“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.” — John F. Kennedy

Nearly 40 acres of the original Rice Farm continue to be cultivated and harvested by Friends of Danada volunteers using vintage farm equipment from the 1950s and 1960s. Since that era, farming operations around DuPage County have rapidly given way to suburban development. This is one of the few working farms left in what was once a major agricultural area.

The farming operation is a showcase of agricultural methods using machinery and equipment of that era, but addressing ecological and land conservation situations of today. Our volunteers have been dedicated to cultivating the land for over 30 years. This is one of the few remaining opportunities to farm the land and preserve the history.

The Model Farm activity provides school children, senior citizens and other interested parties, an opportunity to learn and experience agriculture in the age of diminishing farmland. The Model Farm is the centerpiece to an educational program where Friends of Danada provides guided field trips to primary gradeschool students as well as interested groups such as scout troops and church groups to experience and learn the importance of agriculture in our daily lives.

Among the equipment used on the farm is the following: John Deere 830D (1959), John Deere 730D (1959), John Deere G, (mid-1950s), John Deere 401D, Farmall Super MTA (1953), Farmall Super MTA (1954), Farmall H (1952), Farmall CubLoBoy (1950) ,Allis Chalmers WD45, John Deere 6600D Hydro (mid-1970s)