Steamboat Pilot & Today

During the first three years of the Humble Ranch benefit, organizers were able to raise about $8,000 to cover the operating costs involved with running an outdoor education and therapy center for children and adults with special needs. During the fourth year of the benefit, they added an element to the annual barbecue and trail ride -- the sale of original artwork. That helped them raise $25,000.

In 2004, the first year in which they involved an artist in the benefit, sculptor Jeff Wolf donated editioned bronze sculptures of a little girl hugging the neck of a horse. Attendees purchased 15 sculptures for $1,300 each.

This year, Steamboat artist Gregory Effinger and part-time Steamboat resident and ceramic artist Jody Elston will donate original artwork.

Elston is making a serving bowl and a pitcher following the horse theme of the benefit.

Effinger is donating four original watercolor images of Humble Ranch. The first is a painting of the pond at Humble Ranch. The second is of the ranch house with a view of the Mount Werner in the background. The third is a touching silhouette of a child in a wheelchair in the barn with a horse, and the fourth image is of the back of a horse with a saddle and the small, hanging legs of a child wearing pink tennis shoes.

Each will sell for $650 and is being painted one-time only as the "Humble Ranch Series." Effinger will paint each piece to order based on the four initial studies of the ranch. All proceeds will go to Humble Ranch.

Therapy at the ranch is done using horses and llamas. More than 50 people received services at the ranch last year, Executive Director Cheri Trousil said. "The kids don't even know they're getting therapy. It's fun for them, as if they were at summer camp." Humble Ranch works mostly with children, but their clients range from 3 to 50 years old. The benefit will be held during two days. Today, from 6 to 9 p.m., barbecue will be served at the ranch. Art will be for sale on the ranch porch. Randy Kelley and Jon Gibbs will play music.

On Saturday, hikers and runners will follow a seven-mile course over Emerald Mountain to Humble Ranch.

Their sponsorship money will benefit Humble Ranch. Those who would rather follow the trail on horseback will be offered the option of a short or long rides. Riders must bring horses.