- Welcome to "Inland Edition," where this season, we're having conversations with people representing nonprofit organizations working to make the Inland Empire a better place.

My name is Joe Richardson.

[light background music] I'm a local attorney, an Inland Empire resident, and your host.

And, today, we're going to chat with Joe Mayner, the director of the River's Edge Ranch.

Located in Lucerne Valley, River's Edge Ranch provides comprehensive and innovative services in a unique desert setting for men suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, chronic unemployment, homelessness, or incarceration.

Their approach integrates manual labor, animal-assisted therapy, service to others, faith, and mentoring support.

Joe Mayner completed the River's Edge program himself as a rancher in 2013, which he credits with enabling him to reunite with his family and gain a satisfying purpose in life.

While as the ranch director, he's responsible for day-to-day operations on the ranch and managing the ranch's budget, he believes his most important responsibility is counseling the men working through the program.

Let's meet him now and learn more about how River's Edge affects our community.

[soft piano music] ♪ [gentle upbeat music] ♪ ♪ ♪ - [Joe] And so, from River's Edge Ranch, I've got Joe Mayner.

Joe, how are you?

- I'm great.

Thank you.

Thank you, Joe, for having me today.

- It's always easier when there are-- Well?

It's not so much easy for the staff but for me, when the other guy's named Joe, too.

So that way, I can't mess it up!

- You're welcome.

Thank my mother!

Yeah.

- Right?

(laughs) I'd love to talk about how one's journey ultimately has them converge with the nonprofit, and instantly, the nonprofit's mission.

So, let's talk about Joe Mayner, and how Joe Mayner evolved to this place where he comes across River's Edge Ranch.

- Absolutely.

Well?

(clears throat) you know, I was born and raised in Ventura, and from two wonderful parents that always provided.

You know?

It was a very loving home.

I have a younger sister and, you know, growing up, it was-- I had a great childhood.

You know, like I said, everything was provided.

My family was there.

And then, about 12, 13 years old, I started smoking weed and using drugs recreationally.

And then, that kind of skyrocketed to a deeper addiction into harder drugs, which took me on just a crazy spiral of jails, homelessness, different treatment facilities, and just about 14 years of addiction.

And, I-?

Was actually sittin' in a jail cell, and my aunt heard about a place in the desert that, you know, is a treatment facility that works with animals.

And, she sent me some literature, and I remember receiving it while I was in jail.

And, I remember lookin' at it like, "I'm not goin' there.

"A ranch?

You know, out in the middle of nowhere."

- Right.

- Like, that's not what I want.

You know?

I knew I wanted a change.

I knew I needed a change.

I was ready to stop using drugs and alcohol and, you know, with that comes the lifestyle, as well.

Just really to get all of that behind me.

But, the component that really tripped me out was the spiritual part.

- Mm hm.

- You know, I wasn't a guy that was, you know, connected with a god or anything like that.

And so, that's kinda what turned me off.

But while I'm sitting there, something kept tugging on my heart.

Like, "you need to go here.

You know?

"You need to try something different.

"You've done the traditional treatment facilities.

"You've done obviously, you know, being incarcerated "to homelessness; all that junk that comes with that?

You need something different."

And so, that is how I ended up at the ranch, you know?

I wrote back to my aunt.

I said, "Okay, you know?

I'll try it."

And, I got released.

My father picked me up in downtown LA at MCJ and took me up to the ranch.

- Wow.

- And, I remember pullin' onto that property and (laughs) bein' like, "Where am I?

What is this place?

- Right!

- What am I doing?"

You know, like, "What did you get yourself into?"

I mean, it's out in the middle of nowhere.

- Right.

- Like, literally middle of nowhere.

But, somethin' was weighing on my heart.

Like, "you need to be here.

This is the place."

And, I started in the program.

I went through the program.

- Right, right.

- Yeah.

It was difficult.

(clears throat) You know, I got no problem doin' the work aspect, you know?

Pig pens, horse stalls, tractor work, trench digging.

Stuff like the labor aspect of the ranch, the work aspect, I had no problem.

I mean, I loved it.

It was the spiritual component.

- Right.

- The praying, the praise and worship, the alone time.

You know, I'm reading this book.

I've never, you know, I've heard of the Bible.

I've never read it.

I've never wanted to read it.

But, that part was the component that I was missing was the relationship with God.

There was the previous director, or the director that was there now- his name was Big Al Aceves- and he was the founder-- one of the founders of the Mongols Motorcycle Club.

- Wow.

- And, you know, he gave his life to Christ 10 years before.

He's been in prison.

