By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Most any late afternoon on an eight-acre farm on Dialton Road in North Hampton (just outside of Springfield), many students ages 10-15 exit a school bus and get to work. After a refreshing quarter-mile walk through the fields they begin to gather eggs, pick vegetables, feed the goats, donkeys and turkeys, sweep out one of the many small structures on the premise or begin sewing. No television or video games for these students.

Welcome to On-The-Rise Farm, which has the sole purpose of assisting at-risk children.

“Many of the children that come here are perhaps struggling with family, social, educational or behavioral issues,” said Debbie McCullough. “At this farm we promote responsibility, compassion, work ethic and positive self-image. On a daily basis the children and teens cook, clean and do gardening.”

On-The-Rise was founded by McCullough and her best friend, Cathy Tofstad, 15 years ago.

Both were realtors, but quickly realized that occupation was not where their hearts were. The two see their efforts as a way of providing a safe place for at-risk youth to go where people care about them.

McCullough and Tofstad see many rewards in reaching out to these strong-willed, adventurous adolescents. For starters, there’s the passion of waking up each morning to live their dream of helping community members in need of guidance, education and care.
Perhaps McCullough and Tofstad approach their work with the children by drawing from the value of those who helped them through tough times in their own young lives. The death of Tofstad’s mother when she was five and McCullough’s parents’ divorce when she was 13 helped them both to appreciate the backing from caring people in their lives that got them through their tough times.

“I was actually headed down the road of some of our kids,” McCullough said.

“With the family support, we were fortunate,” Tofstad added.
On-The-Rise staff works as a liaison between youth families and referral agencies. Participation from parents and guardian and the referring agency is vital to a child’s success. Participating youth are referred by various agencies, including, but not limited to, mental health agencies, city and county schools, juvenile court and children’s services.

During the school year On-The-Rise is an after school program, with hours from 4-7 p.m. Girls meet on Mondays and Wednesdays, Boys meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are reserved for special activities, team meetings and youth service. The farm operates in the summer from 9 a.m. to noon each day.

During the school year Tofstad and McCullough spend time with the children in the evenings sitting with them and helping them focus on often frustrating homework. Tutors are provided by the Wittenberg Community Service Program to help with homework as well. But the pair get most satisfaction by introducing farm life to their young visitors.

“We are particularly excited about our youth-run brown egg enterprise,” McCullough said. “Our children and teens are involved in every phase of the brown egg business, from production to packaging to marketing. Basic money management principles are taught.”

The two women drafted an idea for On-The-Rise in 1995. However, their passion alone was not enough to fund such an undertaking, and after failed proposals to Clark County, the two shelved the idea and went their separate ways working for local school systems. They kept in touch weekly, sharing experiences they had in their respective schools.

McCullough also gained a new perspective on caring for children upon entering with her husband the world of foster parenting and through her social work with Oesterlen Services for Youth. Through the foster parenting circle, McCullough met a couple who operated a foster farm close to the way in which McCullough and Tofstad envisioned. In the end, the couple helped McCullough and Tofstad with getting grant money from the county, which provided them with the resources they needed to begin On-The-Rise.

Living on the On-The-Rise property, McCullough takes part with her husband in a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that does not end when the organization closes down each evening.

“There’s a different way than to just take,” said McCullough, commenting on the value of hard work, whether it’s caring for the animals, growing vegetables, or putting time and effort into homework.

Growing up on a farm as a young girl, McCullough knows how to handle herself among the multitude of farm animals. And as one might expect, her love for animals is shared by many of the children in the program. McCullough and Tofstad use the animals and vegetables as tools for teaching the children how to be more self sufficient and to take pride in the work they do.

“We do it with them,” said Tofstad about the daily chores and homework help. “We’re here to bring out the best in them, not to see what’s wrong with them. Sharing caring.”

Since On-The-Rise startup 15 years ago, more than 500 students have worked this farm.

“Every child is different. One might be here a few months another might come here a few years,” Tofstad said.

On-The-Rise is funded through the Clark County Department of Job and Family Services, the Springfield Foundation, the Turner Foundation, Clark County Juvenile Court and support from other community resources and fundraisers.