For one of our sessions, we did a blindfolded activity with the horses. I was paired with one of my friends I had known for a while but wasn’t super close to. Of course, there was a twist to the activity, and being the blindfolded one, I started to get pretty anxious and confused. My friend, instead of telling me to push through and continue the activity, had us both stop and do some breathing together with our horse. It was a simple moment, but I feel like I learned a lot about my friend, and how much she cared. We went on to continue the activity and come up with a solution for our whole group. In that moment, not only did I feel seen and loved, but I learned the importance of just pausing, taking a breath, and reconnecting with God."
-17 year old participant
"The most impactful part of this season for me was a particular session where we really got into deep conversation and it helped us build a closer and stronger relationship with God and our fellow Junior Ranchers. One of the things God has shown me during this past season is the amazing different ways He can show us truths, whether it was through an activity with horses, or even with each other. Throughout each activity we did during the season I always felt that the Lord put a truth on my heart that I needed to hear, and it felt as if other people may have as well."
-15 year old participant
"The most impactful part of Junior Ranchers is getting to grow in confidence with the horses and also relationships with other Junior Volunteers. I've felt more at peace this year when I've been at the ranch, and have had a closer relationship with God because of it."
-13 year old participant
"I was able to use experiences [my daughter] had at the Junior Rancher nights to guide and direct her into healthier tongue and perspectives as well as help her to see that there's a big difference between people who intentionally try to hurt with their words vs an incident where the other person probably meant no harm.
With the following nights she was able to see and experience interactions with the other girls where she could learn and see that there's a difference between people who are mean spirited and moments of miscommunication. Junior Ranchers is helping her to learn how to work and communicate better.
Before, I would have treated her confidence level as very low and unstable. Today, I would say she has a much higher confidence level and her stability is more grounded on open-mindedness and she's more aware that perspectives can be open doors to ask more questions verses falling into cracks of miscommunication."
-Parent of Junior Rancher Participant
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