The Vision Behind Heritage Ranch

Vicki & Wears Valley Counselor
Heritage Ranch is a vision Vicki Ellis has had since she was 14 years old and at 29 years is seeing become a reality. When Vicki was 14 years old she was babysitting for the Adams family during a trip to Tennessee. While in Tennessee, they stopped by the future home of Wears Valley Ranch, home for children, which was still under construction at the time. The Wood's, founders of Wears Valley Ranch, were old friends of the Adams and gave Vicki and the Adams family a tour of the facility under construction. As Vicki listened to their plans to build a home for abused and neglected children something in her heart began to stir. A victim of childhood abuse herself, Vicki had a special place in her heart for victims of abuse and felt called to do something to minister to that hurting population.

Ranch - Vision
Vicki interned at this Wears Valley Girl's Home
Five years later, during the summer of 1997, Vicki, a recent high school graduate, worked as a summer intern at Wears Valley Ranch. That summer her vision continued to expand as she worked at the Laurel Ridge Girl's House and saw the safe haven that Wears Valley provided for the children living there. While there, Vicki began forming plans for a ranch to be built one day in Baton Rouge that would serve the hurting population in her own home town.

Vicki & Board Chair, Princeton Bardwell, with Eagle Ranch Executive Director , Eddie Staub
In 2002, Vicki began attending the Master of Social Work program at Lousiana State University in an effort to become better equipped to begin this venture. During her schooling, Vicki compiled a comprehensive business plan, attended the Eagle Ranch Wings Seminar, attended grant writing seminars, incorporated, received 501 C3 tax-exempt status, had architectural plans drawn up, was donated office space, expanded the board of directors and received its first grant award.

Vicki with Life Skills Youth
Currently, Vicki and the Board of Directors are very excited about the progress that has been made and the direction God is moving them in. They have been providing their Heritage Ranch Life Skills Program at Valley Park Alternative School and West Feliciana Alternative School since January 2006 and have continued to build a solid administrative and financial foundation while looking to what the future holds for Heritage Ranch.

Heritage Ranch
Vicki Ellis, Chief & Mrs. Jeff LeDuff, and Princeton Bardwell
Heritage Ranch's goal is to buy or have donated a 100-acre piece of property in 2008 and begin the development of the Heritage Ranch property and facility. Upon constructing our long-term residential facility will serve youth 8-18 year olds in two family homes.

Vicki feels so privileged to have had the opportunity and calling to establish Heritage Ranch in her home community. She is confident that the youth and families who live at Heritage Ranch and receive their services will be changed profoundly and will affect the future generations of their family to live healthy and successful lives.