I'm sure he's you know-?

- Done some stuff!

- Yeah!

(laughs) A lot of really deep, dark stuff.

And so, I latched on to him.

You know, he doesn't really-- he's not real literate.

He can't read and write very well.

So, he would have the Bible on tape.

- Right.

Wow.

- And so, I'd sit in there and he would just say, "Listen."

You know, I'd sit there for an hour and we'd listen, right?

I didn't really know what I was listening to.

He was going through different books of the Bible.

But, yeah.

Just the relationship I built with him is the-- what kept me there.

- So, tell me about the profile of the rancher.

The one that's going to come to the ranch.

Are they on probation, and this is in lieu of jail?

Is it something that they make a choice to do?

Where do you draw from?

- Everywhere!

(exhales) The whole spectrum.

So like you say, Joe.

Guys that are, you know, in lieu of a prison term.

Right?

- Right.

- So, we have a lot of guys that are on probation.

They're parole, probation officers.

You know, the ranch is very well-known through those agencies.

Men that are in the court system, you know, word of mouth through church services, through outreach programs.

I mean, there's not one exactly.

Like, I can't-?

Like, one point that's bigger than.

They're all about the same.

But, it's definitely individuals, men, that are (clears throat) you know, down that path of addiction that are going to lead to probably imprisonment or death.

- So, you are specifically tasked with helping those that are really trying to fight addiction?

- Absolutely.

We are 100% a substance abuse facility.

Now, with substance abuse comes lots of other addictions.

Right?

- Sure.

- You know, it could be pornography, gambling.

There's a whole-?

You know, whole array of addictions that come with that.

The lifestyle change, you know?

Some of the men, you know, have (clears throat) struggled with even their identity.

Lots of different issues that come with mental issues.

You know, mental health issues.

- Sure.

- And, I think a lot of mental health issues come with your-- come with the drug addiction.

Right?

And so, trying to combat that, as well.

- Right.

- Yeah, the men that come in are pretty jacked up.

You know, and we like that.

We want you to come in jacked up!

(chuckles) - What, um?

How many people are there?

- I have 37 guys right now.

We're at full capacity with a waiting list.

- Right.

Wow.

And, what about staffing?

- So, staffing up until a year ago was just myself.

- Really?

- [Mayner] Yeah!

- Whoa!

- It was just me.

I have leadership.

We like to raise leadership within.

- Right.

- We really stand firm on that.

You know, guys that have been through the program, they understand it and they have a heart for this ministry?

- Sure.

- But up until a year ago, it was-- actual staff was just myself.

In the past year, we've been able to add an assistant director.

His name is Tyler Logan.

And then, as well as a facilities manager, Troy Shaw.

And, we're looking to, actually, in the next couple weeks, add about three more staff members.

- So, tell me how big the property is and what's on the property.

- So, the ranch itself.

There's the ranch that's in Lucerne Valley; that's 20 acres.

It's in unincorporated San Bernardino County, which they still classify is Lucerne Valley, right?

And then, in the actual city of Lucerne, we have another piece of property which is three acres.

That's our phase two property where there's three prefab homes.

- OK. - And, in those homes, I have 14 men in one house.

Tyler Logan, the assistant director, stays in the middle cabin.

Troy has the other house with about four other leads.

- Right.

- But, the ranch itself is 20 acres.

- Tell me about an average day for what can a rancher expect to do on average day?

- Lots of stuff!

(both laugh) Wake up time is 3:00 AM.

- [Joe] Whoa.

- Oh, yeah.

Breakfast is at 4:00 AM.

The men file in at our chow hall.

Right now, it's extremely packed; 37 guys, and we all fit in that chow hall.

So, the guys have breakfast.

After breakfast, they go out and we have 22 horses.

So, the men tend to the horse stalls first.

That's job number one.

The guys will have a partner with them and they'll share a horse, and that'll be their horse for the entire stay of the ranch.

And so, this is where animal therapy comes into play.

This is where you're building relationships and bonding with not just the animal, but with this other individual that's in treatment with you that you might not see eye to eye.

Or, you know, come from a different background than you.

And so, you're-- Everything we do, you're building a relationship.

These men are, like, you know?

4:00 AM, they're in the-- I mean, they're so close together at all times.

And then, from there, there's about five to six hours of ranch pickup.

You know, cows, water lines, tractoring, water runs.

We have different RO systems on site.

I have men that strictly take care of our bunkhouse.

They take care of the main house.

I have two cooks on.

So, it's definitely-- the men are working, you know?

And then, about 9:30 AM they cut out.

We head into our chapel.

