Bulloch Family Lay It All On The Line

The UP television network along with Peace Point Entertainment have produced a new reality-television series, Bulloch Family Ranch that brings together the key interests of Faith & Fitness Magazine readers’: family, Christian faith, outdoor lifestyle and physical fitness. The episodes are more than entertaining and “uplifting”, they offer genuine insights into how faith can be central in shaping daily life and the future of others. Julie and Rusty have chosen to do more than just live life as good people and enjoy their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They have committed to Be Life by loving and giving. We caught up with them recently and asked them to share more about the faith and fitness components of their life story. In this intimate interview they lay it all on the line.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: Laundry day in the country tends to be a time when everyone finds a way to be comfortable with reality. People see whatever you put out on the line to dry. In your UP Entertainment show, The Bulloch Family Ranch what were some of the things in your life that you laid on the line in front of everyone?

Rusty and Julie Bulloch: That was our biggest concern. We were worried how the public would receive our family. We have always lived privately and the majority of our friends had no idea that we had young people live with us. Revealing your heart and soul to the world is a scary thing.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: What makes the Bulloch Family Ranch different from the Brady Bunch, the Walton’s, the Huxtables, the Simpsons or any of the other television families?

Rusty and Julie Bulloch: Our family deals with “real life reality” as Julie says. What you see is what you get. The emotional breakdowns, frustrated looks and surprises that are caught on camera are real because we definitely are not actors. We are a multicultural family with young people from all walks of life. Each one has a personal story and they all have a Mom that loves them.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: So the basic concept of your show is that over the years you have invited troubled teenagers to live in your home providing them with a safe haven and a structured parental environment. Was your goal always to get a reality TV deal or was there a bigger motivation?

Rusty and Julie Bulloch: Sixteen years ago when we first opened our home to an 18-year-old daughter of a friend, being on a TV show was the furthest thing from our minds. We believe to give something expecting something in return does not exemplify what a Christian should do. We are much better at giving than receiving and that is what we try to instill in the young people that live here. Our goal is to provide a faith-based platform with structure to help them get better prepared for adulthood.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: What are some of the challenges that these youth have faced and what do you feel are some of the big factors that lead to them?

Julie Bulloch: Let’s face it life is tough! Young people need rules, discipline, and a whole lot of love. Rusty and I both had strong families and we still remember what it was like being teenagers and young adults. It was hard. So, I can only imagine how hard it is to only have one parent or no parents at home. Lack of communication is a huge obstacle to overcome – especially in young men who tend to hide their emotions because they do not want to be seen as “weak.” Rusty shows them, by example, that you can be a man’s man, but still be sensitive and show your emotions.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: You’ve found that physical activity is a powerful way to engage these youth. What makes the hard work, the recreation, the sports, the outdoors and the sweat such a vital part of the ministry you do?

Rusty and Julie Bulloch: Working with your hands and seeing the product of your hard work is very satisfying. The majority of the young people that have lived with us have never experienced the country outdoor life on a ranch. Our way of life is, at times, physically demanding. Building fences, cleaning horse stalls, splitting firewood (yes, we have a fireplace in Florida), operating equipment and more demands that you are in tip-top shape. They enjoy a sense of accomplishment when tasks are completed. Also, they experience firsthand our wonderful nature that God created.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: In addition to building them physically all that exercise creates an environment of more open and perhaps even unguarded conversation. How do you feel the many activities strengthen communication skills? Describe an instance when a youth at your ranch entered into a conversation with you and you realized that God was at work creating a very special moment.

Rusty Bulloch: Many of the best conversations that I have had happened while rebuilding a fence, digging a ditch, or working out in our homemade gym in the barn. Something happens when you engage in physical activity…people let their guard down and become more open. Not only doing physical work but also we try to open communication up while engaging in all types of areas. Some of our best conversations have been sitting out under a tree enjoying what God has created.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: The biological children of parents who work with others often experience that “preacher’s kid” syndrome being rebellious and having many problems of their own as a result of wanting more attention or feeling neglected. With more than twenty children having passed through your home how have the lives of your biological children Brodie and Amanda been shaped?

