Springfield farm goes viral after reality show comes to visit

Crace Gundolf, 11, left, and her sister, Faith, 13, lay with one of their cows after getting them moved in and settled Friday during the first day of the Clark County Fair. Bill Lackey/Staff

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Crace Gundolf, 11, left, and her sister, Faith, 13, lay with one of their cows after getting them moved in and settled Friday during the first day of the Clark County Fair. Bill Lackey/Staff
Local News
By Kara Driscoll
July 3, 2018
X

A video featuring a On the Rise Farm outside Springfield went viral after a Facebook web series came to surprise the nonprofit organization’s owners.

Returning the Favor is an American reality web television series on Facebook Watch that premiered in 2017. It chronicles the travels of Mike Rowe throughout the United States in search of people who give back to their communities. The show’s motto? “Because one good turn deserves another.”

» CONTINUED COVERAGE: Goats, chickens perish in Clark County barn fire

Rowe visited the eight-acre On the Rise Farm, which serves at-risk youth in Clark County struggling with family, social, educational and behavioral issues. On a daily basis, children and teens cook, clean, care for animals, sew and garden, according to the nonprofit’s website. Tutors also are provided by the Wittenberg Community Service Program, and help the children with their homework.

In 2015, a fire destroyed the main barn at the nonprofit. Six goats, several chickens and the group’s stock of feed, hay and farm equipment, such as boots for the kids, were destroyed in the fire. The nonprofit has worked to recover from the fire.

Ed McCullough sorts through the debris inside the On-the-Rise barn that was destroyed by fire Tuesday evening. On-the-Rise is a nonprofit that works with at-risk students on the farm to teach them life skills and hard work. Bill Lackey/Staff

Credit: Bill Lackey

icon to expand image

Credit: Bill Lackey

» TRENDING: Sears to close 10 more Kmart, Sears locations

“Mike and the gang swing into Springfield, Ohio, to return the favor to Debbie McCullough and Cathy Tofstad — two best friends who run the On the Rise Farm, a local nonprofit organization serving at-risk youth in Clark County through hard work, compassion and work ethic,” the show description stated.

The video received more than 16,000 "likes" on Facebook and more than 8,000 shares. Watch the video here.

FIVE FAST READS

• People are talking about suicide: There's help available locally

• Woman shaving legs at pool sparks outrage, disgust

• 5 surprising ways Kroger is changing stores in 2018

• This $2 million Warren County estate is a rural paradise with a resort-style pool

• You won't believe the inside of this INCREDIBLE Oakwood house

In Other News
1
Bills to watch as Ohio lawmakers rush out legislation in ‘lame duck’...
2
167K pounds of ground beef recalled for possible E. coli contamination
3
Miami County physician pleads guilty to having homemade ‘destructive’...
4
Ohio deer hunting season: See top counties and dates for deer taken
5
CBS News report on armed school staffers focuses on two area districts

About the Author

Kara Driscoll