Katie Aguilera

Alison Perry described the 19 acres of land situated between Bend and Redmond, Oregon, as a place of peace while leading a tour of Central Oregon Veterans Ranch on Friday, December 2, 2016. She said the ranch will help veterans find a sense of purpose and meaning, and it is designed to be a community for veterans, built by veterans.  Perry also described a desire to bring attention to the lack of services currently available for Central Oregon veterans in spite of the large number who live in the area.  She pointed out that veterans make up nine to ten percent of the Central Oregon population, numbering around 20,000.

Perry is the executive director of Central Oregon Veterans Ranch.  She has been working with veterans since 2003, including as a trauma therapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs.  As she spoke with the group of around twenty-five people gathered for the tour, Perry described a couple of cases she had dealt with that inspired her to found the ranch.  She talked about the efforts that have gone into creating this place of healing, and the plans for its success.  Her determination to help veterans, and her dedication to this project were very apparent as she described her work and the ranch.

The Central Oregon Veterans Ranch is a working ranch.  Currently it is home to numerous animals; chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, even mini donkeys.  The ranch plans to build a greenhouse for growing produce, and has received donations for this project from Central Oregon rotary groups.  Veterans can volunteer to help on the ranch, and Perry said just the day before the tour, 18 local veterans had come out to work, many of them dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Coming to the ranch, working on projects there, and helping with the animals, is therapeutic.  According to the ranch brochure, “studies and pilot programs prove that veterans engaged in farming and ranching and returning to meaningful forms of service succeed.  Combat veterans struggling to re-engage in their communities after returning from deployment become productive members of their community and beyond after participating in sustainable agriculture and ranching activities.”

The tour ended with a look at the bright and airy home that will soon be opened as an adult foster care facility serving up to four terminally ill or aged veterans.  The home has been recently remodeled, with money from a private grant, and much of the work has been done by veteran volunteers.  It has been furnished with money donated by the Central Oregon chapter of 100 Women Who Care. There are three bedrooms for the residents, with four beds covered with beautifully made, red, white, and blue quilts.  There is another space for a live-in residential assistant, who is already living at the ranch, and described the job as a dream job.

Priority will be given to Vietnam veterans suffering from Agent Orange related illnesses, according to Perry, and the cost of the service is based on a sliding scale which will allow the ranch to serve indigent veterans.  The home will provide “an environment that fosters dignity, improves quality of life, and provides specialized care for the unique needs of the Veteran population,” according to the ranch’s website.  Perry pointed out that there are no veterans’ specific senior care facilities currently in Central Oregon, and she said the facility intends to place a lot of focus on healing at end of life from PTSD.

The ranch is a beautiful place, with a stunning view of the Three Sisters and Broken Top. Perry said she has been told by volunteers that they feel a sense of peace as they cross the cattle guard at the entrance to the property, and she stated, “the property itself is an intervention.”  It is easy to see why it can bring peace and healing to anyone visiting or working there.

The Central Oregon Veterans Ranch continues to raise funds to grow the operation.  Currently they are inviting people to become a part of the First 100 Campaign by being one of the first 100 to make a donation of $1000.00 or more.  Those who do will have their name memorialized in a Peace Garden planned for the ranch.  Donations of any size are welcome, including donations of services, time, and goods, such as the coffee donated by Strictly Organic of Bend that was served during the tour.  Of course, there is also the weekly veterans volunteer day on Thursdays.  The ranch also invites anyone to tour the property.  More information can be obtained by calling 541-706-9062, and by visiting their website at www.centraloregonveteransranch.org.