A Strong Sense of Personal Accomplishment
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:39 am
Although an outsider would speculate that ranch chores and work projects would be one of the most dreaded aspects of the day, if you speak with any one of the students you'll learn that the hard work is actually a welcome part of the program.
"To me, bucking hay seems like a miserable job - the bails are heavy, it's hot outside, and you get really dirty - but it's one of the kids' favorite things to do," says Rust. "At the end of the day, they can look at the stacks of bales, and even though they're tired and sore, there's tangible evidence of what they've accomplished. They feel strong mentally and physically, and are empowered to make changes in other areas of their lives."
Part of the appeal of the ranch chores and work projects is phone number data the students see immediate results, says Carter. Young people thrive when they receive prompt feedback and an immediate feeling of accomplishment and importance.
"There's something about the cowboy life - responsibility, hard work, accomplishment," states Carter. "It seems to me that with a lot of things today, kids don't see immediate results. Here, they're tired, they sleep well, and they can look back on their day and see what they've done."
One student explained why the ranch chores are a favorite pastime among Turn-About students: "I really like bucking hay," he said. "It takes a lot of time and commitment, but it builds companionship between me and the guys. When you see another student giving it their all, that's the way you build respect. It has shown me how to find the right friends in the right places."
Another young man expressed the frustration he felt during his first weeks living at the barn. "When I first got here, I couldn't believe my parents did this to me. I couldn't even pick up a bale of hay," he said. "Now I'm getting in shape, and I actually like being here. I've changed so much - I'm motivated and confident and can't wait to graduate high school and move on to college."
This student went from scared to do anything to one of the barn's top leaders, says Carter. Halfway through the program, the young man started competing to get the last bale of hay, and even "bale-jacked" some of Carter's workload because he wanted to prove to himself that he could complete the task.
A Parent's Pride
When students realize how good it feels to contribute to a greater purpose, they begin to reconsider the role they've played in their family system at home, explains Rust. Mid-way through the program, students' parents visit the ranch and have the opportunity to see and experience ranch life for themselves. The kids beam with pride when they walk their parents around and show them the new fence they built or the pile of wood they helped chop, or teach their parents how to rope a cow or mount a horse.
"I never got along with my dad at all," said one student. "But when he came for mid-term, I got to show him everything I've learned - using a bow drill, roping, and all. He couldn't believe the stuff I was doing. He was so proud."
Joining the Ranch Family
The staff at Turn-About Ranch are committed to helping young people, and work hard to create a team mentality. Rather than adopting an "us against them" approach or commanding the students to do the work, the staff serves as role models who work alongside the students in every aspect of daily life.
"To me, bucking hay seems like a miserable job - the bails are heavy, it's hot outside, and you get really dirty - but it's one of the kids' favorite things to do," says Rust. "At the end of the day, they can look at the stacks of bales, and even though they're tired and sore, there's tangible evidence of what they've accomplished. They feel strong mentally and physically, and are empowered to make changes in other areas of their lives."
Part of the appeal of the ranch chores and work projects is phone number data the students see immediate results, says Carter. Young people thrive when they receive prompt feedback and an immediate feeling of accomplishment and importance.
"There's something about the cowboy life - responsibility, hard work, accomplishment," states Carter. "It seems to me that with a lot of things today, kids don't see immediate results. Here, they're tired, they sleep well, and they can look back on their day and see what they've done."
One student explained why the ranch chores are a favorite pastime among Turn-About students: "I really like bucking hay," he said. "It takes a lot of time and commitment, but it builds companionship between me and the guys. When you see another student giving it their all, that's the way you build respect. It has shown me how to find the right friends in the right places."
Another young man expressed the frustration he felt during his first weeks living at the barn. "When I first got here, I couldn't believe my parents did this to me. I couldn't even pick up a bale of hay," he said. "Now I'm getting in shape, and I actually like being here. I've changed so much - I'm motivated and confident and can't wait to graduate high school and move on to college."
This student went from scared to do anything to one of the barn's top leaders, says Carter. Halfway through the program, the young man started competing to get the last bale of hay, and even "bale-jacked" some of Carter's workload because he wanted to prove to himself that he could complete the task.
A Parent's Pride
When students realize how good it feels to contribute to a greater purpose, they begin to reconsider the role they've played in their family system at home, explains Rust. Mid-way through the program, students' parents visit the ranch and have the opportunity to see and experience ranch life for themselves. The kids beam with pride when they walk their parents around and show them the new fence they built or the pile of wood they helped chop, or teach their parents how to rope a cow or mount a horse.
"I never got along with my dad at all," said one student. "But when he came for mid-term, I got to show him everything I've learned - using a bow drill, roping, and all. He couldn't believe the stuff I was doing. He was so proud."
Joining the Ranch Family
The staff at Turn-About Ranch are committed to helping young people, and work hard to create a team mentality. Rather than adopting an "us against them" approach or commanding the students to do the work, the staff serves as role models who work alongside the students in every aspect of daily life.