Rafter J Ranch Barn

10/06/2023

The 2024 Manatee County Fair Pageant coming up on December 2, 2024.
Don't get left out!

Register @ https://www.manateecountyfair.com/p/getconnected/manatee-river-pageants

01/08/2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE​​​​​For More Information
Dec. 31, 2022​​​​​​​Contact Steve Wilson
​​​​​​​​941-650-1073


Former Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore is the new Development Administrator for Help To Home Inc., a non-profit that has provided low-rent housing and other assistance to parents with children threatened by homelessness.
“I am honored that Help To Home has chosen me for this worthy cause,” Ms. Whitmore said. “My goal in life is to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and this position will help me do just that.”
During her 16 years as a county commissioner, Ms. Whitmore worked to help find jobs and vocational help for low-income families.
Help To Home purchased land on 30th Avenue just west of 14th Street West in Bradenton, and is planning to build Hope Village, a community of housing units with below market rents. It is an unusual program, because it requires each tenant to work with case managers, the local school system and community services to get vocational “up-skilling” to stop the generational cycle of homelessness.
“As our Development Administrator, Carol Whitmore offers vast knowledge, great experience and many talents to help us reach our goals,” said Steve Wilson, a board member and founder of Hide-Away Storage.
“Her understanding of homelessness and the impact it has on the entire family make her the best possible choice to ensure that Hope Village becomes a reality in 2023.”

In a related development, Help To Home added to its board this year Jerry Marlar, Mike McCoy, Margie Genter and Matt McSwain. Marlar is the former head of Mauldin & Jenkins CPAs. Mrs. Genter is an executive with Goodwill Industries. McCoy is a former market president for Bank of America. McSwain is a financial consultant with Edward Jones. Other board members are Rod Urban, a retired HR executive with Tropicana, April Childers, a long-time child advocate and restaurant owner, Bill Hawthorne, a retired CPA with Mauldin & Jenkins, and Dr. Archie Smith, a retired psychologist.
Help To Home’s fund raising for Hope Village formally begins with the new year. It is seeking private donations and is not asking for government funding. The absence of government funds will avoid any restrictions on how it helps its tenants get better jobs and become financially independent. It also is not borrowing any money. Hope Village will be economically sustainable when fully built-out and occupied, even at below-market rental rates, according to Wilson.

05/15/2022

03/12/2022

Beautiful!

08/31/2021

We think our barn is pretty special… but it’s even better when there are weddings full of amazing families and friends gathering to celebrate love and, of course, a gorgeous bride in her perfect dress on the best day ever!
Taken by Tanna Photography - this one’s a true masterpiece!

08/25/2021

We love reviews! If you have a review, we’d love to read it - this one is from the amazing Julie! Thank you for your sweet words, we LOVE hearing your feedback and being a part of your special day! Check out our Google reviews here: https://bit.ly/3zL4u2J

08/18/2021

It’s no secret that we have some of the most beautiful views BUT we often forget to share photos taken on our road! We love when couples and their photographers mix it up and explore all of the scenic options for photos you’ll treasure forever!

08/11/2021

There are so many reasons to have your wedding reception inside our beautiful barn… but we think this view really takes the cake! (Get it? Cake!) Whether you prefer pretty pastels (like this gorgeous pink & white combo!) or a more dramatic & bold vibe - trust us, they all look stunning in the Rafter J Ranch Barn!

08/04/2021

It’s time for a good, old fashioned, ! We LOVE celebrating love - and we also love looking at photos of past weddings and reminiscing about our amazing couples and their perfect day! We stumbled upon this photo and we think it’s just gorgeous - if you’re engaged, and searching for the perfect backdrop for your best day ever… make sure to email us at [email protected] to set up a tour!