About BAE Ranch
Beyond Average Existence (BAE) Ranch is a leadership-development and growth-focused ranch in Oak Hills, California, dedicated to helping people build confidence, resilience, discipline, and purpose through horsemanship and experiential learning. We serve youth, veterans, first responders, and underserved communities by creating grounded experiences that strengthen character, leadership, and connection.
Why we exist
BAE Ranch was born out of a deep belief that people change most meaningfully through lived experience, not abstraction. After years of military service, law enforcement leadership, and work in education and ministry, our founder saw the need for a place where individuals could heal, grow, and develop leadership through hands-on work, responsibility, and connection with horses, land, and community. BAE Ranch exists as that space—a sanctuary for growth, restoration, and purposeful development.
How we develop people
At BAE Ranch, growth is intentional and experiential. We use horsemanship, ranch work, and structured experiential learning to help participants practice emotional regulation, communication, decision-making, trust-building, and leadership in real time. Through hands-on training and meaningful responsibility, individuals are invited to live beyond average existence and carry new skills back into their homes, workplaces, and communities.
A Grounded Space for Healing and Growth
The ranch is designed as a grounded, safe, and restorative environment where participants can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and build resilience. Working with horses and being present on the land opens space for healing from stress, trauma, and burnout, while also cultivating confidence, purpose, and hope for the future.
Who we serve
BAE Ranch programs focus on youth, veterans, first responders, and underserved communities; people who carry significant responsibility or adversity and are seeking growth, direction, or restoration. Through relationship, structure, and community support, we help participants develop life skills and leadership capacities that positively impact their families, organizations, and neighborhoods
BEYOND AVERAGE EXISTENCE RANCH INC is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
EIN: 99-4202514
Effective date of exemption: January 29, 2025
Lionel Murphy – Founder & CEO
Lionel Murphy is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of BAE Ranch. A U.S. Air Force veteran and retired sheriff’s sergeant, he has spent decades serving in public safety, education, and leadership development. His own journey through service, trauma, recovery, and growth led to a vision for a ranch where people could experience healing, leadership formation, and purpose through horsemanship and hands-on learning. Lionel is also a doctoral candidate in Public Administration, bringing a research-informed perspective to the design and evaluation of BAE Ranch programs.
Felicia Murphy - Chief Information Officer
Ron Hill - Chief Operations Officer
Gage Henderson - Chief Compliance Officer/Therapist
Jada Murphy Sims - Registered Nurse
Jazmin Murphy - Animal and Wildlife Specialist
Our Team
BAE Ranch is supported by a committed team of leaders who bring experience in education, public safety, ministry, administration, animal ecology, and program development. Together, they help create a safe, structured, and growth-focused environment for every participant.
An Invitation to Grow Beyond Average
Whether someone comes to BAE Ranch seeking leadership development, healing, confidence, direction, or a renewed sense of purpose, the mission remains the same: to create meaningful experiences that help people grow beyond limitation and into lives of greater resilience, responsibility, and impact.