Put in the simplest terms, our purpose is to "feed the lambs" by teaching the time-honored methods of farming our forefathers employed.

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The technical jargon (filed with the IRS):

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It is the mission, duty and purpose of Lost Sheep Ranch to educate and provide the means for families to grow and process their own food to help relieve hunger on a local level. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, food inflation was at 11.8% in December 2022. Produce (fruits and vegetables) have seen an incredible 24.9% increase.

 

The poverty level in our community is a staggering 30.1%, which is 55.2% greater than the poverty level of 13.5% across the entire state of Arizona, creating an even greater need for financial relief. (Data taken from www.city-data.com)

 

With many experiencing job loss as well, it is imperative that we “get back to the basics” and produce our own food. As we evolve our programs to teach others what is required to feed and sustain our community, our goal is to provide as many people as possible with the necessary tools to do so.

 

The right to food is a human right derived from the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The United Nations Special Report in 2002 defined it as follow:

 

“Right to adequate food is a human right, inherent in all people, to have regular, permanent and unrestricted access, either directly or by means of financial purchases, to quantitatively and qualitatively adequate and sufficient food corresponding to the cultural traditions of people to which the consumer belongs, and which ensures a physical and mental, individual and collective fulfilling and dignified life free of fear.”

 

The right to adequate food is realized when every man, woman and child, alone or in community with others, have the physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement. We strive to educate others in how to provide for their families.

 

 

Education

Lost Sheep Ranch provides education on the time-tested “old ways” of planting, caring for, and harvesting of crops. We provide instruction on the humane slaughter of meat producing animals, as well as the butchering and processing of the meat. We provide this information by presenting demonstrations and lectures free of charge.

 

We also will chronicle our efforts and activities on the corporation’s website, www.lostsheepranch.org. One feature that will be incorporated into the website is an educational essay written by people such as farmers, ranchers, chefs, naturopath doctors, herbalists and the like in the same or related field(s).

 

By offering educational events and information on our website, Lost Sheep Ranch is educating the public on subjects useful to individuals and beneficial to the community.

 

Activities and Areas of Focus

Lost Sheep Ranch’s activities will be divided into three main areas of engagement, including, but not limited to:

 

Planting, Growing and Harvesting (60% of corporate time)

The purpose of this area is to build community by developing a sense of unity and camaraderie created through sharing the life-changing experience of learning to grow your own food. Of course, sharing the results of our efforts in the form of produce and meats is also a main goal for our mission.

 

Development & Planning (20% of corporate time)

Lost Sheep Ranch will work toward expanding the ranch in order to utilize as much acreage as possible so that the most benefit can be had from our resources. Planning for our agricultural needs highlights the importance of food production and sustainability in order to protect and conserve the farmlands for current and future generations. 

 

Civic Engagement (20% of corporate time)

Lost Sheep Ranch’s final area of focus will be seeking partnership with other similar, like-minded nonprofit organizations, such as American Farmland Trust or FarmAid, to identify areas where we might improve on our efforts to provide proper agricultural education to the community. We will also seek to engage volunteers to participate in organization, planning, problem-solving and development.

 

 

Prospective Funding Plan

Our total projected revenue will come from approximately 75% of general foundations, 10% major donors, 10% corporate donors, and 5% grassroots donations and special events. We have already received a commitment of $25,000 in grant funding from the Johnson Historical Museum of the Southwest.

 

 

Distribution to Other Organizations and Individuals

We do not fundraise for any specific organization, and Lost Sheep Ranch is not organized solely to contribute or fundraise for any specific entity. However, at the discretion of the board of directors, we may at times choose to offer sub-grants to other organizations who share a similar mission and only if the contribution will serve Lost Sheep Ranch’s mission of training future farmers in our communities.

 

One example of an organization which we may contribute to is Future Farmers of America (EIN: 31-6080602), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization with the mission of making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

 

 

Please Note:

 

• Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(2) of the Income Tax Regulations states that the term “charitable” is used in section 501(c)(3) of the Code in its generally accepted legal sense and includes the defense of human and civil rights secured by law.

 

• Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3)(i)(a) of the Income Tax Regulations states that the term educational, as used in IRC 501(c)(3), relates to the instruction or training of the individual for the purpose of improving or developing his capabilities or the instruction of the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community.

 

• Example 2 in Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3)(ii) of the Income Tax Regulations, makes it clear that "An organization whose activities consist of presenting public discussion groups, forums, panels, lectures, or other similar programs," is educational.

 

• Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code provides tax exemption for organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable and/or educational purposes.

 

 

Financial Information

The sources of the corporation’s income derive from general public donations.  Additional income sources will include grants, sponsorship and fundraising. The corporation disposes its income through the decisions made by its board of directors or through the decisions of the duly elected treasurer, whose power to pay expenses is set out by the board or the corporation's bylaws in accordance to the corporation’s purpose.  Expenses paid by the corporation include, but are not limited to: equipment purchases and rentals, building materials, livestock and seed acquisition, insurance premiums, internet web site fees, publications, advertising, and miscellaneous board expenses.