When the community found someone was living out at the previously abandoned homestead, they started popping in to say hello and see if we needed help with anything. With neighbors help we soon had water running. We were given a few chickens to lay eggs. We had moved with our rabbits and they served as income from sales of bunnies as well as a food supply. A farmer cut us a deal on some feeder pigs, and we were well on our way to be as self sufficient as possible.
We bred and raised our own livestock and showed them extensively in 4H at both local and state levels.
With our livestock though, came the castaways. Some stayed on our farm, but many were found new homes. Word gets around that so and so will take a 3 legged cat or a blind horse, and as it did, our farm grew. We quietly worked and built, finding homes for literally thousands of nameless creatures that had been thrown away. Some scoffed and said we couldn't make it. Everytime we got ahead we had to face more adversity- from burglaries, fires, to Mom's breast cancer and Carrie's chronic Lyme syndrom and then a rare and deadly cancer, our little family has survived and we will continue.
Where did we get the name for our ranch is the most common question asked! Seems everyone has a different idea. Ever watch the movie Casper? You'll recognize Whipstaff Manor, the derelict haunted house. Our home was certainly derelict, and certainly haunted. It just fit! Later we learned that a whipstaff is a long pole connecting the rudder to the steering wheel in a deep hulled pirate ship. This also fit our ranch, as we aim to be a tool to turn people's thinking and they way they treat their animals- not as garbage to be thrown away, but as cherished family members. Remember- Pirates are freedom fighters, not criminals.
In essence- WhipStaff Ranch was founded by those escaping abuse, and we are dedicated to stopping it where we see it- weather human or animal- and educating people on a better way of living. When we look back 18 years we could never imagine how rich our lives were and how wonderful community and family can be. To everyone that gave us a hand up, not a hand out- we thank you. Without our mentors we would never have learned half as much as we know now.
We will continue to operate until there are no more animals who need our help. We are in it for the long haul.
The ranch will survive any adversity thrown its way. Thats a promise!