Independent Stave Company

The Sky Ranch Foundation held its 15th annual Hall of Fame dinner on Monday, July 24, 2006 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Lexington, Kentucky. The event, held in conjunction with the annual Leadership Conference of WAABI (World Association of the Alcohol Beverage Industries), honored individuals whose personal and business achievements have made an important contribution to the united efforts of the alcohol beverage industry to provide quality care for the troubled teens at Sky Ranch for Boys.

Each year the Sky Ranch Foundation names a number of individuals to the Hall of Fame. These individuals reflect the broad support Sky Ranch enjoys among all segments of the beverage alcohol industry and allied businesses. The “Class of 2006” for the Sky Ranch Hall of Fame included:

Pioneer: Brad Boswell - President, Independent Stave Company, Lebanon, MO.
Supplier: Mark Brown - President, Sazerac Company, Frankfort, KY.
Distributor: Simone Bianconcini, Director of Operations, Republic Beverage Co. of Kentucky, Louisville, KY.
Allied: Becky Hamilton - Tournament Co-Chair, Bardstown WAABI/Traffic Specialist, Import/Export, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Clermont, KY.

Also honored at the dinner was Ed Meek of Oxford Publishing who was named the Mentor of the Year. Sky Ranch Foundation has enlisted numerous industry executives to mentor Sky Ranch boys. Ed Meek was recognized for his outstanding work on this program.

Sky Ranch for Boys, which celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2005, is a unique 3,000-acre facility on the South Dakota/Montana border where troubled kids from all parts of America get a second chance and a fresh start. Sky Ranch has built an enviable record over the years as it focuses on teaching kids to respect themselves and others. Through sports, arts, working with animals and even learning to fly a small plane, Sky Ranch helps kids find their natural gifts and take pride in them. Most boys advance at least 2 years in the grade level of their academic work during a one-year stay at Sky Ranch.

In 1961, members and friends of the alcohol beverage industry at all levels agreed to support the development of Sky Ranch. They formed the Sky Ranch Foundation, which has purchased the land, built the buildings, and provided annual cash support equal to 25 percent of the Sky Ranch budget. This 40+ year tradition has earned Sky Ranch the nickname, “the adopted charity of the alcohol beverage industry.” More than $17 million has been raised to help Sky Ranch since 1960. For more information visit their web site: www.skyranchfoundation.org.

(L-R) Sky Ranch Foundation Chairman Mike Donohoe, Pioneer honoree Brad Boswell, Mark Brown, Becky Hamilton, Nelson Smith (accepting for Simone Bianconcini), and Foundation President, Ralph Aguera.

SKY RANCH HONORS “The Class of 2006”