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MTCYR is unique in that we are a real working (with approximately 500 head) cattle ranch. Through the real work involved in ranching
we give each young man who comes to MTCYR the opportunity to learn new vocational skills such as driving tractors, irrigating fields, carpentry, mechanizing,
introduction to semi-driving, plant identification, animal husbandry, and all aspects of caring for beef cattle. Unlike other residential treatment programs for teens, we
integrate vocational skills training into every area of the struggling teens life. The MTCYR Program has a proven 81.3 percent change in most areas
of the at-risk teens behavior patterns. Many parents report that they see a major improvement in their son's respect for authority and in his respectful and
loving manner of relating with family members. This change is made possible through our Vocational Skills Traning Program. Each of the struggling troubled teens learn the
importance of respect, healthy communication, and learning to follow directions on the job. These skills along with a solid work ethic and honesty will equip the
young man for success in every area of his life.
At MTCYR, at-risk troubled teens learn animal husbandry (the practice of breeding and raising livestock) as part of ranch chores. Caring for the animals
on the ranch is the first step in helping the young man become less selfish, and enables him to put others first. This is an important job skill, and charachter trait
that is needed in the work place.
Seasonal chores consist of irrigating hay and grain fields, caring for the garden during the summer, and feeding cattle during the winter (the herd is on pasture
from spring to fall). Ranch work follows three overlapping paths: (1) routine chores that make the ranch yield its harvest, (2) raising the calves that are the ranch's
main cash crop and that provide consecutive seasonal work throughout the year, and (3) filling the rest of the time with work to improve conditions and ranch
productivity. Meat is plentiful from the beef the ranch produces. During the summer fresh produce is readily available from a garden planted and cared for by the
students. |
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