About 7 Stars Ranch
The Property's History
Gary Hansen, father of 7 Stars Ranch founder JoLynn McDonald, purchased the property in 1960 and named it the Talmadge River Ranch, which is now known as Northern Lights Cutting Center. When the property was purchased, the only buildings were a chicken coop, a bunkhouse, and a guest house. Through a lot of hard work, the property transformed and served many community organizations, hosted rodeos and events, and acted as a training facility. In the late 1990’s JoLynn McDonald developed an interest in the Western discipline of cutting. After acquiring a beginner-friendly cutting horse and attending clinics, their focus shifted toward training riders and horses in cutting. In the early 2000s, the main arena and barn were built and the primary use of the property shifted from training polo horses to cutting. Since 2005, Mrs. McDonald and her family have provided premier education in horse
riding and cutting on the property. In 2012, Northern Lights Cutting Center (NLCC) was formally established as a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) by Mrs. McDonald. The facility, still leased from Talmadge River Ranch, continues to operate today, training both horses and riders and providing boarding for horse owners in the community.
How 7 Stars Ranch Started
In 2021, 7 Stars Ranch founder, Mrs. McDonald, developed a partnership with a local non-profit organization, Strong Compass. Mrs. McDonald provided free training to a group of military veterans, preparing them to show at a memorial cutting event for her mentor, and Vietnam veteran, Dave Scribner. This partnership has since expanded into a comprehensive 10-week program, connecting the veterans to the training facility and to the youth programming provided by Mrs. McDonald. Her work of training youth through NLCC and veterans from Strong Compass led Mrs. McDonald to officially establish 7 Stars Ranch as a non-profit entity in early 2022.
Meet Our Executive Director
JoLynn McDonald has been immersed in the world of horses for as long as she can remember. Eighteen years ago, she discovered the sport of cutting and instantly fell in love. This discipline has become a profound part of her life, providing her with opportunities to evolve both as a horsewoman and as an individual. Now, JoLynn is dedicated to sharing her passion for cutting and the remarkable equine athletes with her community through her ventures: the for-profit Northern Lights Cutting Center and the nonprofit 7 Stars Ranch, both based in Duluth.
When she’s not coaching, riding, or training, JoLynn enjoys spending time with her husband, their seven children, and her granddaughter Ryder. One of her favorite aspects of being involved with the MCHA is witnessing the bright future ahead as a new generation of cutters get in the saddle.
7 Stars Ranch is incredibly fortunate to have JoLynn as our leader, mentor, and friend. Her dedication and passion have touched countless lives, and we are deeply grateful for her unwavering commitment.
Our Mission
7 Stars Ranch provides uniquely tailored opportunities for personal growth, social connections, youth development, and healing through exposure to ranch life and experiential learning in equine care and riding skills. 7 Stars Ranch proudly serves youth, veterans, law enforcement officers, first responders and their families, building skills for life.
For the past two years we have happily served 180 youth, 65 veterans, and 15 law enforcement officers and families. The number of people we serve changes weekly and we feel very fortunate to have everyone who joins us at 7 Stars Ranch!