Batesville-Saturday, December 5th will mark the 24th year of the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches’ Country Christmas Craft Fair, held at the Ranches’ flagship campus near Batesville.  The fair is one of the most well-known activities sponsored by the Ranches which are in their 33rd year of providing permanent homes for children who have been abandoned, abused or neglected.  The Ranches presently have three residential campuses – one at Batesville, DeGray and Mulberry.  From the money generated at the craft fair, the children earn dollars for Christmas and the cottages earn funds for vacation or special events.
A non-profit organization, the Ranches are 90% privately funded by donors consisting of private citizens, businesses, and foundations.  With the philosophy that “It is easier to build a child than repair an adult,” the Ranches have been a home to over 900 children over the years and have touched the lives of thousands more through a varied array of outreach programs.
“The first Country Christmas was held in 1985 as an event to entice people to visit the campus located west of Batesville in the community of Bethesda,” says Diana Holland, who along with her daughter, Cindy Bunch, organize the fair each year.  “The fair was originally held inside the cottages, Christmas shoppers would wind around the campus from cottage to cottage.  As the years passed, crafters were invited to the fair and rented booth space in the cottages as well as booth space in large tents.
The fair soon outgrew the cottages and seven years ago the event was moved to our handicapped accessible Mabee Interactive Center at the administrative complex.  “Now shoppers can enjoy shopping out of the weather.  They can also enjoy our special Country Christmas foods served fresh from our kitchen.  We have lots of outdoor ambiance,” adds Holland.  “Our children have booths where they sell items they have handcrafted.  There are usually several crafters who prefer to set up outdoors each year.”
Another feature of the fair is a complimentary horse or mule-drawn wagon tour of the campus.
The fair opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m.  On display will be a wide variety of handmade crafts including woodwork, etched glass, wreaths, sweatshirts, dolls, teddy bears, candles, ceramics, wall hangings, bird houses, pillows, baskets, cookbooks, baked goods, candies, jewelry and lots more.
Christmas shopping takes energy and when hunger strikes, breakfast and lunch will be provided fresh from the Ranch kitchen.  The Ranch’s fresh cinnamon rolls will be available again this year.   At eleven, lunch including homemade chili, hot dogs, and nachos will be served.  Soft drinks, hot cocoa, and coffee are available all day.
Basket drawings will again be a feature of Country Christmas.  The baskets are available for viewing at the information booth and include items donated by participating crafters.  Tickets will be available the day of the fair or from vendors.
Everyone is invited to attend this fun-filled event.  Admission is free. For more information, contact the Ranch office at P. O. Box 3964, Batesville, AR 72503 or call (870) 793-6841, extension 2-1.
The Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch is located at 100 Saint Vincent Place about 11 miles west of Batesville.  From Central Avenue - Hwy 69, take Hwy 106 to Bethesda and turn south on Earnheart Road for three miles.  Watch for the signs to the Country Christmas Craft Fair.