Yellowstone BGR Celebrates 50 Years

When Franklin Robbie visited the state industrial school and saw that young juvenile delinquent boys were housed with older criminals, he determined an option needed to be created. Yellowstone Boys Ranch began in 1957 as a place for juvenile delinquent boys as young as 10 years old to stay. The goal was to help them find a new direction and prevent them from becoming hardened criminals.

Since the ranch began, over 5,000 children have called Yellowstone their home. What was once a farm west of Billings, is now an accredited, licensed, multi-services agency providing psychiatric care for emotionally disturbed youth in therapeutic family care, case management, in-school and in-home mental health services, community homes and independent living in additional to residential treatment.

Over the June 22-24th weekend, six-hundred people gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ranch. For many who once lived and worked on the campus, it was like a big family reunion. Russ White, a retired police officer, who lived at the ranch in the early 1960's said,

"If it wouldn't have been for Yellowstone back then, I don't know where I would have been today… I truly believe I would have ended up in jail somewhere because I was a pretty violent kid."

"Reminiscing and sharing life stories with former boys that I grew up with in the 50's and 60's was a blessing and encouragement," recalled the current CEO of the ranch, Glenn McFarlane. McFarlane lived on the campus with his parents, who were employees of the ranch when he was a child. "Each of us recalled relationships and lessons that turned out to be a positive influence that helped us make right decisions when faced with the important decisions in life."