TUSCOLA, Ill. (WAND) -- Farming is what makes Central Illinois thrive.
Just right outside of Tuscola, one family is making sure the values of farming continue into the next generation.
"I think that it's kind of a groundbreaking idea." said Brad Ingram, owner of Country Learning Center.
What started as an idea, has grown into helping teach kids in Douglas County what it takes to work on a farm.
"A lot of the things that they do out here is what I call baby steps of farming." said Ingram.
Ingram and his wife run the Country Learning Center just south of Tuscola.
During the school year, Elizabeth teaches pre-schoolers.
But, during the summer the curriculum is more hands on.
"I focus traditionally on teamwork and team building skills. Trying to help make individuals learn how to work together as a team and put them in situations that are going to make them feel a little bit uncomfortable, but help them grow at the same time." said Ingram.
The kids help with the chores including feeding, watering and meeting a new baby calf.
"You learn how to take care of a farm and how you like and see if you like it or not. I really love farm animals and everything. And this is like, I want to do this when I grow up." said Makynze Sanders.
"They are actually getting an education, you know, so that when they get older, they got stuff they can fall back on." said Rob Wentz.
While the students are working to learn what it takes to run a farm in the future.
"It's never really for me been about creating an environment where I can get kids to come out here and just do free work for me or free work for somebody. It's more along the lines of what can I do to creat an environment to help kids grow." said Ingram.
While the students get their hands dirty, they still find ways to have fun.
Beowen Mendoza said, his favorite part of the program is driving the tractor. "I've always thought it would be super hard at first. But, it's actually more simpler that it looks."
The program is also a way to help kids look at what they want to do in the future.
"When I grow up, I'm going to be an large annimal veterinarian. So it's kind of giving me thoughts about what I want to do." said Sanders.
Overall, Ingram is grateful to teach the next generation of farmers.
"Most kids just don't have the know how or the opportunities to do these things, and it's just a true blessing that we can provide that for kids." said Ingram.
Looking towards the future, Ingram said they are hoping to expand their reach to more students.
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