BondFire Ranch

05/31/2026

While today is the last day of the Horses for Mental Health Campaign, its not too late to support Samson's Strength Sustainable Veterans Project, Inc a 501-c3.

Please take some time to listen to this podcast and understand the goodness of their program and the difference it makes!

What if the thing you need to begin healing is to spend time with a...

05/30/2026

🔥 BondFire Ranch Weekly Update – 24–30 May 2026 🔥

This week at BondFire Ranch was filled with service, stewardship of the herd, new friendships, and meaningful conversations about how we can better serve Veterans, first responders, and their families across Alabama.

🇺🇸 Monday – Honoring Our Fallen Heroes

On Memorial Day, Brian had the privilege of assisting with the setup and ex*****on of the Chilton County Memorial Day Ceremony at the new courthouse. It was an honor to help recognize and remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our County and nation.

🐴 Tuesday – New Friends and Annual Herd Health Day

Tuesday brought the opportunity to welcome Rick and Sarah White to BondFire Ranch. As a couple who share our passion for horses and supporting Veterans, they toured the Ranch, met the herd, and discussed volunteer opportunities.

We are excited to welcome them to the BFR family and look forward to having them become part of the mission.

Also on Tuesday, we welcomed Dr. Jud Easterwood from the Easterwood Equine Hospital for the herd’s annual wellness visit. The horses received their annual examinations, vaccinations, and Coggins testing.

We’re happy to report that all seven members of the herd received a clean bill of health! We are grateful for Dr. Easterwood and his team’s continued care and support of our horses.

🐎 Friday – Lessons, Family Time, and New Connections

Friday was a busy and rewarding day across the Ranch.

Anne welcomed Jaz back for her second Heroes in the Saddle lesson. Jaz was also able to bring her sister, Somaya, who was visiting. It was wonderful to introduce Somaya to the Ranch and give her the opportunity to spend time around the horses, and experience the peaceful atmosphere that makes BondFire Ranch so special.

Later, Anne welcomed Amanda and her children, who spent time with Beautiful, grooming, bonding, and enjoying the unique connection that horses can provide.

🎓 Friday – Learning and Networking at the University of Alabama

While activities were taking place at the Ranch, Brian spent the day at the University of Alabama alongside Luke, David, Dessie, Shawn, Hailey, and Brian, learning more about BRAVO-Vets (Brain Injury Resource Facilitation And Veteran Outreach for Criminal-Justice-Involved Veterans) and COMPASS (Comprehensive Post-Acute Specialty Services).

The discussions focused on Veteran support programs, potential partnerships, collaboration opportunities within Alabama’s Veteran nonprofit community, and future grant opportunities that can help organizations expand their impact.

🤝 Building a Stronger Veteran Support Network

One theme that consistently emerges whenever BondFire has the opportunity to network with other organizations is the tremendous value of collaboration.

Whether we’re meeting with nonprofits, Veteran service organizations, community leaders, or state partners, we continually see opportunities to work together rather than independently. Every organization brings unique strengths, experiences, and resources to the table, and those collective efforts can have a much greater impact than any one organization working alone.

Brian has long believed there is a need for a grassroots forum where military, Veteran, first responder, and family-focused nonprofits from across Alabama can come together to share their missions, exchange ideas, learn from one another, and identify opportunities for partnership.

The challenges facing our communities are often complex and interconnected. By building stronger relationships and encouraging collaboration, we can better support those we serve while reducing duplication of effort and increasing overall impact throughout Alabama.

As BondFire Ranch continues to grow, we remain committed not only to our own programs but also to helping strengthen the broader network of organizations dedicated to serving military members, Veterans, first responders, and their families.

❤️🔥 Thank you for continuing to support BondFire Ranch as we care for our horses, serve those who have served, and remain committed to Warming the Heart of Families.

05/28/2026

Chilton County Veterans, pls be aware of the change of address!

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave everything in service to our nation.

At BondFire Ranch, Memorial Day is more than a holiday, it is a time to honor sacrifice, reflect on freedom, and remember the families forever changed by loss.

As a military and veteran-focused community, we understand that behind every fallen hero is a story, a family, and a legacy that deserves to be remembered. Around our fire ring, in our arena, and beside our pond, we carry those memories forward through connection, healing, and service to others.

Today we honor the fallen.
We remember their courage.
And we recommit ourselves to caring for those who continue to carry the weight of service. 🇺🇸

Please take a moment today to remember our heroes and the families who love them.

This song says it well: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FhWV2S8rM88&ra=m

This is a revised version of the original song. I wasn't completely...

05/23/2026

🔥 BondFire Ranch Weekly Update – 17–23 May 2026

This week at BondFire was a little quieter than recent weeks, but it still brought meaningful conversations, new connections, and recognition for the work being done here at the Ranch.

🤝 Building New Partnerships

This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Shirley Johnson, SGM, USA (Ret.), Founder, President, and CEO of SRTKA Enterprise Foundation Inc. (Start Rising Through Keen Alliances), along with members of her Board.

SRTKA is a new nonprofit organization focused on empowering women Veterans, and we appreciated the opportunity to share about BondFire Ranch, learn more about their mission, and discuss future partnership possibilities.

A special thank you to Deputy Commissioner Sandra Lucas from the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs for making the referral and continuing to help connect Veteran-serving organizations across Alabama.

To learn more about SRTKA Enterprise Foundation, visit:
🌐 www.srtkafoundation.org

🏅 2025 Safety Award Recognition

BondFire was also honored this week to receive a 2025 Safety Award from the North American Horsemen’s Association. This recognition reflects the continued effort, care, and attention that goes into maintaining a safe environment for our participants, volunteers, visitors, and herd.

