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About the
Empire Ranch Foundation
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Who We Are
The Empire Ranch Foundation (ERF) is a non-profit volunteer organization
that was established in 1997. Acting in cooperation with the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), the purpose
of the Foundation is to protect, restore and sustain the Empire Ranch
historical buildings and landscape as an outstanding western heritage and
education center.
The Foundation partners with the BLM for many preservation and
education activities at Empire Ranch Headquarters, which are located
within Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. ERF activities are
further described below and on this website. For questions regarding
Foundation activities, phone 888-364-2829 or contact us.
For information regarding Las Cienegas NCA recreational use,
permits, rules and regulations, or events unrelated to the Empire Ranch
Foundation, consult the BLM's Las Cienegas website at www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/ncarea/lascienegas.html
, and for questions, contact the BLM Tucson Field Office at (520)
258-7200. For answers to commonly asked questions about public use
click the following link: LCNCA Public Use Information (.pdf).
Mailing Address & Phone
Empire Ranch Foundation, P.O. Box 842, Sonoita, AZ 84637 *
(888) 364-2829
Administrator
Christine Auerbach, email: admin@empireranchfoundation.org
Board of Directors
The Empire Ranch Foundation is managed by volunteers,
including the following individuals who currently serve on the Board
of Directors:
Ron Martin, President
Carla Kerekes Martin, Vice President
Peggy Theibert, Secretary
Faith Boice, Treasurer
Steve Boice
Steve "Bunker" de France
E.M. "Ed" Foster, Jr.
Emil Franzi
Lucinda Iverson
Karen Kamp
J. Jefrey Matthews
Bill Schock
David Steele
Timothy Vail
Judith Williams
David Yubeta
Membership, Funding, and Support
The Empire Ranch Foundation funds its projects through the support of
members, individuals and businesses, through public, corporate and foundation
contributions and grants, and through proceeds from special fundraising
activities.
Membership
It takes time, money and lots of effort to accomplish our mission.
You can help by becoming a part of the Empire Ranch Foundation.
Members and supporters receive our newsletter and other mailings and you
share a part in preserving history. Active volunteers get even more!
The Empire Ranch House was designated an Official
Project of the White House Save America's Treasures initiative in
1999, and was awarded a Millennium Grant for preservation work.
Successfully raising $95,000 in matching funds for the grant was a major Foundation
achievement in 1999-2000. Since then, along with member
support, significant partnership grants and cost-share grants from BLM, as
well as grants from private foundations, have been major sources of
funding.
Volunteer workers and donated supplies, equipment and
services are also extremely important to achieving our mission. Please
contact us.
Support the Empire Ranch
Foundation every time you search the Internet or make purchases online
from a wide variety of vendors. GoodSearch.com
is a Yahoo-powered search engine that donates half its advertising
revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate.
GoodShop.com is an online shopping mall which donates a percentage
of each purchase to your favorite cause!
Download the toolbar for GoodSearch and GoodShop at http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/empire-ranch-foundation
, and every time you search or make an online purchase ERF will
benefit.
Fundraisers, Community Events, Volunteer Days
Empire Ranch Foundation Docent Program
Are you interested in learning about the history of the Empire Ranch
and sharing your love of this historic place with visitors? Please
consider becoming an ERF docent! Docents are required to attend an initial
six-hour class at Empire Ranch Headquarters and a follow-up tour practice
session. After completion of training docents are asked to give a minimum
of two tours annually, including a general introduction to the history of
the Empire Ranch, its buildings and its people, and special tours at ERF
event such at the annual Roundup and Open House. To express interest or
learn more about the ERF docent program email: admin@empireranchfoundation.org
Preservation, Restoration and Reuse
Preservation of the Empire Ranch House and other buildings is a
primary mission of the Foundation. Major stabilization repairs
of the Ranch House and Stone Corral were completed in
2001/2002. Subsequent major projects have focused on
stabilization and repair of the ranch headquarters' historic Adobe Hay
Barn and Ranch Hand's House, the ranch house Victorian Addition's west
gable wall, the South Barn, Mechanic's Shed, and other buildings. Once stabilization is complete, plans
call for development of an interpretive historical house museum, a self-guided Heritage
Trail, and educational programs to augment classroom learning about the
natural and cultural history of the region.
Western Heritage and Education Center
The Empire Ranch Foundation addresses the western heritage
and education focus of our mission through sponsorship of an annual
Roundup and Open House for the general public at ranch headquarters; a
"Legacy Day" field day of on-site ranching education for local
middle school children; and "Wild About the Grasslands!",
outdoor camp education programs for youth, focused on ecology and conservation
stewardship.
The Empire Ranch is an official member site of the Hands on the Land (HOL)
program, a national network of field classrooms, connecting students,
teacher, and parents to their public lands and waterways. Click link
below to see the Empire Ranch Site Profile on the official HOL website:
A self-guided Heritage Discovery Trail is under
development at Ranch Headquarters. The first phase of the Heritage
Discovery Trail is a .5 mile hike through the cottonwoods and Empire Gulch
just north of the Empire Ranch House. Informative signs along the
way describe the history of the Hired Man's House and other sights.
Archives
The Foundation is actively gathering and organizing photos, oral
histories and other documents relating to the Empire Ranch.
Selected items or finding lists are being made available through this website.
Click link below for summary of oral interviews collected to date.
Also see Site
Map under heading Empire Ranch Information, for links to download
additional educational materials.
Newsletter
The Empire Ranch Foundation publishes a quarterly newsletter with further
information about the Empire Ranch, its colorful history and current
activities. Individual issues are available from this website (as .pdf
files; requires Adobe Reader).
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Empire Ranch Foundation | P.O. Box
842, Sonoita, AZ 85637 |
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