Lena:

You may want to consider a HT PC for a combined editing device, dvd player and possibly even audio. Considering that they don't have anything now, this may give them a ton of capability for the price. I saw a emachines box with a what appeared to be a universal DVD Recorder and a separate DVD player for about $800. Throw in a top of the line video card like an All-In-Wonder and I believe you would have it covered. You could probably even hook it up to use the video camera's.

By the way, my cousin owns a small quarter horse and cattle ranch in OK (north of Tulsa) so I quite understand about the "cowboy in residence". We go there every summer, its like having our own personal dude ranch.