Story by Deb Peterson | Photographed by Deb Peterson.
When Karry Bass’s husband, Arvell Bass, decided to take a job as a drilling consultant in Alaska two weeks each month, Karry was less than thrilled about the idea. She loves waking up every morning in her peaceful valley in Mountain Home, and had no intention of moving. But she wasn’t sure she could run their ranch, Stone Creek, herself.
“Yes, you can,” Arvell said.
Karry struggled with the idea and spent time studying her horse, Babe.
“She’s my hero,” Karry said. “When I look in her eyes…oh my gosh.”
Babe, equine leader at Stone Creek, had already taught Karry leadership lessons.
Despite the best planning, Karry and Arvell found themselves lost in the woods on horseback after dark one July evening. Karry’s dismay grew with every misturn as the light faded into blackness.
Arvell suggested Karry release Babe’s reins and let her go. With a good deal of trepidation, Karry laid the reins on Babe’s neck, took a deep breath, and let go of her horse.
Babe took them home.
“Horses are hypersensitive animals,” Karry said. “If you watch them closely, even in the pasture, they’re the best teachers of leadership.”
Karry, 47, realized that the ranching side of Stone Creek is Arvell’s strength, not hers. She loves the soft skills that can be learned on the ranch — skills like leadership and mind/body wellness. With that insight, she set out to remake her role at the ranch.
In early December, Karry’s sister, Laurie Boyte, of California, joined her at the ranch for a week of planning. Karry’s vision started to take shape.
“I want to provide people with a place,”she said, “a place for seminars, weddings, reunions, retreats of all kinds.”
She wants Stone Creek to be a place where people can find their own strengths, whether or not the process involves horses.
“Call me and tell me what you’re looking for,” she says, “and I’ll help you make it happen right here.”
Karry and Laurie plan to present two week-long wellness programs of their own each year, possibly with sister Julie Wagner, a runner, starting spring 2012. (Read about Laurie’s plans on page 21.)
Karry expects that Kim Worlow of Mountain Home will continue her leadership seminars at the ranch, and she’s thrilled that various groups already have booked events — scrapbookers, boy scouts, and Mountain Home’s Megan Burges, who plans a vintage wedding in October.
“Megan wants to have a thousand candles in mason jars all around the arena,” Karry said, her eyes lighting up.
Karry plans to add a fitness center and a walking/running trail around the 80-acre rolling, wooded ranch. See page 22 for a list of the ranch’s amenities.
The further she gets into her “remaking,” the more Karry has absorbed Babe’s confidence. She still has occasional moments of fear in the middle of the night, as does any new entrepreneur, but Babe’s a good teacher.
“Now,” Karry said, “I can push away my fear and say, ‘I can do this. I’m marvelous!’”
You can reach Karry at 870-424-7433 and at stonecreekranchresort.com.
M! Feb/Mar 2011.
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