Sheriff’s Youth Ranch director plans to step down by year’s end

The Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch has announced Scott Minier, its executive director, 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 in a news release.

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 his time with ISYR, the training retreat saw teamwork and progress, including:

• 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;

• 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;

• Building two 10-student, 2-chaperone year-round cabins and beginning two others;

• Finalizing architectural plans and breaking ground on an interdenominational 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.

Minier thanked businesses and unions that stepped up, as well about two dozen visionary sheriffs who offered their 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 said.

No dollars tax were ever used, he noted. “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.”