HR156INTRODUCED
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HR156
ZMILRRK-1
By Representatives Stadthagen, Moore (M), Moore (P), Wood (D),
Wood (R), Almond, Baker, Bedsole, Blackshear, Bolton, Boyd,
Bracy, Brinyark, Brown, Butler, Carns, Chestnut, Clarke,
Clouse, Collins, Colvin, Crawford, Daniels, Drummond, DuBose,
Easterbrook, Ellis, England, Ensler, Estes, Faulkner, Fidler,
Fincher, Forte, Garrett, Gidley, Givan, Givens, Gray, Hall,
Hammett, Harbison, Harrison, Hassell, Hendrix, Hill,
Holk-Jones, Hollis, Hulsey, Hurst, Ingram, Jackson, Jones,
Kiel, Kirkland, Lamb, Lands, Lawrence, Ledbetter, Lee,
Lipscomb, Lomax, Lovvorn, Marques, McCampbell, McClammy,
Mooney, Morris, Oliver, Paramore, Paschal, Pettus, Pringle,
Rafferty, Rehm, Reynolds, Rigsby, Robbins, Robertson, Sellers,
Sells, Shaver, Shaw, Shedd, Shirey, Simpson, Smith, Sorrells,
Standridge, Starnes, Stringer, Stubbs, Tillman, Travis,
Treadaway, Underwood, Wadsworth, Warren, Whitt, Whorton,
Wilcox, Woods, Yarbrough
RFD:
First Read: 04-Apr-24
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First Read: 04-Apr-24
HR____ CONGRATULATING AND COMMENDING BIG OAK RANCH FOR 50
YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CHILDREN AND STATE OF ALABAMA.
WHEREAS, Big Oak Ranch was founded in 1974 by John
Croyle to meet the needs of abused, neglected, and abandoned
children by giving them a solid, Christian home and a chance
to realize and fulfill God's plan for their lives; and
WHEREAS, in the past 50 years, Big Oak Ranch has been
called to meet the needs of more than 2,000 children; they
have grown from a single farmhouse that served five boys
into seven ministry teams dedicated to continually improving
the standard of care for children who need a chance, and
they have advanced the mission of loving, long-term,
Christian homes nationwide; and
WHEREAS, the children who call Big Oak Ranch home
come from various backgrounds and unique circumstances;
while the children are all different, they all have
heartbreak and difficulty in common; most have never known
the stability of a true home and most were never given
unconditional love; the lives of these children were too
often filled with fear, pain, and uncertainty; and
WHEREAS, four promises are made to every child who
comes to Big Oak Ranch: We love you; We will never lie to
you; We will stick with you until you are grown; There are
boundaries; in those four promises, each child finds love
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boundaries; in those four promises, each child finds love
and emotional support; they find truth and honesty; they
find security; and they find discipline; and overwhelmingly,
they find hope and the chance to discover God's true purpose
for their lives; and
WHEREAS, when children arrive at the Ranch, they are
assigned to full-time houseparents and move into a home with
their own bedroom; they receive food, clothing, health care,
dental care, and attend a private Christian school in
Rainbow City; and
WHEREAS, fifty years after John Croyle founded Big
Oak Ranch, it is run by Brodie Croyle, John Croyle's son,
and his wife, Kelli; it operates completely debt-free
without taking funds from any government entity; and
WHEREAS, the Ranch operates a cattle program, Big Oak
Cattle, that stocks the Ranch with over 15,000 pounds of red
meat every year and runs ASCEND, a program to prepare young
adults who grew up at Big Oak Ranch for the real world; and
WHEREAS, Big Oak Ranch now has 13 homes for boys and
11 homes for girls and last year served children in 10
different states; among the children served over the past
five years, over 100 have professed their faith in Christ;
furthermore, in the 2021-2022 school year, 99 children
finished on the A/B honor roll, and 13 young adults received
college or trade education; and
WHEREAS, every day for 50 years, Big Oak Ranch has
worked diligently to meet the needs of many voiceless
children as it continues to grow and expand its services in
a community committed to God's design; now therefore
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a community committed to God's design; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, That Big Oak Ranch is recognized and
commended for 50 years of dedicated and continued service to
the State of Alabama and specifically to children in need of
love, security, safety, and hope; this resolution is offered
in highest tribute, along with sincere best wishes for
continued blessings and success in all future endeavors.
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