We have a praise report, prayer requests.

You know, we do conduct a little bit of business just to kind of see where everybody's at.

They go in for lunch at 11:00 AM, and then after that, they have some free time.

And, in that free time, we really encourage, you know, the men that haven't opened their Bible, or-?

You know, we have different programs too.

There's Celebrate Recovery.

Army of Love, we do telehealth services.

And so, during that time, they might have some homework or catch up on some stuff.

And then, after-?

We have an afternoon study from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, which is given by a member of the home after their six months.

- Yeah.

- And, from there, (ahem) afternoon feed, come back in for some more free time.

Then, they got dinner and then praise and worship.

And then, they have a night study.

So, the day starts?

Yeah, 3:00 AM.

And, doesn't end till about 7:30 at night.

- Wow.

- And then, they cut out.

And then, you know?

The phase-two property, I mentioned?

14, 15 guys go over there, and they're there strictly just to shower, sleep.

And then, they hike back to the ranch.

- How are you funded?

- The ranch, right now, for our operating expenses, is solely by donations.

- OK. - People that sow into the ministry.

- OK. - We do work with a couple large organizations; the McMillen Foundation, as well as San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

- Right, right.

- And, Slaves 2 Nothing and In-N-Out Burger.

- Wow.

- Which, we built relationships over the past six years with them.

We actually had Evan Ellingson- who has since passed- his brother is married to Lynsi Snyder, who's the sole owner of In-N-Out Burger.

- Right.

- Went through our ranch program.

- Wow.

- Which helped us get connected with Slaves 2 Nothing, which is their foundation, nonprofit that supports-- They solely support human trafficking as well as substance abuse programs.

So, I'd say the majority of our funding is definitely from people that sow into the ministry.

And then, some of the fundraisers we have throughout the year.

We have a large gala, April 19th.

It's our biggest fundraiser of the year.

But, yeah.

It's people that sow into that ministry.

- How long is the average stay for a rancher?

- Well, they-!

(chuckles) So, the-- Uh?

They need to commit to a year, minimum.

But, I would say, if we're looking at numbers, probably six months.

- Mm hm.

- You know?

When they feel they're ready.

- Right.

- Which is-- They're not!

- Right!

(both laugh) - It's a year for a reason, you know?

I prefer two years.

When they're, you know, 6, 7, 8 months in, these guys are just-?

Their plane's just beginning to land.

- [Richardson] Yeah.

For sure, for sure.

- [Mayner] Some of these guys have been on the streets for 10, 15 years.

Some of have been in prison for 20 years.

- Right.

- You know?

And to come in and thinking six months, you're ready for life, is-?

It's a mistake.

You know?

And, we don't try to downplay that, or talk down.

It's just, like, "you're not ready, man."

- [Richardson] Do you have programs that continue to connect them to services after they leave?

- [Mayner] Absolutely.

So, the process of the ranch.

You know, they come to the ranch; they get through the program.

We sit down and talk with them after a year, year and a half.

And then, when they move into our transitional program, which is called third phase, where we have a couple houses down in Fontana, California which has very similar structure to the ranch.

- OK. - So, they're still in mentorship programs.

They're still in telehealth services, which is the clinical side to addiction, right?

Where they're learning relapse prevention, cognitive therapy, behavioral issues.

They're meeting with counselors, still having one-on-ones.

(ahem) As well as Celebrate Recovery, which is every Friday night at Water of Life, which is a faith-based approach to the normal 12-step program.

So... We try to have-- We try to instill in them the importance of a structure, right?

You know, 'cause they come in without one.

I came in without one.

Mine was upside down, backwards.

- Sure.

- It was all jacked up, right?

And so, you're building this structure of good, clean, healthy habits that you want to take with you in life.

You know?

And so, we pray and hope that they get enough education there that, you know-?

And, also, the want.

And, also, they know they need this, that they take that with them when they leave.

- Yeah.

- You know, for so on and so on.

'Cause this is all temporary.

- Right.

- The ranch is temporary.

- Right.

- The different phases are temporary.

At some point, you're gonna want to have a family and have your own house, and move on to your own, you know, get your life goin'- - Right.

- For themselves.

- But, are there certain metrics by which you measure success?

You know, recidivism?

Or, you know?

What are the things that, that you look at that, of course, even a potential donor or someone that's interested in the organization, what you're doing, look at in terms of how you measure success?

- Our goal is to get men off drugs and alcohol.

- Mm hm.

- So, that's number one.

And, as soon as we get to that part, then we can figure out, you know, where you're at.

You know, obviously your mental state, your mature state.

