BRAZIL– Scott Minier, executive director of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch, confirmed today that he will step down before the year’s end.
“I may remain associated with ISYR as a grant writer or special events coordinator depending on the future of the Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch and if I feel my continued help would be needed and valued,” he said.
Minier was named executive director in 2019 after serving more than a year as interim director. He was deputy director throughout the organization’s creation in 2016 and 2017.
During Minier’s time with ISYR, the training retreat saw much teamwork and progress:
- The purchasing of the 62-acre rolling, wooded property in Indiana’s Clay County between Greencastle and Terre Haute;
- Repurposing of an on-site former veterinary clinic into a world-class canine academy and its lease to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security;
- Demolishing of unsafe and unwanted structures across the property, including an old horse stable, farrow building, dairy barn, and cinderblock shop;
- Remodeling of the existing five-bedroom home into a lodge and conference center for accommodations, meetings and special events;
- Establishing forest and lake management programs to include testing, treating and stocking ISYR’s three semi-private lakes; Expansion of walking trails and creation of new privacy tree lines beneficial to neighbors;
- Adding three new boat ramps, three docks, and a floating lifeguard station;
- Creating the AT&T Sheriffs’ Reward Retreats for underserved, underrepresented youth who display good discipline and academic excellence;
- Beginning ISYR’s weeklong Sheriff & Police Cadet Academy for future law enforcement officers;
- Hosting well-attended off-season family events like ISYR’s annual Easter Egg Hunts, Sheriffs’ Pumpkin Painting Parties, and Sheriffs’ Breakfasts With Santa;
- Forging partnerships benefitting students from dozens of Indiana schools and six universities across Indiana and eastern Illinois;
- Converting a garage into an insulated, climate-controlled 10-student bunkroom;
- Building two 10-student, 2-chaperone year-round cabins and beginning two others;
- Running electricity, water, and sewer throughout the property; and
- Finalizing architectural plans and breaking ground on an interdenominational peace chapel.
“Each year, our Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch has engaged about 2,000 young people. Despite the pandemic–which for two years prevented us from hosting student events, fundraisers, and meetings with major donors–ISYR leaders continued their bold journey,” Minier said.
“Everyday pioneers and heroes saw the need for deputies and police officers to mentor future law enforcement, bond with at-risk kids, and comfort young witnesses and victims of crime. A few businesses and unions stepped up; a couple dozen visionary sheriffs offered their limited time and commissary dollars. No one helped more than the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 157, the Indiana Department of Correction, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and their inmate workers,” he recalled.
“Our goal was that no parent would ever be charged fees for their son’s or daughter’s needed lodging, food, training, recreation, clothing, or toiletries at our Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch. No tax dollars were ever used for our fun yet impactful youth programming or events,” he said. “For the most part, ISYR was purchased and operated by good-hearted Hoosier families who gave $5 here, $10 there, and hundreds of volunteer hours. So, I will step down with great pride that our Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch rightly belonged to the parents, grandparents, and kids of Indiana.”
