The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – A dream that has been years in the making is about to become reality for Stacy Just, as she, her family and advisory board prepare for the grand opening of Just Another Chance Ranch five miles south of Waitsburg on Saturday, June 27, from noon to 5 p.m.

The grand opening celebrates phase two of the ranch's mission, the launch of the ranch's first youth mentorship program.

The Just family moved to Waitsburg from Roy, Wash., about four years ago, when Stacy's husband, Jason, accepted a teaching position teaching in Prescott, to be closer to family in the area.

The Justs purchased the ranch property, located midway between Waitsburg and Dixie (14224 East Highway 12) with the intent of creating a horse rescue and youth mentorship ranch.

Jason teaches science at Prescott High School and has served as coach and assistant coach for wrestling and baseball.

Stacy, who has a K-12 educational degree in art has taught many subjects, including AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination), art, American Sign Language, second grade and fourth grade. She currently works as a para-educator at Garrison Middle School in Walla Walla. The Justs have two grown children, Aubrey and Logan, and a son, David, who is a junior at Waitsburg High School.

"From the time I was a little girl I was horse crazy and I always knew that I wanted to use my horses to help people, but I didn't know what that looked like," said Stacy. "When you're little you have these crazy dreams, you think you can change the world and you don't realize there are limitations. But as you grow up, you get busy with life and start to questions whether you can really achieve those dreams and you just kind of forget about it and table it."

Stacy served as a horse 4-H leader in both Heppner, Ore. and Roy, which, she said, taught her about leading groups working with horses, but didn't meet the need she was looking to fill.

When the couple's two oldest children moved out and life settled down a bit, Just recalled her childhood dream and began researching youth ranches. She learned about Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Ore., which she says has become so successful that they started offering information clinics.

Stacy attended their clinics over two summers and received training on how to begin a youth/rescue ranch.

"It was really an information boot camp," she said. "We met with their veterinarians, farriers, the police that rescue neglected horses, lawyers, CPAs, and the founders who shared the mistakes they made. I was being equipped, but we didn't have the land to do anything with."

That changed when the family moved to Waitsburg.

Since that time, they have been working to prepare the property that was in "serious need of repair," for use as a ranch/rescue.

The ranch was registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in December 2012, but didn't go public until they gained tax exemption status last October.

The organization's board members include Stacy Just, Erek Pruitt and Jody Hill, who all work in local school districts.

The ranch was created with two distinct missions in mind: to help horses and to help children.

The horse rescue phase of the operation has been up and running, and the ranch has already rescued three horses and helped others.

The current herd includes Sunkist Gold (Sunny), a 21-year old quarter horse/Morgan/Tennessee Walker Cross who is a gentle session horse; Trigger who is a large miniature and ideal for children who may be shy or intimidated by larger animals; Sampson, a Halflinger (miniature draft breed) who loves attention of any kind; and Red, a Tennessee Walker who is the most recent rescue and waiting to be trained.

The second mission of the ranch, which will begin with the upcoming Hands-On-Horses mentorship program, is to bring healing and purpose to youth through a relationship with horses.

"Our focus is to create a relationship between the horse and the youth that will benefit both," Stacy said.

"Horses that have come from abuse or neglect often recognize in kids what they themselves have gone through," Just said. "Powerful things happen between a kid and a horse when a kid realizes that a horse has gone through a tough time and made it through. Hopefully, the kids will come out realizing that they have an important part to play, that they can help an animal, but also it gives a purpose to the animal as well.

"Horses are very different than dogs, which have a tendency to be loyal no matter what," she added. "A horse will not bond with you unless they feel like they can trust you, so you really have to work on the relationship piece."

Stacy said she teaches children to be 'gentle leaders,' both gentle and assertive at the same time.

Mentorship sessions are recommended for children between the ages of 9-19 and are offered free of charge, though donations are always welcome. Participants should be referred by an adult who will meet with Stacy, either over the phone or in person, to determine the goals and needs of the child.

Dena Wood

Stacy Just smiles as she feeds the ranch horses: Red, Trigger, Sunny and Sampson.

Saturday's grand opening is a free, old-fashioned family-fun event and a great way to tour the ranch, meet the volunteers and learn about the program. Visitors will enjoy face painting, water balloons, hotdogs, sno-cones, carnival games and more.

In the interest of safety, there will be no riding at the grand opening.

Stacy says the ranch welcomes both donations and volunteers. Current needs include a shelter, which would allow the ranch to accept four more rescue horses, donations of hay (or money for hay), volunteers willing to bring a tractor to help develop pasture, and help around the facilities in general.

Those interested can learn more by attending the grand opening, visiting the ranch website at justanotherchanceranch.org or by calling Stacy Just at (509) 337-6056.