Broome stands today as a young man with eternal salvation, a bright smile, big goals for his future and a quiet confidence that resonates with livestock. 

Before he donned a cowboy hat, however, his life looked a lot different. 

He admits he was struggling, getting kicked out of school and unable to find his path even after attending military school.

“I wasn’t really living a godly life, just wasn’t Christlike at all,” Broome explains. 

At the ranch, that’s a tale that’s all too familiar. 

“As the boys come to the ranch, they come from broken families,” says Blakey, executive director of the program. 

Whether it’s financial troubles, drugs or alcohol, the tenants at the Boys Ranch Town come to the organization for reasons beyond their control. To help get them on track, Blakey says staff have two main missions: to share personal and spiritual love, and to empower the boys with skills that will allow them to be productive members of the community once they leave. 

Tucked away on 150 acres in Edmond, the Boys Ranch Town was started in 1953 as a part of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children. Despite its rich history, if it weren’t for the sign out front, the ranch itself would appear like its own little town. 

There’s the hum of a lawn mower in the distance, a few young men manning string trimmers, the echoing buzz of a motor as someone zips by on a John Deere-green Gator™. Among the gentle businesses, there’s always a smile and wave at the ready.  

Pavement leads guests in a perfect loop of the program’s facilities. Up front are the cottage-style homes, where boys have their own beds and space to decorate. They live in small groups and have access to entertainment and kitchen facilities in each house. 

Beyond the living structures, there’s staff office space, a gymnasium, a community pool, a series of buildings and barns — there’s even a miniature “grocery store” where the houseparents who live with the boys are able to hand select food for the residents in their cottage. 

While it’s picturesque, Blakey says the boys are required to be involved with various programs at the ranch — hands-on jobs to help them find their passion and develop a good work ethic. 

From equine and cattle barns to welding and woodshop, the boys are exposed to a variety of work. While he sees each program as valuable, Blakey’s got a soft spot for the ones directly tied to the agricultural industry. 

He’s raised three daughters in the business, all of them showing cattle. 

“My wife always reminded me that we weren’t raising heifers, we were raising daughters,” Blakey remembers of his time before joining the Boys Ranch Town. “We’ve adopted that same philosophy here at the ranch. The cattle and the agriculture are just a tool to help raise these boys and teach them about becoming young men and preparing them for life.” 

Blakey knows more than most just how transformative the agriculture industry can be.

“I grew up in northern Oklahoma, a small town called Newkirk; and I grew up in a broken home, a broken family,” he explains. 

As a ward of the court, Blakey was raised in a foster home, but one family changed his life for the better. With an ag teacher for a foster parent, he encountered the world of livestock at the age of 16. 

His past isn’t spotless, but in a bigger way, it’s what makes him so perfect for his role at the Boys Ranch Town. 

“I know how long it takes to get that healing, that peace,” Blakey admits.

He’s watched the transformation happen out in their pasture. 

“When I got here, I didn’t really want to be on a show program,” Broome admits. “But I had just seen how it helped people and shaped them to be a better person, because [of] Mr. Blakey and everybody pouring into their show program.”

Today, he’s come full circle. 

Despite the confidence, there were a lot of nerves come show day in Tulsa. Winning the class was one thing; but Broome, Walck and Blakey all admit they felt a bit like they were floating when it was time for the grand drive. 

“I was kind of zoned out,” Broome admits with a laugh, “just hoping and wishing to win.” 

When the champ slap came, Broome was excited — not just for himself, but for the entire team at Boys Ranch Town. 

“It was amazing,” he says. “It wasn’t just a win for me; it was a win for all of us because we all put in work. It’s amazing having everybody here. I wouldn’t trade any of them for anything, because we just have the chemistry to be able to work together and we just love each other.”  

While Blakey could easily pat himself on the back for the breeding decisions he’s helped make, he looks at the purple and gold banner now hanging in the office at the ranch and sees a much bigger picture.

“You can’t breed for heifers all the time then all of a sudden have the grand champion steer [at the NJAS] and think that I did it,” Blakey says. “I didn’t. It’s what God has done.” 

Reveling in the win and the love of the One who made it possible, Broome’s got big plans for his future. He’s set to attend Oklahoma State University in the next year, where his studies will help him prepare for a future career as an ag teacher. 

He’s come to realize his story isn’t just a coincidence or a twist of fate. 

Every challenging moment of the past was God moving intentionally, ensuring Broome would land in good hands at the Boys Ranch Town. 

In this tight-knit, faithful community, Broome’s been supported. He’s been grounded, he’s been challenged, he’s been saved.

It’s a legacy he’ll be proud to hand off to the next generation.