What do 49 people, 23 cows, six pigs, a couple dozen chickens, several vagrant cats, eight horses, four donkeys, and six beloved canines have in common?

We all live at Down Home Ranch. When it's time to come home, we're already here!

It's now late winter at the Ranch.

Crisp chilly mornings alternate with sun-drenched afternoons under skies the color of the bluebonnets soon to appear. Ranchers walk to work in the mornings bundled up against the cold, and return in the evening in short sleeves.

Baby calves appear in the fields, warm and wet, their mothers welcoming them into the world with licks and caresses and the piglets squeal in delight at the sight of Ranchers bringing leftovers from a meal. The chickens busy themselves outside the garden, clucking and scratching in the grass for tasty morsels, as the Ranchers gather the winter crops.

It's a special time of year at Down Home Ranch, and it's time for you to come home!

Come see what we've been up to in the past year by joining our family (sorry, the critters won't be there but the rest of us will) for our Annual Golf and Gala weekend April 12th and 13th at the Avery Ranch Golf Course and the Bob Bullock State History Museum.

Yes, it's a fundraiser. Even with all our hard work we can't give our Ranchers the life they deserve without your help.

Golf Tournament, Friday, April 12th, 1:30 pm

Take off Friday afternoon, play beautiful Avery Ranch, enjoy a great round of golf with friends and support Down Home Ranch... We want 144 Golfers this year! Play in our 10th Annual Tournament for a chance to win a new 2013 Nissan Z Coupe 370Z. In conjunction with Charity Golf International, visit on the course with 3-Time RE/Max World Long Drive Finalist Josh Crews and make a donation to Down Home Ranch for an opportunity to win a three-day trip for two to Pebble Beach!

After the tournament, join us for fajitas, awards and prizes (including cash prizes for 1st 2nd and 3rd place). Registration opens at 11:30 am, along with box lunches and a shot gun start at 1:30 pm on Friday, April 12th.

Gala Evening, Saturday, April 13th, 6:00 pm

The Gala evening begins at 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 13th, when we begin serving the delicious catered buffet, and our favorite party band ever — The Sophisticates — fires up to get our Ranchers dancing, and if you came last year, you already know that auctioneer Andrew Bost keeps the mood lively and interesting all evening long. Here's a sneak peek at some of the items Andrew will be auctioning.

We guarantee that the Gala will be the most heartwarming, delightful, fun-filled event you'll attend this season. We mean it! We'll refund your ticket money the next day, no questions asked, if you don't agree. (But you have to agree to stay through the dance.)

So join us for the Golf and Gala. Be a part of our community for that special weekend.

Come on! Come home to Down Home Ranch!

Our sponsors are our partners. They make it possible to create enterprises that allow us to sustain ourselves, to welcome new Ranchers to our program, and to continue to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities for the next 20 years — and beyond!

If you would like to help change the way that people with disabilities work, learn and contribute to the community, consider becoming a Down Home Ranch sponsor. Give us a call at (888) 926-2253 or visit the Golf & Gala Sponsor page to learn more. Thank you.