Bulletin Board

The first phase of building Big Valley Donkey Ranch begins with improving the road that already serves this part of the county. Before barns, training pens, classrooms, or stewardship gardens can rise, we need a safe, reliable way to reach the land. Right now, refurbishing County Road N5335 is our biggest hurdle and the foundation for everything that comes next.

The cost of upgrading N5335 is significant, with current estimates reflecting the distance, terrain, and the need for a durable, year‑round route that can support ranch traffic, emergency vehicles, and future visitors. But this road isn’t just for us — it will directly benefit the families who already live in the area.

Today, neighbors rely on rough, inconsistent access that becomes difficult during weather shifts and seasonal changes. A professionally refurbished road will give them safer travel, more dependable access to their homes, and improved emergency response. Strengthening N5335 supports the entire community, not just the ranch.

This project is part of the early development work for the Southwest Institute for Regenerative Land & Burro Training, our nonprofit dedicated to education, stewardship, and humane burro handling. By upgrading this road, we’re investing in shared infrastructure that supports everyone who calls this region home. It opens the land for education, stewardship, humane burro training, and rural outreach — and it also gives local residents a safer, more stable connection to the world beyond their fences.

We are actively seeking funding partners who believe in rural access, land stewardship, and community support. Every contribution at this stage moves us closer to breaking ground and opening Big Valley Donkey Ranch and the Southwest Institute to the people they’re meant to serve.

Thank you for standing with us as we take this first essential step. Please reach out to us through our Contact Us page.