Pandemic, elections, wildfires, and more pandemic. What a ride the past 18 months have been! Through this all, our staff have exhibited a level of professionalism and resilience that makes us proud to have them on our team. We’ve also been reminded that life goes on despite all the challenges that are thrown in the mix. So, as we celebrate our talented team and feel grateful for their contribution and flexibility, we also say goodbye to some special folks who are moving on to the next stage of their lives.
It’s always sad to see great folks go, but also exciting to watch them launch into their next stage of life. For example, Beka Adam came to Vista Verde over 10 years ago as a young college graduate looking to enjoy the West for a summer. Fast forward to 2021 and she’s married a Danish man she met trekking during the off-season years ago. Said husband Michael ended up also working at the ranch, and they have two beautiful girls who began their lives at the ranch. But now it is time for them to head overseas to explore life in Michael’s “neck of the woods.” Or Miller and Autumn Anderson, who have such a lovely story of how they ended up married. Miller has been a mainstay of our fishing program for over 5 years. At the wedding of his good friends Zach and Annie, he met one of Annie’s best friends, Autumn. Fast forward a few years, and these two valuable members of the ranch team are married and expecting their first child, so they are heading to be closer to Autumn’s family to raise their family. Then there is Mary, who has done almost every job at the ranch in the past 7 years. After spending the past few years running the riding program, she is pursuing her professional goal of working in the school system. A total gem with children, we can only imagine that the kiddos of Steamboat are going to fall madly in love with her just as we did so many years ago. Speaking of kid whisperers, we also wish adieu to Julia and Max, who both came to the ranch following years of being guests, only to find themselves coming back season after season to help create the same amazing experience for the VVR kids that they experienced as kids at the ranch. They both landed amazing opportunities in New York City to pursue their intended careers, and we are so happy for them as they move forward with their professional passions.
There are many we’ve missed mentioning, but whether they are staff who have made VVR their home for one season or a dozen, each has been a part of making this place better. Instead of being sad to see these great folks move on, we celebrate their contributions to the ranch and hope the ranch had a positive impact on their lives that they can take out into the world. And we watch the new staff arrivals with curiosity, wondering how the ranch experience will impact them and how they will contribute to the mission here at VVR. We are so lucky to have so many talented and passionate people call VVR home for a time and treasure the relationships we develop with them that carry on long past their departure. If you are looking for a unique work experience, or know someone who would be a great fit at Vista Verde, please check out our employment information. We will be updating it in the coming months, but are always on the lookout for talented seasonal staff as well as candidates for manager in training and manager positions.