is a big deal at the Ranch. Regardless…

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” Luke 24:5-6 “It’s not our story to tell.” —Confidentiality training at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch This week we celebrate Easter. The story of the…

Trauma is a thief. It steals one’s sense of safety, predictability, trust. A generally accepted definition of Emotional and psychological trauma is “the result of extraordinarily stressful events that shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless in a…

Our mission at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is to “help at-risk children and their families succeed in the name of Christ.” Our work at the Ranch is to help children find their best selves. Ranch kids learn to think…

I recently attended chapel at the Ranch. That’s not really newsworthy. We have chapel services on all of our campuses at 4:30 p.m. every Thursday. I like to attend whenever I can, and when I do, I always leave feeling…

When you meet Emily today, the first things you’ll notice are her wonderful smile and contagious laugh. A very different young woman than the one who walked into Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch—who at that time didn’t crack a smile,…

Laura was born in New York to parents who were, according to Laura, “really into drugs. My dad started stealing from people at work, so he ended up getting arrested.” When Laura’s dad went to jail, her mother moved the…

Vocational Education began at the Minot campus of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch many years ago with livestock, a corn crop, and honeybees. It has changed over the years to become Career and Technical Education, and now students learn and practice technicals…

Aliyah didn’t need help. Yes, severe anxiety and depression made her life hard. So hard she couldn’t get out of bed some days. But still—she could handle it on her own. She was used to taking care of things herself….

A few weeks ago, I was at my desk when I heard a familiar voice in the lobby. “Look! I’m being adopted!” As I came around the corner to confirm my suspicions, a handsome boy came running at me with…

Deaconess Kelly Bristow is the Spiritual Life Coordinator on the Minot Campus of Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. She is a woman of deep faith in Christ, unbounded love, commitment to mercy care, and she’s smart. However, I don’t think…