A youth program focuses on teaching about the rancho life, and kids are loving it

In 2023, Melody Muñoz, 13, and Destiny Avalos, 14, learned about the rancho life during a summer program in Compton. Both girls were so impressed with the program that they hope to be accepted again this year. Their parents were assured that the teenagers learned to be more confident, proactive, and leaders in various tasks.

However, this was not an ordinary summer program. Learning about horsemanship and other equestrian activities kept the participants very busy and with the desire to learn more about the rancho (ranch) lifestyle. The initiative has been promoted by Hector Gomez and Daniel Zepeda, co-founders of Connecting Compton, a nonprofit organization that provides a safe space for individuals of all ages and cultures to learn about unity, belonging and pride. 

Janelly Muñoz, mother of Melody, said she grew up on a small ranch in Jalisco, Mexico, and it was very important for her to share the culture with her daughter. In 2023, she saw the post on social media about the rancho summer camp and did not hesitate to enroll her. The commute was long, from Downtown LA to Compton, but mother and daughter didn't mind because it was a unique experience. 

When Melody first joined the program, she was a bit reserved. However, by the end of it, her mother noticed a significant and positive change. 

"Besides horsemanship, they taught her discipline and structure," said Janelly. “She would talk more, she would have more initiative.”

Darling Avalos, Destiny's mother, had a similar experience. She grew up riding horses in Riverside, and as an adult, she wanted to provide a similar experience for her children. She would take them to her uncle's ranch in Riverside to learn how to ride a horse. A few years ago, she bought a house in Compton, and through an Instagram page, she found out about a summer ranch camp in her city.

"I taught her the basics when she was younger, but here at the camp, they taught her the A to Z of horsemanship," said Darling.

The mother of four said she hopes to enroll all her children in the program, once they reach the age, because she has seen how much her daughter has grown in personality and leadership. 

"You can totally see the difference and high self-esteem when they get on a horse. It is incredible to ride those big animals that also sense our feelings," said Darling. 

She said that after the 2023 summer program, Destiny would encourage her classmates and friends to participate.

The Ranch Camp returns to Compton 

After a big success in the past, the Ranch Camp 2024 has opened its enrollment and is accepting applications for youth 10 to 17 years old. Connecting Compton is the organization hosting the summer camp. This year, the participants will not only learn about horsemanship, but there will be an introduction to ranching, which includes cleaning and feeding the horses. Participants will also learn about milking and cheese making.  

"We will teach them about poultry and how chickens hatch. We will focus more on ranching basics," said Gomez. "For kids it’s really nice to ride a horse, but they also have to learn all the responsibilities it takes to own and care for one."

The co-founders enjoy talking about the program because they have seen firsthand that hard work pays off. They witnessed how youth who were very shy at the beginning of the program finished with so much confidence. The program helped them build character.

"You can take a kid to play soccer anytime, but learning about horses is something else. They get very excited, and for us it’s important because we are teachers and know the importance of paying forward," said Gomez, whose full time job is teaching at a local school. 

The ranch life gets them out of trouble

Zepeda's family owns the ranch where the camp is taking place. He said he is very proud to use this space for inner-city kids who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to learn about this culture. He said there are not many safe places for young people, and having programs such as the Ranch Summer Program has proven to be beneficial. The participants are eager to learn more and more about farm animals and agriculture. 

For Gomez and Zepeda, the Ranch Camp is just the beginning of a larger vision. They aim to establish an equestrian center in Compton, a hub for teaching the younger generations about the rich and rewarding ranch life.

"Compton has a negative image but, in reality, it is good for all farm animals. As I was growing up, creating this safe space in the ranch kept me safe and out of trouble," said Zepeda. 

The co-founders met in college at CSU Dominguez Hills. They became friends through conversations that included talks about the ranch life and horses. After graduating, they decided to advocate for an equestrian center in Compton that could include a Lienzo Charro. In 2019 they founded Connecting Compton and since then they have been working in identifying the land, talking to stakeholders and creating the sketches of the Multi-Cultural Equestrian Center. 

If the center is approved in the city it will help improve all people's lives, including those with cognitive, physical and emotional disabilities, through the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities. It will offer a safe space for educational-based programs for everyone in public open space. 

Compton's population is about 70% Latino. The Richland Farms community has about 425 residences that have enough space in their backyards for agriculture and ranching. Many of the residents of this community own horses and other farm animals. However, it is difficult to have too many animals due to the space not being big enough. This is one of the reasons why Connecting Compton hopes to give more visibility to rancho life and help it thrive. 

Currently, the ranch where they operate is not large enough to host more participants, but they work with what they can. The duo is proud to say that since the program's kick-off in 2022, they have served over 60 students, and the program grows every year. This summer, the program will last four weeks with eight sessions in total. 

To learn more about the program, visit: www.officialconnectingcompton.com