Miracle Farm, Inc.

What Miracle Farm, Inc. does

Miracle Farm, Inc. operates a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian residential ranch program for at-risk teenage boys on a 325-acre campus at 10802 FM 2621, Brenham, Texas. Founded in 1982 by Miss Lenora Detering and converted to its current nonprofit mission in 1989 after acquisition by Texas Baptist Children's Home & Family Services (now Children At Heart Ministries), the organization serves approximately 29 young men annually (2025) through an integrated program combining residential care, therapeutic horse activities (team roping and assigned-horse care for 33 horses), academic instruction, and vocational training.

The core service offering is the Residential Program, supplemented by four structured sub-programs: (1) Premier High School, an on-campus charter school operated in partnership with Responsive Education Solutions that delivers self-paced, accredited instruction with one-on-one teacher guidance; (2) the Industrial Arts Program, providing welding and woodworking instruction in dedicated metal and wood shops that award junior high and high school credit; (3) the Horse Program, an equestrian therapy model in which each resident is assigned a horse to care for, expanded from two horses in 1998 to 33 horses today; and (4) an Independent Living transition program for older teens nearing discharge. Auxiliary services include Retreat Center and Arena rental for outside groups.

Miracle Farm does not charge fees. Revenue is generated through charitable donations (individuals, corporations, churches), planned gifts (stock, IRA rollovers, property), Texas Strong Families Tax Credit contributions from Texas businesses (dollar-for-dollar state tax credit), and in-kind support. Distribution relies on direct admissions from families, church and youth-pastor referrals across Texas Baptist networks, and campus tours (Top Hand Tour, Ranch Hand Tour) for prospective supporters. The organization publishes Turning Points magazine, annual reports, testimonial videos, and Stories of Faith content, and is led by Executive Director Alex Hamilton.

Name

Miracle Farm, Inc.

Legal name

Miracle Farm, Inc.

Website

https://miraclefarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Miracle Farm is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a 325-acre Christian residential ranch program for at-risk teenage boys, combining accredited on-site education, equestrian therapy, and vocational training through a donation-funded model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential Youth Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAN)

Keywords

• Residential youth services
• Faith-based ranch program
• Therapeutic equestrian program
• Vocational training for youth
• At-risk boys residential care

Headquarters

HQ city

Brenham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies primarily on donations from individuals, corporations, and churches. Various donation methods include online donations, stock gifts, IRA rollovers, and property gifts.
2. Texas Strong Families Tax Credit: Eligible Texas businesses can receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits against Texas state taxes by supporting the organization through the Strong Families Tax Credit Program.
3. Educational Services: On-campus charter school operated in partnership with Responsive Education Solutions provides educational services to residents.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Miracle Farm Boys Ranch provides a Christian residential care program for at-risk teenage boys on a 325-acre campus in Brenham, Texas, combining long-term housing, family-style living with house parents, accredited on-campus charter school education (Premier High School), vocational training in welding and woodworking, and an equine-assisted therapy program using horse care and team roping. The program is delivered at no cost to families and is funded through charitable donations, church support, and the Texas Strong Families Tax Credit program.