Rusty Bulloch: Having to share Mom, Dad, their room and everything with all of the kids helped mold the awesome adults they are today. Amanda and Brodie never actually went thru a rebellious stage and were very instrumental in the lives of each young person that not only lived with us, but also visited our house.

Julie Bulloch: Everything Rusty said — Plus, Amanda and Brodie both have a tenderness in their hearts because they have had the opportunity to have 30+ close relationships with — what they call — “added brothers and sisters.” It was not always easy for them dealing with so many different personalities but, they always came through like champs. [Read An Adventure Worth Living For to learn more about how you can help your children to be physically active by doing ministry with others.]

Faith & Fitness Magazine: For the many families that are considering how they too can be life to others what are some of the pitfalls to avoid and the opportunities to be discovered? How does this type of ministry transform your faith?

Rusty and Julie Bulloch: We feel everyone was put on this earth with a gift. It is ultimately up to us to either act on it or ignore it. Everyone cannot work with young people, so you have to know your gifts and your limitations.

Rusty Bulloch: Every person is different and you have to realize that each one has to be dealt with differently.

Julie Bulloch: I believe that too much emphasis is put on material things. What young people need simply can’t be bought – it’s time. You can never give enough of your time. Twenty years from now that young person is not going to remember if you bought them the latest smart phone. But they will remember sitting under the tree, having a heart to heart talk, and knowing that you care enough to listen to them.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: Meal times are a big part of the Bulloch Family Ranch experience. How do you make it healthy and how spiritually nourishing is it?

Rusty Bulloch: Meal time is a time when we all sit down and have conversations. My request is that no cell phones are on – although sometimes that rule is broken. We try to eat as healthy as possible. Brodie, Julie and I hunt so that definitely helps with the budget. Amanda likes to sit out and watch nature, but has no desire to hunt.

Julie Bulloch: Having a catering company for seventeen years has definitely helped when it comes to cooking for a crowd. We love to have a garden and Rusty helps me with the canning vegetables, pickles, and making jelly. It is not unusual for my Mom and Dad and a few of my siblings to come to our house and have a canning party. [Check out some of Julie’s recipes.]

Faith & Fitness Magazine: You both are really hard workers. In one episode Broadie says, “Hard work builds character.” What characteristics of your faith do you want the youth at the ranch to see from your hard work ethic?

Rusty Bulloch: It is just obvious to me that if you are in shape and take care of yourself you can better carry out God’s plans. My line of work is extremely physical. When it comes to work on the Ranch, I feel that if I can do it then the younger guys should be able to do it. I do not have patience for laziness (laughs).

Julie Bulloch: It goes back to leading by example. We never ask anyone to do something that we will not do. Characteristics that we like to see in them when they leave are: strong work ethic, integrity, compassion, honesty and accountability.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: When youth first come to your ranch they may be wearing bad attitudes, ugly habits and addictions and be unattractive and unworthy by most estimations. Certainly they’re not the pretty packaged Christian walking into most churches on Sunday. What has God shown you through these youth about your own personal faith? What beautiful qualities adorn some of these youth by the time they leave the ranch?

Julie Bulloch: When a young person walks into our home, they enter with a clean slate. If they have a bad past (and not all have come from bad situations), I do not necessarily need to know. I see the heart and the “want to” in them and that is where we start. We are not a licensed facility, so we do not take in young people that are diagnosed with mental conditions or drug addictions.

Rusty Bulloch: One of my favorite scriptures is Phillipians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Faith & Fitness Magazine: So, if you both did a little role reversal and Julie started coaching high school football and Rusty started setting up inflatable play structures how might the show be different?

Rusty Bulloch: As far as Little Hands Ranch (which is an inflatable bounce house business), I already help when she gets in a bind. For example, if Julie forgets to arrange for someone to come in and help her. I absolutely would not have the patience to be a photographer and she is too sensitive to be a football coach.

Julie Bulloch: I can’t even put myself in Rusty’s position when it comes to being a Farrier. I could not physically hold up shoeing horses. Football? Forget it! (laughs). As soon as the players got hot, I would have them all sit down in the shade until they cooled off. I am just not tough enough or mean enough to coach football. That is the Mom in me.