Edgewood Children’s Ranch honors Joanie Consolver

Edgewood Children’s Ranch renamed its Family Care Center in honor of Joanie Consolver, who served in numerous roles, including executive director, at the ranch for 43 years.

By Liz Ramos
| 1:49 p.m. March 11, 2026

Joanie Consolver was humbled by the renaming of the Family Care Center at Edgewood Children’s Ranch in her honor. She served at the ranch for 43 years before retiring in 2011

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Joanie Consolver watched as Edgewood Children’s Ranch children lifted a green canvas to unveil the new sign for the Family Care Center.

She held back tears as she saw her name on the sign for the center where she spent a large part of her time while serving as the executive director of Edgewood Children’s Ranch from 1989 to 2011.

Consolver had served at Edgewood for 43 years, joining the ranch as a school coordinator for the Edgewood Boys Ranch in 1966.

“Colossians 3:23 says, ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord …’ and that’s exactly how Joanie lived her work here at the ranch,” current Executive Director Jeff Fitzgerald said before the sign was unveiled Wednesday, Feb. 18. “Micah 6:8 tells us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God, and I believe that’s the kind of example that she set for all of us, including myself. … Through her leadership, so many kids got a fresh start and a chance to thrive. … So Joanie, we honor you, we celebrate you. We’re grateful for the legacy that you built here. Thank you for everything you gave to this mission, to the kids, to all of us who carry it forward.”

Consolver said it was humbling to have the Family Care Center renamed in her honor.

“It warms your heart to see what God has done and continues to do,” she said. “(Edgewood Children’s Ranch founders) Dr. (John W. ‘Jack’) Lynd and Judge (Arthur) Yergey’s vision is going on.”

She said Edgewood Children’s Ranch was a place God gave her “to love, be loved and have a wonderful life.”

Yergey was present for the unveiling, giving Consolver and him time to reminisce on their years working together at Edgewood. They talked about when the ranch moved to its current location at 1451 Edgewood Ranch Road, envisioning a place where the children could enjoy nature and swim in the lakes.

“And then I found out about the alligators,” Yergey joked, causing the dozens of people in attendance for the sign unveiling to laugh.

But more important, Yergey was thrilled to be able to honor Consolver’s legacy to the ranch he created.

“She was everything to me when I was here,” Yergey said.

Knowing the legacy people such as Consolver, Lynd and Yergey left on Edgewood Children’s Ranch, Fitzgerald said it’s amazing and a huge honor to stand on their shoulders.

Fitzgerald said Edgewood would not be what it is today without the service and dedication of Consolver, which is why the ranch’s staff felt it appropriate to honor her with the naming of the building.

Edgewood Children’s Ranch is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and the impact it has made on thousands of children and families since its inception.

“You’re talking thousands and thousands of families that have been restored, children that have been restored, their hearts have been restored, their lives have been restored and put back on track,” he said.

Fitzgerald wants to see the ranch continue to make an impact on its students, transforming their lives in a short amount of time. He has seen children come in scared, nervous and quiet. By the time they leave, they’re different people.

“Coming from traumatic experiences is hard, and seeing them blossom and come to life, to actually see what their potential could be, for me, makes what I get to do every day worth it,” he said.

About Joanie Consolver

After graduating from the University of Nebraska, Joanie Consolver began her career as a social worker at West Texas Boys Ranch before moving to Orlando while the deployment of her husband, a Russian linguist with the U.S. Air Force.

She joined Edgewood Children’s Ranch in 1968 and helped establish a social services department, counseled children and families, and coordinated school placements.

In June 1969, her husband’s plane disappeared over the Bering Sea, which caused her to face the devastating loss that “strengthened her faith and comforted her sense of purpose at Edgewood,” Executive Director Jeff Fitzgerald said.

Over 43 years with Edgewood, Consolver has served various leadership roles, including executive director for 22 years, working with more than 3,000 children and their families.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.