"The staff at the Dunrovin Ranch is dedicated to my safety and comfort."
Dana Klinkhart, Anchorage Alaska

Jamie has an extensive background working with children of all ages. It’s hard to say when it all started. As one of the oldest children in a family of six children, the responsibility of caring for the younger ones often fell on her. She volunteered in her family’s church’s nursery, had multiple babysitting jobs, volunteered as a YMCA soccer coach, and then took a ‘job’ as a Junior Camp Counselor for the Missoula YMCA earning $50 a week. It was this ‘job’ that began to shape the events in Jamie’s life that would bring her to Dunrovin Ranch.

Jamie worked for the YMCA for two summers (one as a junior camp counselor, and one as a camp counselor) before heading off to Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. While in school at WWU she volunteered with an organization, Animals as Natural Therapy (ANT), using animals, mainly horses, to help at risk people. Her experience at ANT, working with horses as therapy animals strengthened her already strong relationship with horses that she had developed since childhood with the family’s own horses. Jamie was riding before she was walking.

As Jamie neared completion of her degree, she was asked by the family “what exactly are you going to do with your Recreation degree?” She began to dream about one day owning her own business. A community oriented place, where people could learn about cultures and the environment through experiential learning; a place with an organic garden and lots of animals that could be used for programs and/or to demonstrate where our food comes from.

Jamie obtained her degree, through much of her own experiential learning, and returned to Missoula to be closer to family and back in the town she loves. It wasn’t long after returning that she landed, what she thought, was the job for her at the YMCA. Running the very summer camp that started her desire to get a recreation management degree and working for an organization that was close to her heart. Only 6 months into the job and she got laid-off.

As they say, where one door closes another opens.  This is when Jamie found Dunrovin Ranch.  Dunrovin has many of the components that her dream business would have.  She is a perfect fits for Dunrovin. She strengthened existing children’s programs as well as creating new ones; she is around animals all day that keep her outside for much, if not all, of the day; she enjoys the wide variety of tasks that her work entails; and she now has a large group of fans among all the kids who love to spend time with her at Dunrovin. 

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Sally Suk came to Dunrovin by way of Montana Public Radio (MPR). While pondering how she could get horses in her life, Sally heard an announcement for a horseback ride during an annual pledge drive for the station. The ride was with Dunrovin Ranch and, as they say, the rest is history.

Little did Sally know that this would be the start of a long and gratifying association with some of the finest horses and people in the State of Montana. Sally grew up in Minnesota and spent her childhood years dreaming of and yearning for a horse. She read all the horse books she could get her hands on and trained the family dog to pull a cart and jump over obstacles, but she never did get a horse of her own.

Then came college and marriage and she put aside her childhood dream. Soon after marrying, Sally and her husband left Minnesota for career opportunities out west. She found career employment with the Forest Service as an Information Technology Specialist, performing system administration work on servers in Idaho and Montana. She recently retired after 30 years of service to the federal government.

Sally used to be a well-rounded person who enjoyed several hobbies and social outlets. But since discovering Dunrovin Ranch, she has become head-over-heels obsessed with anything relating to horses. She works very hard to learn all she can about horses, horse care, and improving her horsemanship skills. She has been a part of several Dunrovin expeditions and backcountry adventures. Now she’s turned her service-oriented personality to Dunrovin Ranch. She has become a skilled horsewoman and guide. We welcome Sally’s positive attitude, her willingness to work, and her desire to make sure everyone has fun!!

Recently, Sally finally realized her long held childhood dream of owning a horse. She purchased Echo as a yearling and has spent the last couple of years training Echo. Sally can be very proud of the great trail horse that Echo is becoming under her guidance. They have formed a wonderful partnership.

 

 

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