BRAZIL, Ind. – Veterans of Foreign Wars and Indiana sheriffs are congratulating Robert D. Brown, a firefighter from St. Joseph County.

Brown was the lucky raffle ticket holder and winner of a new 2018 Chevy Silverado!

Vets and lawmen drew Monday for their annual truck raffle, which raises money for the new Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch.

Members of the Bussing-Louderback VFW Post 1127 in Brazil, Ind., where the Youth Ranch property is located, coordinated the statewide fundraiser to help sheriffs and deputies buy and build the 62-acre facility where they will mentor future law enforcement officers, bond with at-risk kids and help young witnesses and victims of crime.

The $45,000 2018 pickup was sponsored in-part by Chevrolet and John Jones Auto Group of Corydon, Greensville, Salem and Scottsburg. John Jones, owner and operator of the family of Southeast Indiana dealerships, assisted with the drawing and BBQ luncheon for volunteers.

For many years, sheriffs and deputies have hosted local and regional law enforcement camps for Indiana students. The new Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch, now under development in rural West Central Indiana, will be a permanent home for weeklong academies available to middle schoolers from all communities in all participating counties.

Recently, U.S. sheriffs announced they will also join ranks with the Indiana Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch to host a National Sheriffs’ Association Youth Leadership Institute each year at the not-for-profit retreat. Outstanding students from each state will travel to Indiana for high-quality instruction by some of the country’s best law enforcement trainers.

To learn more or to donate, call the Youth Ranch toll-free at 833-IN-RANCH.