Children can gain an understanding of farming techniques, planting, growing, harvesting, food, local history, and fun while Down on the Farm!
Friends of Danada provides guided field trips for primary grade school students, scouts, and interested groups to the Danada Model Farm with an optional self-guided stop at the Equestrian Center. Students can enjoy a wagon ride to the Danada Model Farm and an opportunity to learn firsthand about crops of corn and soybeans, farming methods of the 1950s and 1960s, as well as history of Dan and Ada Rice (Danada) and their equestrian connection. The Down on the Farm program has become extremely popular with area schools, drawing 300 to 400 students each year. The program is offered for a nominal fee and is open to all interested groups, schools and organizations.
Farming, Food, and Rice Family History
Students will learn about farming practices, how to grow crops, what products are made with corn, and the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. Additionally, children are encouraged to read labels on food products and learn what goes into the products that they are consuming so that they can make healthy choices.
Students will also learn about Dan and Ada Rice, their philanthropic efforts locally and throughout Chicagoland and their impact on local farming and their love of thoroughbred horses.
Optional visit at the Danada Equestrian Center barn
Visitors can choose to make a stop at the Danada Equestrian Center where the students can see the horses in the barn and in the paddocks including formally wild mustangs and draft horses.
Ada Rice loved horses and erected a racetrack, starting gate and Kentucky style Barn for her horses. Lucky Debonair was a 1965 Kentucky Derby winner raised here in Wheaton.