Blue Ridge Community Farm

                   
Dear friends...    


On May 6, 2017 Sue and I are lacing up our running shoes and running the Indy Mini Marathon in Indianapolis to raise money for Blue Ridge Community Farm.

Blue Ridge Community Farm is a 245 acre working farm for adults and children with special needs located in Central Illinois approximately 4 miles northeast of Chillicothe, Illinois.

Currently, they offer educational field trips for special education and life skills classes. There is no charge for a school to come and visit the farm.  Field trips typically include interacting with the farm animals, music, crafts, hay rack rides (dependent upon the size of the group) and learning opportunities revolving around crops grown on the farm, animal care and general farm knowledge. Blue Ridge Community Farm is home to ten alpacas, four donkeys, ten chickens, one horse and an old gentle golden retriever, Miss Maggie.

Blue Ridge Community Farm also offers social events for adults with special needs all at no charge to those that attend. Some of the events include an annual square dance, cookouts and campfire sing-a-longs. In the very near future, they will also offer employment and learning opportunities for adults with special needs in the areas of animal husbandry, horticulture, agriculture and lawn care/maintenance. This summer a garden program for adults will begin in the first of three hoop houses.

The future vision of Blue Ridge Community Farm  also includes housing for adults with special needs in the town of Chillicothe, expanded learning and employment opportunities, a gift shop on the farm run by adults with special needs selling products that they have made themselves and many more exciting things!

Blue Ridge Community Farm does not take any government funding and intends to always be a completely self sustaining working farm. Future programs and current events rely on private donations and fundraising efforts. Blue Ridge Community Farm is a registered 501 (c)(3) non profit organization and donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. They also always need and welcome volunteers and very much appreciate the support of the community!


Now, your part is easy.  All you need to do is commit to sponsoring me.  My part is a little tougher, I've committed to raising $5000 for the Blue Ridge Community Farm by completing the 13.1 mile course. Please donate as generously as you can. No donation is too small every dollar helps.


Below is the link to Blue Ridge Farm. Please visit the website to learn more about the Farm 

http://www.blueridgecommunityfarm.org/