Right?

(ahem) Your emotional state.

So, success is-?

Yeah, it can be measured differently.

Sure.

You know, some men come outta there just bustin' at the seams.

They're ready for life, you know?

Guys that are-- Bradley's one of our graduates who's a very intelligent young man, right?

And, he's doing phenomenal.

And then, you know, some guys are-?

(ahem) Are a little-?

They take a little more time, you know?

- Right.

- But, success for us is somebody that is coming in and getting off drugs and alcohol, right?

Getting a new lease on life, you know?

Finding out who God is, right?

And, getting implemented back into society, whether it be, you know, a high-paying job or not a high-paying job.

It's somebody, you know, that came in that didn't have any of this stuff.

- Right.

- So, success to me is, yeah, is the guy comin' in and being restored.

- Yeah.

- And that, to me, is what the ranch is for.

- Speaking of success, let's talk to two ranchers as well as a board member who was a former rancher himself.

[light upbeat music] ♪ - My name is Rick Martinez and I am on the board of directors.

And, I oversee our transitional housing.

When the guys graduate from the ranch, they all transition into our sober livings.

And, I oversee those houses.

I got to the ranch in 2015.

I was homeless, addicted to many different drugs, and I hadn't worked in about six years.

When I got to the ranch, I quickly found out that it was a working ranch, that they required us to do a lot of different tasks, working with animals, cleaning stalls.

And, it was something I needed 'cause I hadn't had that discipline.

I hadn't had waking up early and getting a task done.

The work aspect and the spiritual aspect was exactly what I needed to find my healing and kinda keep me here.

And trust the process, and trust what the ranch was trying to do.

Everything is structured to help men get back into living a lifestyle without drugs.

It helps with the selfishness, 'cause when you're in addiction, you become very selfish.

You become: All about me, me, me.

And so, what the ranch does is it kinda-?

Even when it comes to the animals, you're focusing on something else that's not you.

You're having to take care of their stalls, pick up after them.

Now, you live with 37 other guys.

You're also like, "OK. Well?

This isn't all about me.

Right?

"I have to deal with all these different men that are going through the same thing."

So, it kinda helps you take the focus off yourself and put it somewhere else.

The ranch did so much for me that I felt I really wanted to give back in any way I possibly could.

So, being a leader here on the ranch and then going down to phase three, becoming a leader down there.

And then, for them asking me to be on the board, I thought it was just-- I was humbled, but it was a true blessing to really be able to give back to what helped me because I know the program works.

I know the transitional homes are a safe place to go transition back into life.

Like, I know they work.

So, with me, knowing they work, having my testimony and how it worked in me, I could share with these other men that there's hope.

- Most people don't choose to come here.

I thought, "I'm not like a lot of these guys.

I'm kind of an outlier and an outcast."

I felt kind of lonely.

But, through this brotherhood and realizing, and humbling myself that I've broken just as many relationships.

I've messed up my life just as much.

This place has kinda given me the hope for a second chance.

You know, I tend to the horses.

I assist with the pigs.

I assist with cows.

I just recently started assisting with some repairs and, you know, repairing some wheelbarrows and pretty much wherever's needed.

I try to-- I try to help out whenever I'm asked.

Being surrounded by this group of brothers, they help keep me accountable.

If I don't wake up in time at 3:30, they help get me up and we all make sure that we go to the dining hall at the same time.

And, you know, we pray for each other.

Also, this ranch has given me-- is giving me hope for the future.

It's odd because I've had a strong support system through my family.

My family's always encouraged me, even when I've failed over and over and messed up and messed up with, you know, the State of California and had all these consequences.

They still have encouraged me in saying, you know, there's a plan.

God has a plan for your life.

But, I didn't want the help.

I was kinda the only one in the family that was going through the stuff that I was going through; that was struggling with alcohol, that was getting in trouble all the time.

I was-- kind of felt like the black sheep.

So, to come here and be with, you know, 30 to 40 men that are all just as broken and that are all trying to better their lives, get closer to God and just see how the Lord can redeem our situations.

To be around those men that-- that can understand, that can relate, that are going through similar things or have gone through similar things.

It's both inspiring to see the men who have gone through it, and then it's comforting to the men who are currently going through it, as well.

So, it's extremely pivotal.

- [Ronald] OK. Well, I cook right here for 35 men three times a day.

We try and fix up food that's gonna be healthy for us.

And, my goal with my cooking is that if the Lord uses me to help me and to wanna stay, and know that they're getting fed good.

And, just bring joy to them, you know?

My name is Ronald Rivera.

