After the property they have leased for more than a decade was put up for sale, a Corvallis horse and donkey rescue is working to buy back the barnyard.
The Corvallis-based Wings Programs Inc. has started raising money to buy the 24.5-acre property they call home. Wings started a Go Fund Me in April to raise $125,000 in capital funds to either purchase the property at 208 Rusty Spur Way, or relocate to another permanent location.
“We’ve been leasing this property for over 10 years and the owner decided to sell,” Laura Weise, director of the Wings Programs board, told the Ravalli Republic. “We decided we’re going to try and buy the property for Wings to have it.”
Wings Programs Executive Director Debora Lay cleans sanctuary animals’ pens on Friday, July 11.
The Wings Programs, a nonprofit equine welfare organization, which houses over 30 horses, mules and donkeys in Corvallis, has been using the Rusty Spur Ranch since 2015. Weise said that the property was listed by owners in May and that Wings has until January 2026 before their lease expires and they could be forced to relocate.
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“Our goal right now is $125,000 because that’s likely what we’re going to need for a down payment on the property,” Weise said. “It most likely could go up, but our goal is to try and see if we can make a deal for this property. If not, we would use the funds for another property in the area.”
Executive Director Debora Lay concurred with Weise, telling the Ravalli Republic that the property was currently listed for $850,000 and that Wings was hoping to score a substantial deal on the property.
Wings Programs Executive Director Debora Lay cleans pens on Friday, July 11. Lay explained that 28 of the over 30 animals on the property were sanctuary animals and would stay with organization for the rest of their lives.
“It’s listed at $850,000, but we’ll definitely be putting in a different offer,” Lay said.
The Go Fund Me has raised $7,306 so far and Weise said that organization has raised around $28,000 in total. To ensure additional funds, the rescue will be hosting fundraising events until next January, according to Weise.
Wings will have a booth set up at the Darby Rodeo Association Twisted Nut Rodeo this weekend, July 11, 12 from 5 to 9 p.m. They will also be at Backyard Taphouse Bingo Night at the Backyard Taphouse in Florence on July 15. A full list of their upcoming events is available on the Wings Programs website.
Horses span the over 14 acres of Wings Programs pastures.
“Between that and our offline donations, we’re up to about $28,000 now,” Weise said. “We’re looking at engaging larger donors and people who might be invested in us buying a permanent property because we are the rescue in the Bitterroot that rescues locally.”
The sanctuary currently houses over 30 animals, 28 of which are “sanctuary animals” who will spend the rest of their lives on the ranch.
“Over the past decade, Wings Programs has had the honor of providing a safe haven for vulnerable horses, donkeys, and mules—giving them the care, rehabilitation, and second chances they deserve,” reads a Wings Program newsletter. “We serve the wider community through: Mini-horse visits to senior centers and community events, bringing joy and connection. Youth volunteer and education programs, introducing young people to careers in animal care and instilling compassion. A thriving volunteer base that welcomes individuals of all ages and backgrounds to find purpose and community through service.”
Two donkeys feed in one of the 14 pens at the Rusty Spur Way Ranch on Friday.
Lay told the Ravalli Republic that the ranch infrastructure only accounted for 10 of the 24.5 acres of the property. The remaining 14 acres were pastures for the livestock and, according to Lay, home to a plethora of other species like Canada geese and bald eagles.
Lay feared that another buyer would develop the property and eradicate the natural significance associated with the acreage.
“We’re losing are farmland,” Lay said. “It’s effecting the ecology of the valley. By staying here, we can try to mitigate that.”
In addition to sheltering and rehabilitating horses, donkeys and mules, the organization facilitates numerous community events and opportunities that are jeopardized by the potential change in properties.
A friendly horse approaches a fence post on Friday, July 11.
Weise said that the property on Rusty Spur Way was perfect for the organization because its size and applicability to their operation. The property has two barns, 14 pens, numerous portable shelters and a rental unit that, if acquired by Wings, could generate future revenue for the facility.
“It’s kind of an ideal property for us as a nonprofit,” Weise said. “We have invested a lot of infrastructure here and we have everything we need for our rescues… We have a lot of infrastructure that is really ideal for us.”
Weise said that although Wings has been looking for other properties in case the Rusty Spur ranch is not available, but that the search hasn’t been successful.
Over 30 horses, mules and donkeys call the Wings Programs rescue 24.5 acres home. Equines pranced around the property on Friday, July 11.
“Because of the price of properties in the valley, it’s gonna be hard to find something comparable to what we have,” Weise said. “We are looking around for other possibilities. In the extreme case that we have to leave and don’t have a property, we have people who have offered to foster animals in the short term. We’re planning for all contingencies.”
Lay shared a similar sentiment, saying that relocating to another property would be the “worst case scenario.”
“It would be sad. We think that we are a community asset,” Lay said. “If for some reason someone comes in and puts in a better offer and decides not to keep us as tenets, we’ll use the capital fund for rent somewhere else, because it will be higher.”
For more information on the Wings Programs, please visit their website at wingsprograms.org/
A young girl pets a miniature pony during the Rhythm & Roam music festival in Hamilton on Saturday.
Horses ran around some the Wings Programs pasture on Friday, July 11.
A letter detailing the fundraising campaign was issued by the Wings Programs to explain the effort’s significance to donors.
Jackson Kimball is the local government reporter for the Ravalli Republic.
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