Indiana Sheriffs' Youth Ranch to close, be auctioned off

A ranch aimed at helping promote a career in law enforcement amongst youth that survived Covid-19 is shuttering its doors and is headed to the auction block. 

State budget cuts have brought about the end of the Indiana Sheriffs' Youth Ranch in Clay County. 

The Youth Ranch has served as the site of an academy for children, including those from Putnam County, who wished to pursue a career in law enforcement. 

In a release, Scott Minier, youth ranch executive director, said the closure can be traced back to budget cuts.

"State budget cuts have abruptly and prematurely ended a long term training and leasing agreement between the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana Sheriffs' Youth Ranch," Minier said. 

Since 2019, the retreat had been paid for by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. According to documents, the lease with IDHS was to have continued through 2029, however, a $48,000 shortfall was too much for volunteers and donors to raise.

Putnam County Sheriff Jarrod Baugh told The Putnam County Post the ranch helped serve Putnam County kids.

"We had some kids that would attend some of their events and our road crew would help with cleanup and yard work from time to time," Baugh said. 

According to a post on Facebook by Greg Clingan Auction & Real Estate, LLC, the youth ranch is set to go to the auction block on May 31. The post states 61.3 acres, a five bedroom lodge home with a two car attached garage, office building/home, two metal pole buildings, two new bunk homes, three ponds, woods, pasture and trails are on the property. In addition, accessories such as Polaris ATVs, kayaks, zero turn mowers, power tools, commercial kitchen equipment, gas grills and more will also be auctioned off.

"Our most important accomplishment was engaging more than 2,000 kindergarten through college Hoosier students each year in our day visits, overnights, weeklong leadership academies and special off-season events like our increasingly popular Sheriffs' Easter Egg Hunts, Sherriffs' Pumpkin Painting Parties and Sheriffs' Breakfasts with Santa where law enforcement was able to bond with at risk kids like never before," Minier said.