Program teaches rural living skills

Have you ever wanted to learn to make your own soap? Or how to drive a tractor? How about harnessing the sun by making a solar system for your trailer or RV?

These and a multitude of other classes are offered by the School of Ranch (SoR), the brainchild of Mark Gross who came from the tech sector in California to Redmond in July 2020, moving to Terrebonne two years ago where he enjoys a "national park view" and welcome silence. When needing to learn skills such as cutting down a tree, Gross recruited Kaleb Watson through Craigslist, as a "man of the land" to help him. After the tree was handled, together they developed the School of Ranch, with the mission of teaching subjects on rural living in Central Oregon. Watson has since moved to Arizona and has a branch of SoR there.

Photo provided

School of Ranch creates whimsical graphics for its program encouraging learning of rural living skills.

SoR aims to bring people together around common interests, including potlucks and time to share stories, thus creating new relationships. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that pays for itself through class fees, grants, fundraising, and donations. Classes are taught by Central Oregon citizens skilled in a variety of subjects. In 2024, SoR workshops were attended by 1,791 people, an 80 percent increase over 2023.

According to Gross, high school students serve as paid interns who are responsible for SoR marketing materials, publishing, and registration. Tasks are posted to an internal online board, and they take the ones they want, working when and where they want. They train each other, check each other's work, and write the SoR operations manuals. They have real responsibility, real accountability, and earn $20 an hour. For every 60 hours they work, they earn one-half elective credit toward their high school diploma.

A sampling of workshops coming up this winter includes a beginner-friendly workshop in Sisters to help participants learn the essentials of woodcarving, traditional soap making in Redmond, transforming seasonal local fresh foods into delicious, nutritious dishes, and raising chickens.

SoR also offers a large selection of on demand workshops. When five people pre-register for a specific workshop, it will be added to the schedule with a determined meeting time. Examples include intro to safe and skilled tractor driving, practical carpentry for ranch and farm, motor maintenance and repair for women, handyman basics, and goat cheesemaking. Workshops are held throughout Sisters, Redmond, Bend, and Tumalo.

One of the SoR members suggested their horse program include a horse-focused book and video club, to meet monthly starting in January. The club is free to join, but registration is required.

On January 24, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Redmond, Equine Game Night – Trivia will provide an evening of fun, a community potluck, and friendly competition with cash prizes, all while supporting SoR programs. Registration is required.

A newer program being offered is SoR Extend, which matches skilled senior mentor volunteers with people who will help with chores while learning skills from the mentor. Retired nurse Carol Fox raises goats for fun. She wanted a volunteer interested in learning goat husbandry in exchange for help. SoR Extend matched her with Melissa Dugan, a hobby farmer interested in goats and willing to help in exchange for learning.

According to their website, SoR Extend's purpose is to extend the time our seniors can do what they love, where they love. They enable people to extend a helping hand. They extend the tradition that Central Oregon is a community rooted to its land and its people.

For more information about School of Ranch, and to register for any events and workshops, go to their website at https://schoolofranch.org and choose from the drop-down menu. Annual memberships are available for $100, entitling members to reduced workshop fees.