Special K Ranch Adding Light Manufacturing Building

A Columbus-area ranch that serves as home for 32 developmentally disabled adults is beginning work on a new building that will allow ranch residents to do more work for the Montana Silversmiths jewelry company.

The Billings Gazette reports Montana Silversmiths raised the $80,000 for the light manufacturing building being built at Special K Ranch. A groundbreaking was held Thursday.

Since November, residents have been packaging products for Montana Silversmiths in makeshift workspace in a trailer. Montana Silversmiths vice president Kevin Johnson says the new building will give the residents a better workspace.

Special K is a Christian-based nonprofit that started in 1986 with one house and four residents. It now has seven dwellings and 32 residents.

Residents raise sheep, calves and chickens and grow bedding plants and hothouse tomatoes.