Product overview

Miracle Farm Boys Ranch operates as a single, integrated residential program for at-risk teenage boys rather than a platform with modular products. The core offering is its 325-acre residential campus in Brenham, Texas, which combines shelter, therapeutic programs, and education. Key program components include Premier High School (an on-campus charter school), an Industrial Arts Program (welding and woodworking vocational training), and a Horse Program (equestrian therapy through riding and roping). Additional services include an Independent Living transition program, Retreat Center facilities, and Arena Services. The ministry also publishes print and digital content including Turning Points magazine, annual reports, brochures, and testimonial videos.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Program A 325-acre Christian residential program in Brenham, Texas providing long-term care for at-risk teenage boys with a structured environment, house parents, education, vocational training, and equine-assisted therapy.
• Retreat Center Services Conference and retreat facilities available for groups visiting the Brenham, Texas ranch, with options for tours, meals, and arena demonstrations.
• Arena Services Rodeo and team roping facilities at the Miracle Farm ranch used for therapeutic programs and public demonstrations, including riding demonstrations for tour groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 high school graduations in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Premier High School / Responsive Education SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier High School operates an accredited charter school campus at Miracle Farm, providing self-paced education with one-on-one instruction. This partnership enables boys to earn high school diplomas while receiving residential care.
• Children At Heart MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiracle Farm is part of the Children At Heart family of ministries, which acquired the property after Miss Lenora Detering's death in the late 1980s. Children At Heart Foundation provides scholarships and support for educational advancement of alumni.
• Nokota Horse ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJack Lieser of the Nokota Horse Conservancy leads a young horse handling clinic that Miracle Farm boys attend to learn advanced horsemanship skills.
• Houston's Second Baptist ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHouston's Second Baptist Church contributed funding for the welding shop through their World Mission Offering, supporting the Industrial Arts Program.
• Puffer-Sweiven Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer CEO Mike Aldredge, representing Puffer-Sweiven Inc., provided funding for construction and equipment of the woodworking shop as a long-time donor and Miracle Farm Trustee.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Starr Commonwealth: Starr Commonwealth is a Michigan-based residential treatment and educational organization serving at-risk youth with trauma-informed care and experiential programming. It is comparable to Miracle Farm in mission (helping struggling youth through residential care), though it is not faith-based.
• Childhelp: Childhelp is a national nonprofit operating residential treatment programs for abused and neglected children along with advocacy and prevention services. It is comparable to Miracle Farm in mission and residential care focus, though Childhelp operates at a larger, multi-site scale.
• Boys Town: Boys Town is the largest and most established residential program for at-risk youth in the United States, providing shelter, education, and behavioral health services. It directly competes with Miracle Farm for donor mindshare and federal/state residential care contracts, while operating at a vastly larger scale.
• Arrow Child & Family Ministries: Arrow Child & Family Ministries is a Texas-based Christian organization providing residential care, foster and adoption services, and family support. Its faith-based residential model and Texas footprint make it a direct peer to Miracle Farm in serving at-risk children and youth.
• Ranch Hope: Ranch Hope is a New Jersey-based Christian residential program serving at-risk youth through group homes, education, and counseling. It directly mirrors Miracle Farm's faith-based residential model and emphasis on character transformation for struggling youth.
• Cal Farley Boys Ranch: Cal Farley is a Texas-based residential ranch serving at-risk youth, located near Amarillo. It is the closest operational analog to Miracle Farm given the shared ranch setting, residential model for at-risk youth, and emphasis on character and vocational development, though it serves a broader age and gender mix.
• Buckner International: Buckner International is a Texas-based faith-based organization providing foster care, family services, and children's residential programs. Its ministry model, Texas footprint, and Baptist heritage make it directly comparable to Miracle Farm's faith-based residential youth services.
• Youth for Tomorrow: Youth for Tomorrow is a Virginia-based residential program founded by NFL coach Joe Gibbs that serves at-risk youth through therapeutic, academic, and vocational programming. It is directly comparable to Miracle Farm in combining residential care with education and faith-based elements for struggling youth.

Broad incumbents

• Sequel Youth and Family Services: Sequel operates residential treatment programs, community-based services, and specialized education for youth across multiple states. It is comparable to Miracle Farm as a residential services provider but operates at significantly larger scale with broader behavioral health and juvenile justice contracts.
• Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Devereux is one of the largest nonprofit providers of behavioral health services for children and adolescents in the U.S., operating residential and community-based programs across multiple states. It is comparable to Miracle Farm as a residential care provider but serves a much broader clinical population at national scale.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cahmmiraclefarm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL7lOusyHX8A3HVSgMq5w0UGrzQs3KldBu
• Facebookfacebook.com/miraclefarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/miracle-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Miracle Farm, Inc.