Ranch Staff
Ranch Director
Anita Flora
Why you feel called to the ranch? I was at the county library one day looking for any book that had to do with horses that might be interesting. As my fingers ran along the stacks of books I finally came upon one that caught my eye. It wasn’t the title that struck me so much as the subtitle. It read, "The Ranch of Rescued Dreams". Intrigued, I picked it up thinking it was just a collection of horse tales. To my surprise it was anything but a bunch of fictional stories! It was a compilation of actual accounts from a real place, Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Oregon. A funny thing happened when I began reading the accounts in this book. Over and over I found myself connecting to each character whose life was affected by the friendship of a horse. In a way I was reading my own story!
I am a girl whose life was changed by the Lord through horses. He gave me love, hope, and dreams through one of the closest friends I had, a horse named Trigger. Trigger had made a long journey from southern California to be delivered to a horse trader who was going to send him to the slaughter. However, the horse trader found that Trigger still had plenty of potential and decided to sell him. Through a series of events he found his way into our family and my life began to change.
Considered a "flea-bitten gray", Trig was a gray Arabian with little brown spots. He was very small in stature, but what he lacked in size he made up for in spirit and desire to please. Little did either of us know what lay ahead for a 12 year old girl and a horse given a second chance at life. We learned together for the next 17 years... trials, pain, scars on both of us, landing in the dirt on multiple occasions, great victory, joy and suffering! Our saying became a quote well known in the horse world, “Riding ~the art of keeping the horse between you and the ground." I know now that the Lord led us both to each other for His good purposes. On the back of Trigger I experienced refuge and safety. It was on the back of a horse that Jesus met my hurts and uncertainties and began to show His love to me.
Today, I am humbled by the opportunity to work with families and horses at Flying T Youth Ranch. I am excited to witness the Lord’s healing hand on others through horses as He did with Trigger and I 18 years ago.
What you love to eat? Goldfish crackers (you have to bite them length ways)! Chips & Salsa.
What do you enjoy in life? Riding, reading, laughing, skiing, and talking with friends.
Whats a unique or funny fact about yourself? I was a clown! An actual white-faced, purpled haired clown named “Pixie.”
Session Leaders
Erin Kannel
Why you feel called to the ranch? The Ranch is such a special place; I feel like the Lord has led me here to contribute in anyway I can. I'm very excited to spend time with the horses and get to know the kids. I love being outdoors and to have the opportunity to share my passion for God’s creation with a child is why I have been let here.
What you do on the ranch on a regular basis? I help with basic ranch chores, feeding, grooming, etc. I also lead sessions and play the part of greeter.
What you love to eat? I love to eat delicious foods! And I'm not picky. My favorite’s foods are anything home cooked and/or baked, broiled, fried, or mashed with love.
What do you enjoy in life? I love spending time outdoors, camping, hunting and hiking. I also enjoy singing and many other types of art. In my free time I love a good book and a cup of tea. I like to travel, but my favorite place to go is back home to Valley Springs to spend time with my family. My Mom and I love to talk over coffee and go on trail rides. My sister and I snowboard and ride horses together, my brother and I both enjoy hunting with my Dad and making the occasional trip to Taco Bell. My Dad and I both love sports and as a family we all play flag football.
Whats a unique or funny fact about yourself? One of my favorite foods is popcorn...with milk. It sounds gross, but it's not!
Why you feel called to the ranch? The Ranch is such a special place; I feel like the Lord has led me here to contribute in anyway I can. I'm very excited to spend time with the horses and get to know the kids. I love being outdoors and to have the opportunity to share my passion for God’s creation with a child is why I have been let here.
What you do on the ranch on a regular basis? I help with basic ranch chores, feeding, grooming, etc. I also lead sessions and play the part of greeter.
What you love to eat? I love to eat delicious foods! And I'm not picky. My favorite’s foods are anything home cooked and/or baked, broiled, fried, or mashed with love.
What do you enjoy in life? I love spending time outdoors, camping, hunting and hiking. I also enjoy singing and many other types of art. In my free time I love a good book and a cup of tea. I like to travel, but my favorite place to go is back home to Valley Springs to spend time with my family. My Mom and I love to talk over coffee and go on trail rides. My sister and I snowboard and ride horses together, my brother and I both enjoy hunting with my Dad and making the occasional trip to Taco Bell. My Dad and I both love sports and as a family we all play flag football.
Whats a unique or funny fact about yourself? One of my favorite foods is popcorn...with milk. It sounds gross, but it's not!