Porter speaks to Masonic Lodge about Magnolia Ranch

Luke Porter, president of the board of directors for Magnolia Ranch in Fayette, spoke to the members of Charles Baskerville Masonic Lodge 281 before their November meeting. Porter shared with the Lodge the news about acquiring the Timber Valley Lodge property from David and Ellen Mays, emphasizing that the purchase was possible thanks to the generous donation and reasonable purchase offer provided by the Mays.

Magnolia Ranch is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, created to address the need for foster children's homes in the area. Its board of directors includes Luke Porter as president, Amanda Porter, Rick McCabe, August Junkin, Kerry Kerr, and Myra Rainey.

Porter explained that he and his wife have served as foster parents and witnessed firsthand the strong need for more opportunities to help foster children. This inspired them to establish a series of foster homes and found Magnolia Ranch.

Magnolia Ranch is modeled after Big Oaks Ranch, which was founded by John Croyle in 1974. Croyle, a former All-American defensive lineman who played for Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant in the early 1970s, decided to forgo his NFL career to build a ranch for neglected and abused children after a brief talk with Bryant. For more than 51 years, Big Oaks Ranch has helped over 2,000 children to grow up in a safe and loving Christian environment.

Big Oaks Ranch has now started a program called "Planting Oaks," and Porter said Magnolia Ranch is partnering with Big Oaks Ranch through this initiative.

Porter revealed that plans are underway to build about 10 foster homes on the Timber Valley property over the next few years, each home accommodating four to five children with live-in foster parents to nurture and care for them. He expressed his hopes that Magnolia Ranch will become a blessing to children who need a safe, compassionate, and loving environment.

At the end of Porter's talk, Charles Baskerville Masonic Lodge 281 presented him with a $3,000 donation for Magnolia Ranch. Porter thanked the members for their generosity, stating that the donation will help pay for the recently acquired property.