Safety remains a critical part of everything we do from horse handling and riding instruction to facility maintenance and program operations, and we are grateful to everyone who helps make the Ranch a safe and welcoming place for our community.

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Even during quieter weeks, we are reminded that meaningful impact often comes through relationships, stewardship, and steady growth over time.

Thank you for continuing to support BondFire Ranch as we serve military members, Veterans, first responders, and families while remaining committed to Warming the Heart of Families. ❤️🔥

05/22/2026

05/20/2026

Here are Day - 2 photos, from Cowgirl Boot Camp.

05/20/2026

Chilton County Veterans and beyond, here is a great training and info opportunity to learn about farming from the Chilton County - Alabama Extension

Alabama Extension Training to Give Tools, Skills to Veterans Interested in Farming

AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — On May 28 and 29, Operation Grow will host an educational in-person Boot Camp for military veterans interested in starting a production agriculture business.

This two-day event will be held at the Chilton County Research and Extension Center in Clanton, Alabama, an outlying unit of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. The agenda includes a visit to Petals From the Past in Jemison, where participants can see regional fruit and ornamental plant varieties. See more at https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/alabama-extension-training-to-give-tools-skills-to-veterans-interested-in-farming/

05/19/2026

There’s something special that happens when women Veterans come together around horses, conversation, and community.

Over the past several weeks, we had the honor of hosting an all-female Veteran group from the Birmingham Vet Center for a two-part Cowgirl Boot Camp here at BondFire Ranch.

What made this experience even more meaningful was that the two program days were held three weeks apart, allowing time for reflection, growth, and deeper understanding between sessions. Participants were able to carry lessons learned at the ranch back into everyday life, then return to reconnect, share, and continue their journey together.

These incredible women shared their hearts, their stories, their struggles, and their strength with each other and with us. Through time with the herd, laughter around the ranch, and honest conversations, new connections were formed and burdens seemed just a little lighter.

Seeing the smiles, confidence, laughter, and joy at the end of each day was a powerful reminder that BondFire Ranch is making a difference for our military, veterans, first responders, and their families. Here are some Day -1 photos, stay tuned for Day - 2.

A special thank you to the Birmingham Vet Center team for being willing to do something different with their group and for continuing to seek meaningful ways to support the women they serve. We are grateful for your trust and partnership.
We also want to thank Alabama Veteran for sponsoring another Boot Camp and helping make these opportunities possible for our Veterans.

This is why we do what we do.

Connection. Healing. Community. Hope. ❤️🐴🔥

05/16/2026

🔥 BondFire Ranch Weekly Update – 10–16 May 2026

This week at BondFire Ranch was another reminder of the healing power of horses, community, and shared experiences. From caring for the herd to welcoming new Veterans into our programs, it was a week filled with growth, connection, and laughter.

Even more special, on 11 May, BondFire Ranch officially reached its 4-year anniversary. Looking back at where this journey started and seeing the impact being made today is both humbling and inspiring. This week especially reminded us that BondFire Ranch is on the right track and truly making a difference for our brothers and sisters-in-arms and their families.

As we close out our fourth year and look toward the future, we also recognize that continued growth and programming are only possible through the support of our community. If you believe in the mission of BondFire Ranch, we ask you to consider supporting us through:

* Individual donations
* Business sponsorships
* Program partnerships
* Volunteer support

Every contribution directly helps us care for the herd, maintain the Ranch, and continue providing programming for military members, Veterans, first responders, and their families. If you would like to support the mission or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to us at [email protected] or visit our website.

🐴 Monday – Herd Care Day

On Monday, Jodi, our farrier, came out to trim the herd and help ensure all seven horses continue to stay healthy, balanced, and comfortable. Regular hoof care is one of the many important parts of maintaining the wellbeing of the horses that serve alongside us every week.

🎥 Tuesday – Sharing the BondFire Story

On Tuesday, William returned to the Ranch to film my interview for our upcoming professional video project highlighting the goodness of BondFire Ranch and our programming.

We are incredibly grateful to Alabama Veteran and William for helping us tell the story of the Ranch, the herd, and the impact these programs have on military members, Veterans, first responders, and families across Alabama.

🐎 Thursday – Dawn Returns

On Thursday, we welcomed Dawn back for another lesson, continuing her journey of building confidence, communication, and connection through time with the horses. Every lesson continues to build upon the last, and it’s encouraging to watch participants grow more comfortable and connected in the arena.

🤠 Friday – Cowgirl Boot Camp Day 2

Friday was our Cowgirl Boot Camp Day 2, and it was truly an amazing experience filled with great energy, laughter, connection, and learning. It was wonderful to see the continued growth and camaraderie among the group as they deepened both their horsemanship skills and their connections with one another.

Programs like these continue to reinforce the importance of creating supportive spaces where Veterans can relax, reconnect, and simply enjoy time together.

🇺🇸 Saturday – Welcoming New Heroes in the Saddle Participants

On Saturday, we were excited to welcome two new Veterans, Jaz and Shane, into our Heroes in the Saddle program. We look forward to walking alongside them as they begin their journey with the horses and discover the confidence, trust, and healing that can come through these experiences.

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As we close out our fourth year and begin another chapter for BondFire Ranch, we remain grateful for every volunteer, supporter, partner, participant, and member of our BFR family who has helped make this mission possible.

Thank you for continuing to support BondFire Ranch as we care for our horses, serve those who have served, and remain committed to Warming the Heart of Families. ❤️🔥