Circus benefits Boys Ranch

Nevada Daily Mail

The Santa Claus Holiday Circus from Hugo, Okla., will stage benefit performances for Bar H Boys Ranch at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Dec. 4, in the organization's Mo-Kan Building, at 11357 E. Nebo Hill Road.

Ranch Groundskeeper Mark Lusk said Thursday that circus owner B.K. Silverlake had decided to bring the show to Bar H and give the ranch a percentage of the proceeds upon learning that facilities at the county fairgrounds had been booked.

"The Mo-Kan Building can hold up to 350 people, so we're hoping it will be another good benefit to go with the adult camps we had in early May and late September," Lusk said. "We hadn't had any kids here in over six years when I took over 4 1/2 years ago and we had 17 boys and 22 girls for a week each last summer, sponsored by members of the Eagles Lodge."

Advance tickets are on sale for $8 for adults and $6 for children at Aaron's Sales & Lease and the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce.

Gate admission on the night of the shows will be $12 for adults, $10 for members of the military and senior citizens and $8 for children.

Lusk said the ranch was established by law enforcement officers in 1959 and assumed control of by the Fraternal Order of Eagles in the mid-1970s.

"We seem to be making progress. Volunteers came from Rosedale, Kan., near Overland Park, last summer to put a roof on the counselor's house, and in 2010 they put a roof on the bunkhouse."

Lusk's mother Laura, ranch treasurer and one of its 13 board members from around Missouri and Kansas, said Silverlake's circus is based on its clowns, miniature horse and poodles. "B.K. says it's a really cute show," said Lusk.