A whole cow might not change the world, but it can change lives. And at Riverbend Ranch, we believe in doing just that. And in helping young mothers and their babies get a head start on life.
Each year, the Shepherd’s Inn, a nonprofit pregnancy resource center that primarily serves teenage girls who have little to no family support, holds its Win the Whole Cow fundraiser. And for two decades, Riverbend Ranch and Melaleuca have played a big role in the fundraiser by donating the grand prize – a premium Black Angus cow—to make this event work.
In 2024, Riverbend Ranch donated 700 pounds of high-quality beef for the grand prize of the Win the Whole Cow raffle! The prize also came with a $700 freezer to hold it all. The lucky winners, Steve and Crystal Senner, took home the grand prize while the Shepherd’s Inn raised a record-breaking $29,000 from the fundraiser to continue supporting mothers and babies.
In a letter addressed to Riverbend Ranch owners Frank and Belinda VanderSloot, the Shepherd Inn’s executive director Julie Zahn expressed her profound appreciation.
“Thank you for your donation of the Grand Prize Beef and the processing from Riverbend Ranch,” Zahn wrote. “Your ongoing support of our fundraiser is such a blessing! Your generous donation has helped the Shepherd’s Inn continue to speak hope and encouragement into the families that we serve.”
Julie included this card with her letter to Melaleuca and Riverbend Ranch, highlighting just some of the parents and precious young lives who have been given a solid foundation thanks to the Shepherd’s Inn.
Riverbend Ranch, Melaleuca and Frank and Belinda have donated to this nonprofit to help young parents, particularly mothers, feel empowered to take care of their babies and become the best parents they can be.
This yearly fundraiser is an important way of supporting the Shepherd’s Inn, and the whole community gets involved. This auction typically generates between 25% and 40% of the nonprofit’s revenues for the year.
In addition to providing the signature prize for their annual raffle, Frank and Belinda have directed Melaleuca: The Wellness Company to donate products and funds over the years to support the organization and its young mothers and babies.
Riverbend Meats VP of Operations Jay Rawlings and VP of Corporate Strategy Hyrum Egbert talk to Julie Zahn and the prize winners at the Riverbend Meats processing plant.
A Mission to Help Two Lives at a Time
The mission of the Shepherd’s Inn is to “make a difference, two lives at a time.”
The Shepherd’s Inn serves pregnant and parenting teens and young adults in Idaho. For more than two decades, the center has provided free counseling to these parents, improving their quality of life and that of their babies.
In 2024, the Shepherd’s Inn was able to provide the following support to their clients:
- 248 one-on-one sessions with Pregnancy Support Counselors
- 24 clients served, including 5 fathers
- 7 parents successfully graduating from the nonprofit’s program
- Scholarships awarded for graduation
- 4 new car seats provided to moms
- 70 crockpot meals delivered to new parents
- Gas cards, diapers, wipes, and formula distributed monthly
Additionally, a third counselor was hired and a new counseling room was added to the organization’s facility to better accommodate the young couples they serve.
The Shepherd’s Inn also has an Earn While You Learn program, which allows these young parents the opportunity to earn points and “purchase” baby care items. Every client at the Shepherd’s Inn also has the opportunity to receive a $500 education scholarship, as well as free maternity and baby clothes and a free car seat for baby.
A Wonderful Partnership
Riverbend Ranch is proud to be part of this important fundraiser every year, donating the best Black Angus beef in the country while supporting young mothers in need of help.
“Riverbend Ranch’s generosity and support really does make a difference,” says Zahn, “two lives at a time!”
