Riding the Wings of a Dove All the
Way to Reality Ranch
By: CHIP BALLARD
Sun Correspondent
Duke Platt swept his arm out to indicate the 47 acres known as Reality Ranch that
lay two-and-one-half-miles east of Zolfo Springs, south of Highway 66.
Reality Ranch was born out of tragedy, but has become a symbol of joy and hope
to many of those to whom life has dealt a challenging hand.
According to Platt, who built the pole barn and helps with rodeos, "Reality Ranch
began as a vision Randy Johnson had. But God had a bigger vision than Randy ever
dreamed of. Now it has become all this."
Johnson started Reality Ranch on Mar. 23, 1998. By 1999, donations were
coming in and the ranch began to grow.
"It's about the kids," says Johnson. "But really it's about anyone else we can help,
too."
Johnson was born in Kissimmee in 1953 and raised in Avon Park by Christian
parents, James and Betty Johnson, who are active in all phases of Reality Ranch
activities. Randy became a Christian at age 12. He went to church regularly and
participated in sports and outdoor hobbies such as rodeos, baseball, hunting, fishing,
camping, breaking horses, and raising dogs. But when he graduated from high school in
1971, left home and took a job on a large ranch, he strayed from his Christian roots.
In August of 1975, Johnson went swimming with friends in Lake Isis in Avon
Park. Diving into shallow water, he broke his neck, rendering him a C-5 quadriplegic. He
was 21. He has been in a wheelchair ever since. But Johnson is confident he will walk
again and have full use of his arms and hands, through God's divine healing.
As Johnson lay in bed after X-rays, he overheard a doctor say, "This young man
will never walk again." Later, as they were drilling holes into his head to hold his broken
neck in traction, he realized he was dying. He says he cried out to God for forgiveness,
and a perfect peace such as he'd never known flooded his soul.
Suddenly he envisioned himself riding on the back of a great white dove, which
he later came to realize symbolized the Holy Spirit. He says he saw Jesus, waving. But
somehow he knew it wasn't his time to be with Jesus yet -he had work to do - and the
dove turned and began to fly back the way it had come. With a jolt, he found himself
once again in his body, paralyzed from the neck down, lying in the hospital bed.
Johnson recommitted his life to Christ and has been a full-time minister since
1980. On June 26, 1982, he was ordained.
In 1990 he became active once again in rodeo life though this time not as a
contestant, but by conducting Cowboy Church Services at Florida High School Rodeos,
Florida Junior Rodeos, and Kissimmee Silver Spurs Rodeo.
To Johnson, Reality Ranch is a blessing. A gift from God.
Thursday is "horse day" with therapeutic riding programs for the physically and
mentally challenged. Riding instructor Sissy Taylor is a professional, certified through
North American Riding for the Handicapped. Taylor's daughter, Jessica, has spent her
entire life in a wheelchair.
Taylor says, "Imagine watching your child exchange a wheelchair for a horse, like
I did, at Reality Ranch." Her success with her daughter inspired her to help other
handicapped children and Reality Ranch is where she puts her passion for horses and her
love for children to good use for the glory of God, with many volunteers by her side.
Every Thursday members of Hardee Association for Retarded Citizens (HARC)
come to Reality Ranch to participate in the riding program. Every other Thursday, girls
from Arcadia Gir~sAcademy, a IS-month program for at-risk girls, age 12- 18, come to
ride and do volunteer work.
"The Wauchula Kiwanis Club contributes to Reality Ranch and insures the
handicap riding program. Their assistance is invaluable in all phases of youth activities,"
says Johnson.
Johnson himself is often back in the saddle, thanks to a special therapeutic saddle
made for him by Florida High School Rodeo Association (FHSRA) and Florida Junior
Rodeo Association (FJRA) in 1994. Johnson keeps the saddle displayed in an old milking
parlor which has become a multi-purpose room used for creating projects, playing games
and making crafts. During youth camps, it is used as Cowboy Chapel.
Once a year Reality Ranch hosts the Florida Junior Rodeo, which draws more
than 200 kids who stay for three days.
"It's more than we can accommodate," Johnson says. "We put up some of the kids in our
bunkhouse, which holds sixteen. Some come with campers. Others stay in Hardee County
motels and still there is an overflow into motels as far away as Avon Park, Arcadia and
Sebring.
Reality Ranch's monthly rodeos will begin at 7 p.m. the second Friday in
September, and the second Saturday at 10 a.m. They go through March. Admission is
free.
The bleachers at the rodeo arena were donated by Neil Ellis of Plant City. They
were dismantled and hauled to Reality Ranch by volunteers.
Tropical Farms has been heavily involved in numerous projects, and continue to
be involved. "The"y totally reassembled the bleachers, painted them, put new lumber
where needed, did welding - and whatever else needed doing, they did it," Johnson
explained.
Nadudana Cattle, or miniature Zebu, are used in the steer riding competition.
These animals are the ancestral cattle of India and Pakistan. In Egypt they were once used
for plowing. They look exactly like Brahmans except that the average height of the Zebu,
on the back behind the hump, is about 36 inches.
The first Sunday of every month at Reality Ranch is called Sunday Fun Day.
Featured are events like running the barrels and relay races. "We do anything to have
fun," says Duke Platt.
"I've said many times if I could trade my salvation for all the physical ability
I once possessed, there's no way I'd do it," Johnson says. "Nothing compares to the peace of God. Nothing."
Every Sunday at 11 a.m. Cowboy Church Services are held under the pole barn.
Johnson usually delivers the sermon but on Sundays he is out of town, Jerry Atkins, who
was instrumental in starting Cowboys for Christ in Florida, stands in, as well as other
able ministers. You don't have to be a cowboy to come. Johnson is an active member of
the Hardee County Ministerial Association. He helps many of the local churches by
hosting camps and outings, loaning horses, as well as motivating speaking or preaching.
He helps when called upon to assist with other worthwhile programs like the county's 4-
H Clubs.
In fact, Randy Johnson is committed to a lifetime of helping others.
End
Contact numbers for Reality Ranch
Anyone desiring further information regarding Reality Ranch is encouraged to
call Randy Johnson at 863-781-1578.
For Therapeutic Riding, call Sissy Taylor at 863-448-7149.
For scheduling camps, call Betty Johnson at 863-735-9517.
For bull riding practice, call Duke Platt at 863-202-6465.
For bull riding school, call Lyle Sankey at 417-263-7777.
For Kiwanis updates, call Ken Hunt at 863-832-0344
Email : Gina Johnson gina21marie@yahoo.com