I'm a cook here at the River's Edge Ranch.

My thoughts about the program are that this program is really helpful for somebody that really wants change in their life as I do.

Before, I was lost in darkness, and I've-- Now, I have a relationship with Jesus Christ, and it's giving me more motivation in life and more courage.

You know what I mean?

Don't be afraid to try and do better instead of giving up.

Anybody out there that's having a hard time struggling in life, I just wanna say, don't give up on yourself and there is hope.

[light upbeat music] ♪ - [Richardson] Give me your wish list about, you know, if you had your druthers from a resource standpoint, "here's what we would need to really take this "to this next place.

Or, here's something we've talked about.

Here's something that we know that we wanna undertake."

I imagine doing what it is that you do, you get the 30,000-foot view-- - Sure.

- about what you have versus what you'd like to have and what you'd need.

What would you put on your wish list?

- [Mayner] It's always funding!

- Right!

(both laugh) - Also, just partners.

- Yeah.

- People that are in it for the same reasons.

- Yeah.

- You know, not all money is good money.

- Right.

Okay.

Yeah.

- So, we want partners.

We want long-lasting partners.

People that have a heart for this type of-- You know, you have to because you go in there and these guys can be mean and rude, and- - Right.

- not care about nothin'.

And so, you have to have a heart for these guys.

- Right.

- Our, definitely, 30,000-foot what we would love to see is multiple sites.

- Right.

Sure.

- We're building this site now to get to 80 men, and we wanna mirror that in other areas.

Whether it be, you know, we've talked about a woman's ranch for five years now.

And, such a crazy need.

- Right.

Sure.

- And, a veterans ranch; - Mm!

- Multiple ranches.

- I'm working on an org chart right now, as well going to a couple different-- some of our partners of, you know, a 10-, 15-, 20-year plan of where we want to see the ranch.

- Yeah.

- So, definitely.

But, if people that have a heart for it?

You know?

When you have a heart for something, your wallet usually follows.

- Right.

Sure, sure.

- So, we're not always worried about the money.

Money?

You need to worry about the money and my treasurer does that!

- Yeah!

(both laugh) - If God has given you a vision and you are carrying that vision out, He'll bring all your resources.

- Yeah.

- I've seen it.

- Yeah.

- I didn't believe it- - Right.

Sure.

- until I saw it.

- Right.

- I saw it-- I first began to see that, when we transitioned from the other church.

We had no money.

There was $900 in our bank account.

- Mm... - At that point, it was $60,000 a month to operate the ranch.

- Wow.

- I'm sitting there with Al and I'm like, "Hey, dude.

"We don't have any propane.

There's no gas in the vans.

How are we gettin' to church?"

- Right.

- You know, he's like, "The money will come."

And, they-?

(chuckles) I'm not kidding.

It did.

- Right.

- Checks were showin' up.

- Right.

- People were providing, you know?

Paying-- (chuckles) We used to sell- You know, we have chickens.

Right?

So, we used to sell chickens at church.

I'm not kidding.

There was a Sunday where we had to sell eggs to pay for the gas to get back up the hill.

- Wow.

- You know?

And so, God provides a way.

- [Richardson] How do people get more information about the organization?

- [Mayner] They can go to our website.

It's TheRiversEdgeRanch.org We're on different social media platforms.

They can meet us at church.

They can come up to the ranch.

You know, but our biggest one is definitely gonna be our website.

It has all our information on there.

It's got different, just obviously our events to pictures and videos, testimonials; a lot of information.

And, how to donate.

All kinds of stuff.

As well as the application process.

- Yeah.

- So, to enter the ranch, you have to put in an application.

- Okay, okay.

- Whether you call myself or Tyler or the ranch, we will redirect you to the website.

It's about a 60-second application.

- Right.

Okay.

- Basic information.

Once that's submitted, somebody from my intake department will call, and go through the phone assessment.

- Okay.

- And so, that's where a lot of you know, the questions are asked, obviously.

- Sure.

- Your health, your background, legal issues.

- Right.

So, Joe Mayner from River's Edge Ranch?

Thank you so much for coming, and thank you for what you do on a day-to-day basis.

- Absolutely.

Thank you, Joe.

Thanks for having me.

- You got it.

And, we want to thank you for joining us.

Know you can check out our episodes, season one and season two now, on YouTube.

So, please continue to join us as we highlight life-changing work being done here in the Inland Empire, one conversation at a time.

And, until next time, we'll see you.

Thanks.

[uplifting music and vocals] ♪ ♪ ♪ [softer music and vocals] ♪ ♪ ♪ [music fades]