Recently the Ranch was literally making hay when the sun shines thanks to a grant it received last year for a new Kubota hay baler and other equipment.

“We want to be able to operate the Ranch in sustainable ways to ensure that we continue to serve veterans and our families and friends in the community whose support has been so vital to our success so far,” says Mary Deas, general manager of Range Ranch.

Located at 9055 Fredonia Stockton Road, the 150-acre site is owned by Deas’ sons, Ryan, a graduate of St. Francis High School and a retired Marine Corps veteran, and Markus, a Fredonia high school grad and pilot with Breeze Airlines, along with Col. Robert Moore, who is active in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Ryan Deas met Moore while in the Marine Corps in Virginia where they discussed their interests in ranching and serving veterans. Robert had visited Fredonia, and when the property became available in 2023, they bought it and launched Range Ranch, which also features the Not-for-Profit Ranchin for Veterans Inc.

Working in partnership with The National Equine Institute of Growth Through Healing, Inc. (NEIGH), a Not-for-Profit based in Bemus Point, NEIGH delivered equine therapy to some 200 veterans last year and has been operating out of the for-profit Range Ranch since last November.

“The Veterans One-Stop, Cassadaga Job Corps, and BOCES P-TECH program are a few groups that we have been fortunate to offer programs to this year at Range Ranch,” says Taylor Samuelson, executive director of NEIGH. “We also utilize our mobile unit to educate the community on the healing power of horses and raise awareness for suicide prevention, often visiting campuses such as SUNY Fredonia, University at Buffalo, and Daemen University.”

With referrals from the Veterans Administration in Buffalo and elsewhere, NEIGH offers on-site and mobile programs to help individuals deal with stress and has developed a unique program for groups including therapists interested in training certifications in equine therapy.

Recently, a diverse group of individuals — from veterans and corrections officers to social workers and certified alcohol and substance abuse counselors – from across New York state, Nebraska, Colorado and Connecticut — participated in a three-day “Emotional Coat” training program developed by

NEIGH Founder Dawn Samuelson who has been doing this work for many years and created the training based on her own experiences overcoming trauma with the use of horses.

Equine-assisted services are growing in awareness because of their high effectiveness for anyone struggling with Post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. Suicide prevention is at the heart of NEIGH’s work as NEIGH was established as a way of honoring Dawn’s sister, Constance Davenport, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who died by suicide at age 25.

“We provide our services at no cost to veterans, first responders, and youth and rely on grants and donations from the community to be able to meet that goal,” Samuelson says.

Eight horses, some of which are retired show horses, and two miniature horses have found a home on the range where the goats and a few cattle play. Dedicated family, friends and volunteers help support and maintain this beautiful and tranquil venue with a rich agricultural heritage that Range Ranch hopes to honor with its new mission for future generations.

“Our goal is to be stewards of God’s land,” comments Col. Moore whose attention has expanded from concern with national security to food security. “We want to keep this place beautiful and natural while serving our community for years to come. The community here is amazing. Everybody works together. It’s one of the hidden secrets tucked in a hillside.”