Beebe Hall opens at Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches with ribbon-cutting ceremony

Above: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe speaks at last week’s opening of Beebe Hall at the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches

The Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 13 to mark the official opening of Beebe Hall at the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches (ASYR), a new residential facility named in honor of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe.

Beebe Hall recognizes Beebe’s more than three decades of volunteer service and advocacy for ASYR, which has provided homes and support for vulnerable children across the state since 1976.

Nancy Fulton, CEO of Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches, welcomed attendees and credited the project’s success to the support of builders, contractors, donors, staff, and the fundraising committee, led by ASYR Board President Ray Dillon.

“Ray Dillon took this on so we could expand our mission, which is why we come to work every day,” Fulton said. “We know the children are why we are here, and Ray didn’t hesitate to make this a reality.”

Dillon praised supporters for raising more than $1 million toward the project.

“I want to thank all our donors for raising over a million dollars and believing in the Ranch and its mission,” he said. “It is in this spirit that we honor and recognize one of our most loyal and dedicated volunteers, Governor Mike Beebe, for over 30 years of timeless support of the ranch.”

Fulton added that naming the building after Beebe required some convincing.

“I want to thank Governor Beebe, the humblest man, and we had to talk him into letting us name the home after him,” she said. “The story goes that when he became governor, he had to give up all his volunteer work except for the youth ranch, and for that, we wanted to honor him.”

Beebe, who grew up in Amagon, Ark., shared personal reflections during the ceremony, linking his childhood to the children the Ranch serves.

“I was the kind of kid, I think, to a large degree, represented by some of the kids growing up here,” Beebe said. “They have hope and a light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the house parents and programs here that provide so many opportunities from people who believe in them, who believe in helping kids.”

“This is a great day for the youth ranch as we cut the ribbon on Beebe Hall and move more ranchers and kids into a new home,” Dillon added.

ASYR, established by Arkansas sheriffs nearly five decades ago, provides residential care for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Its mission is to prevent child abuse by offering safe, healthy, and permanent homes.

“We all have the opportunity to pass on to others our own fortune and pay it forward, because what you do can make a difference,” Beebe said in closing.

Chamber ambassadors in attendance include: Aaron Herndon (Citizens Bank), Amy Crouch-Howard (Weichert, Realtors – The Property Shoppe), Andrea Bruner (Network of Community Options), Brenda Rivera (First Community Bank), Ashley Davis (Citizens Bank), Cassidy Mitchell (Lyon College), Chad Whiteaker (White River Now), Christina Watts (LaCroix Precision Optics), Eva Henriksen (Merchants & Planters Bank), Sarah Ring (Southern Bank), Sydney Wood (Main Street Batesville), and Tiffany Traw (UACCB).

For more information about Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches, contact Matt Cleveland at matt@youthranches.com or 501-940-3440.

Images provided by the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce